Cellulite
Cellulite
Overview:
Cellulite is a general term that is used with reference to the dimpled, fatty appearance found on some peoples’ buttocks, thighs and hips. It is found much more often in women because of the way connective tissues, muscle and fat exist in women’s and men’s skin. The “lumpy” look of cellulite is brought out by fatty deposits that distort and push the tissues under the skin. Cellulite isn’t related to cellulitis, which is a bacterial infection that spreads in the tissues under the skin, and in the skin itself.
Cellulite’s appearance can be considered a normal variation on the human body, or just one way that some “normal” people look. Many things can influence the appearance of cellulite, including body fat amounts, gender, skin thickness, heredity and age. Although more common in women, cellulite can occur in men, too, and in any race around the world. Female hormones can contribute to the way fat is distributed, but hormone therapy can’t be used to treat cellulite.
Cellulite develops in stages, during which blood flow and drainage in the subcutaneous fat layers are impaired, and then the veins become weaker and leak their blood out into surrounding tissues. Months later, lymphatic fluid is still building up, and the fatty tissue begins to push against your outer layer of skin. Blood flow is them re-routed to the cellulite, and the fat cells become trapped in cellulite areas.
Treatments
There are various ways that cellulite is treated. People want smooth skin, not dimples. Some of the therapies include dietary supplements, which have such diverse ingredients as fish oil, evening primrose, bioflavinoids of grape-seed, sweet clover and ginkgo biloba. These supplements can provide some help, including breaking down fats, protecting your body against cell damage, improving circulation and boosting your metabolism. It’s difficult to determine the effectiveness of these supplements on cellulite, since many of the areas they claim to improve can’t be measured effectively.
Methylxanthines are chemicals that you can find in many creams for cellulite, because they can break down stores of fat. Skin creams don’t normally deliver enough of a chemical concentration to develop any significant breakdown of fat. Studies have shown that they can help reduce your thigh measurements, but they don’t cause significant cellulite loss.
Treatments that involve massage are also sometimes used to treat cellulite. The technique normally uses an electric machine that squeezes and pulls affected areas. It may take ten to twelve treatments for this method to show any cellulite reduction.
Laser therapy combined with massage or suction are sometimes used to temporarily reduce cellulite’s appearance. Like massage, these methods also require a number of visits to cause cellulite loss, and then more treatments to maintain the look.
Mesotherapy is a treatment that has been controversial since its inception. It involves the direct injection of drugs or other substances into the tissue affected with cellulite. Vitamins and herbs are also sometimes used. A series of injections over ten or more sessions is required to show improvement, and the substances have not been approved by the FDA for this purpose.
Special diets can be found that claim efficacy in the treatment of cellulite. Combining certain foods can help to reduce inflammation and may be able to improve the circulation and diminish the appearance of cellulite. These claims aren’t supported by any studies, but eating a healthy diet can help you retain less fluid and help you look and feel better.
If you eat a balanced and nutritional diet, and keep your muscles toned, your skin will be as smooth and taut as is possible. Be careful before using procedures, techniques or supplements, if their value isn’t proven. The FDA has said that massage and massage/laser therapies are approved methods of treatment, but you will need to schedule treatments over long periods of time, to have any noticeable affect. As with so many things, cellulite is easier to prevent than to treat.