Reducing and Preventing Cellulite
What is Cellulite?
Cellulite is a dimpling of the skin often said to resemble orange peel or cottage cheese. It is caused by deposits of fat normally held beneath the skin protruding into the lowest layer of skin known as the dermis. This is the layer of skin which contains tightly netted fibres and cushions the body against outside stresses.
Contrary to popular belief Cellulite does not refer to a special type of ‘toxic’ fatty tissue as the manufacturers of many magical cellulite treatments like to claim. It is simply normal fatty tissue special only in its position immediately below the skin. Cellulite is caused specifically by the size of these fatty deposits, their location, and because of certain properties of skin.
Cellulite affects women far more than men, commonly affecting the thighs, buttocks, abdomen and breasts. This is thought to be related to the differing distribution of fat on a female body compared to a male body and also because of differences related to the skin. About 85-95% of post pubescent girls and women are thought to have some degree of cellulite and though it is completely harmless it is often considered unsightly and can cause a lot of distress.
How can it be treated and prevented?
Dieting and Weight loss?
Cellulite can affect people of any size and often affects people who are not overweight. Loosing weight won’t normally totally get rid of cellulite though if you are overweight, weight loss can help reduce it.
Healthy Eating and Exercise
Because your skin is a big factor in the appearance of cellulite, anything that improves the quality and health of your skin can help to reduce cellulite. Healthy eating, i.e. lots of fresh fruit, veg and grains is proven to improve the quality and health of skin and of the connective tissues in the dermis which help to suppress the appearance of cellulite.
Exercise seems to be especially useful in reducing the unsightly effects of cellulite, particularly exercises which tone and build muscle in the areas affected. Yoga and Pilates are especially effective in toning specific areas of the body as many stretching exercises. Weight and resistance training is also a great way to banish unsightly cellulite from specific areas as it helps to promote the growth of lean muscle.
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Anti Cellulite Body Creams
There are literally hundreds of body creams that claim to reduce cellulite or reduce its undesirable appearance. Many of them are effective to a certain extent at least in temporarily reducing the undesirable cosmetic appearance of cellulite. Many of the creams contain caffeine which acts to tighten up the skin in the area of application and can be very effective. In fact many glamour models have been quoted as saying that rubbing ground up coffee into the skin before a photo shoot helps them to reduce areas of cellulite. Unfortunately the effects are only temporary and last a few hours at best.
Other creams contain ingredients claimed to reduce the size of the fatty deposits under the skin, or to improve the strength of the skin’s the fibrous connective tissue which stops the fatty areas showing through and giving the typical ‘orange peel’ appearance. It is uncertain whether these creams have any real long term effects on cellulite due to the lack of studies conducted over a decent period of time.
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Massage
There is quite a lot of evidence that firm and direct massage of the affected area can reduce cellulite. The reason for this is unknown but it might be that it helps break up the fatty deposits or increases circulation to the skin.
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Quit Smoking Smoking and don’t Overdo it on the Sun Bed!
Smoking is awful for the skin and after a long period of time can cause the skin to thin by up to 40% as well as hindering circulation. Prolonged sun or sun bed exposure also causes skin damage and skin thinning.
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Other factors:
A Slimmer You beat cellulite beating cellulite Cellulite Exercise Healthy Eating healthy eating Hot Items overweight reducing cellulite rid of cellulite slimming weight loss celluliteIt is thought by many that certain medications can lead to a worsening of cellulite particularly oral contraceptives, sleeping pill and diuretics.
Not drinking enough water is often thought as a possible cause of cellulite. It is recommended to drink at least 7 glasses of water a day.
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