Everything You Need To Know About Cellulite

Cellulite. It’s the bane of a woman’s beauty routine and a marketing minefield. With so many products and treatments available promising to rid you of this orange peel like problem, how do you know what actually works?

Cellulite happens to us all; it doesn’t matter if you’re underweight, overweight or a perfect weight, the only thing that completely eradicates cellulite is Photoshop. Even models have it.

Why Do We Get Cellulite?

Cellulite isn’t at all mysterious – it’s just fat. The reason most women get it and most men don’t is due to our hormonal make-up. The cellulite appears bumpy because of the way it’s stored, and because it pushes against connective tissue, which makes the skin covering it pucker.

You’re more likely to have cellulite if:

·      You crash diet or have a poor diet in general

·      Your metabolism is slow

·      You don’t exercise much or at all

·      You’re dehydrated

Hormone changes in puberty, pregnancy and menopause can lead to developing or increasing the amount of cellulite you have, and if you have darker skin, it tends to be less noticeable.

How Can You Treat Cellulite?

Depending on how much cellulite you have and how much it bothers you, you might want to consider trying a treatment designed to remove or reduce it. You can disguise the look of cellulite up to a point by having a tanning treatment. The darker your skin color, the less the lumps and bumps will show up, so by tanning your skin you can create an optical illusion of less cellulite. Opt for a self-tanning product or a spray tan in a salon rather than relying on sunbathing which can damage your skin.

Holistic Approaches

You can try changing the way you eat; increase your water intake, reduce the amount of sodium (salt) you eat and load up on healthy foods that help your body to detoxify naturally like fiber-rich and whole grain foods. Exercise and a good diet will work with your body to shrink the size of your fat cells and if you add in lots of water it helps the collagen in your skin stay supple, reducing the appearance of cellulite bumps.

Topical Treatments for Cellulite

There are many different cellulite products and treatments available that have a temporary effect on your skin, reducing the dimples. Most available treatments and products either have a detoxifying element, usually combined with a deep tissue or lymphatic drainage style massage; or contain ingredients like caffeine which work by dehydrating fat cells. Body scrubs also help by exfoliating the outer layers of skin, making it appear smoother.

Professional Cellulite Treatments

There are some effective salon treatments for cellulite, like Endermologie, that have a more long-lasting effect than topically applied treatments and products. Look for a specialized treatment if you are really serious about long term cellulite removal, and expect to have to book a series of sessions before you see noticeable results. Endermologie involves kneading the skin with a rolling suction device to break the cellulite up under the skin and at least six sessions is recommended.

The next step along is laser treatment – or radio frequency (RF) treatment. These treatments combine specialized massage techniques with suction to stimulate collagen production, while adding heat which helps to shrink the fat cells (your liver then processes the fat.)

If cellulite is bothering you, talk to your esthetician about ways you can combat it.