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What
Is Cellulite?
 Cellulite is a kind of fat tissue in the subcutaneous layer of the skin that contains
constricting bands of connective tissue. This connective tissue, which varies in thickness and is laced with fat cells, is
held in place by a network of fibers that protects our body, cushioning our muscles and organs; it is surrounded by a liquid
that both nourishes it and provides it with an effective waste system. When all is working well in the system, waste products
are removed and smooth curves result; when fats, fluids and toxins are trapped deep in the skin (below the epidural layer),
however, the connective tissue thickens and hardens, giving a dimpling effect. As we mature, the layer of skin thins, resulting
in the rippled appearance of cellulite. What is the difference between cellulite and fat? Though everyone
has a smooth layer of fat, individual amounts depend on weight, lifestyle and genetics. This fat layer is an insulator for
the body and cushions the organs, muscles and nerves. Cellulite, on the other hand, is lumpy and provides no padding whatsoever.
It only occurs in certain areas of the body: the thighs, buttocks, abdomen and breasts. When men get cellulite, it tends to
be on the neck and abdomen.
Cellulite is not necessarily a factor of body weight. You don't have
to be heavy to have cellulite. Though diet and lifestyle affect cellulite formation, a large part of cellulite is comprised
of toxins and fat that build up in the body, and can affect women of any size, weight and body structure.
Different Types of Cellulite
 Hard, or solid, cellulite usually occurs in women who are active (such as dancers
or runners). Hard cellulite is difficult to get rid of because it doesn't lift from the body easily. It's also harder to see
because it attaches directly to the muscle. Soft cellulite is not as concentrated as hard cellulite and is much more visible. It occurs in large
areas and, because it doesn't attach so strongly to the muscle, it's looser, often sagging from the body. The result is often
poor muscle tone. Even though it's easier to spot, it's also easier to remove.
To test for cellulite, lightly pinch or press an area of tissue between your thumb and finger (or in
a larger area, between the palms of your two hands). Normal fat appears fairly smooth, but cellulite will reveal dimples or
ripples -- like the skin of an orange. Cellulite tissue is also more sensitive and can feel cold to the touch. It might appear
whiter than the rest of your skin.
Do Cellulite Products
Help?
Cellulite creams, such as those containing
alpha hydroxy acids, help reduce and prevent the appearance
of cellulite by improving the elasticity of the skin. They claim to do everything from strengthening to renewing and softening.
In conjunction with increased circulation and a change
of diet and lifestyle, some of these products do reduce
the appearance of cellulite by strengthening the network of connective
tissue. Keep in mind that once you stop using these creams, the skin returns to its original state since you haven't permanently
altered the skin's natural properties.
How to Fight Cellulite
 When it comes to cellulite, don't expect miracles. But by combining good eating and exercise
habits with stress reduction and occasional spa treatments, smoother body skin can result. An increase in circulation through
massage definitely provides an assist. Endermologie also exfoliates the skin, leaving it soft and silky. The increased circulation
also gives you a natural energy boost.
The key to preventing and fighting cellulite is to purify
the body with a combination of exercise, a healthy diet, tension reduction and proper circulation.
A detoxifying diet is a great way to start fighting cellulite. This means lots of fresh fruits,
vegetables and whole grain foods. It also means eliminating coffee, soda, smoking and alcohol from your life. A low-fat diet,
high in fiber and complex carbohydrates, is important because these foods are easiest for the body to break down, use and
get rid of. Sugar, starch, salt, spices and animal fats are harder for the body to eliminate. A low-fat diet reduces toxins
and assists in getting rid of the toxins trapped in the tissue. Drink plenty of water -- up to two liters a day -- to assist
your body in getting rid of unwanted toxins and waste.
Exercise is extremely important in aiding proper circulation. It firms muscles and the tissue
surrounding the muscles.
Massage not only pampers, it also assists in fighting and preventing cellulite. Massage helps
restore the body's natural tendencies by manipulating the muscles, and stimulating the circulatory and lymphatic systems that
break down fatty tissue. Massage targets areas that are difficult to stimulate with good old exercise (such as the inner knee
and upper thigh areas). Try simply massaging each leg in circular movements, kneading the flesh as you go, for a couple of
minutes each day to break down fat and get rid of toxins.
Skin brushing using a massage brush or glove for a couple of minutes boosts circulation. Start
at the feet, brushing the skin in an upward movement. Doing this daily before your shower helps revitalize and improve the
skin's appearance.
Tension not only stresses the muscles, it also causes the connective tissue that covers the
muscles to seize up. Tension blocks the tissue, preventing good waste elimination. Relaxation and breathing help the body
relax and work properly. Proper breathing eases tension, oxygenates the body and helps with purification.
Who Gets Cellulite and Why?
 It's primarily women who are the victims of cellulite.
It begins to appear in girls around the age of 14 and increases as we mature and the subcutaneous skin layer thins and redistributes.
Cellulite often forms in postnatal women and those who take birth control pills because the waste system can't get rid of
the enormous flow of estrogen in the body. Cellulite can develop after a traumatic injury if the circulatory system has been
disturbed. A sedentary lifestyle leads to a hardening of the connective tissue, causing a dimpling of the skin.
Men rarely develop cellulite because their network of fat cells occurs deep in the skin. If
you were to look at a map of the female body from the inside out, you would see that the cells are smooth in shape and nearly
reach the surface of the skin, causing a dimpling effect. Men's cells are shaped more sharply and reside deeper in the skin,
rarely poking through to cause the ripples we associate with cellulite.
Some of the contributing factors for developing cellulite are:
- Heredity, but unlike the strength of your nails or the color and texture of your hair, you
can do a lot to fight cellulite.
- Insufficient water intake. Water helps the waste system operate, flushing toxins from your
body. Drink seven glasses of water a day.
- Diet. Poor eating habits (alcohol, caffeine, spicy foods) contribute to the formation of cellulite
because the toxins they produce get trapped in the fatty tissue. And despite what you've heard, crash diets don't work to
fight cellulite. In fact, crash diets increase the risk of cellulite because the body thinks it's starving and by attempting
to compensate, it assists in cellulite formation. All saturated fats help build cellulite. These fats block the arteries and
get trapped in the tissue as well, preventing sufficient waste and toxin elimination.
- Smoking is not only bad for the skin and lungs, it also weakens the skin due to the constriction
of capillaries. It further damages the connective tissue that causes the dimpling effect of cellulite, too.
- Tension and stress can cause a muscle to seize up in pain; they can also cause the connective
tissue that covers that muscle to seize up. Tension also blocks the tissue, preventing proper waste elimination and purification.
- Medication can disturb the body's natural processes, disturbing the purification system that
is naturally in place. Diet pills, sleeping pills and diuretics can all lead to cellulite; oral contraceptives, which increase
the body's estrogen, cause fat cells to enlarge, leading to water retention. Retaining water inhibits the body from flushing
the system of toxins, leading to the formation of cellulite.
- Lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle contribute to the formation of cellulite.
Exercise decreases many health risks and also helps fight cellulite. It improves muscle tone, circulation and overall well-being,
helping to break blocked tissue and purify the body.
Some women find diet supplements helpful in controlling cellulite.
Is Surgery Effective
on Cellulite?
Liposuction has proven effective in taking off inches, but
it does not counter cellulite. Liposuction removes collections of fatty tissue from the legs, buttocks, abdomen, back, arms,
face and neck areas. It uses a "vacuuming" technique to remove fatty tissue, leaving minimal scarring. Because liposuction
does not change the structure of the skin, it can't eliminate cellulite forever. Liposuction is a costly surgical procedure
that can hinder the body's natural circulation and waste-elimination processes while the body heals.
_____________________________________________
Cellulite
From Health Magazine
Cellulite! The very word makes some women cringe. The truth is, there’s
nothing inherently harmful about cellulite; it’s just body fat. What makes cellulite so loathed is its location and
appearance. Because cellulite is stored directly under the skin -- typically on the thighs and buttocks -- its small, uneven
bundles of fat cells tend to press against the skin’s surface. This creates the cottage-cheese look we all hate.
Cellulite
develops mainly in women, who need the extra fat for pregnancy and nursing. Being overweight increases your chances for cellulite,
but thin women are susceptible to it, too. (Take that, swimsuit models.) In fact, about 85 percent of women over age 20 have
some cellulite.
While there’s no cure for cellulite, here are some ways to improve its appearance.
Shrink
it. If you take in fewer calories than you burn, you’ll create a calorie deficit and therefore
lose weight and -- with a little luck -- cellulite. Avoid extreme dieting, though, which zaps precious muscle instead of fat.
The American Dietetic Association recommends gradual weight loss of 1 to 2 pounds each week.
Burn
it. Regular exercise reduces body fat -- including cellulite. A combination of strength training
and aerobic exercise helps create a foundation of smooth muscle for your fat to rest on, reducing the chances of dreaded dimpling.
Cream
it. Products containing active ingredients such as antioxidants and vasodilators shrink fat cells
and loosen the fibrous bands between them, allowing the cells to spread sideways instead of bulging out. Cellulite creams
don’t work for everyone, however, and there’s no research comparing the various products on the market. If you
don’t see improvement after six to eight weeks, try a different cream, or talk to your dermatologist.
Suction
it. Liposuction uses a small vacuum to suck fat from under the skin. This procedure may make
cellulite less noticeable, but it won’t permanently eliminate it.
-- Julianne
Hill
Published October, 2004 Health Publishing, Inc.
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