BEAUTY KLINIC

A curse to many women, cellulite is formed close to the skin surface and produces a number of wrinkled fat cells intermixed with the connective tissue and produces that strange orange peel′ effect most of us have witnessed. Most women carry excess fat in thighs and buttocks, but this condition is not confined just to the overweight as it is in reality, a lumpy substance that looks more like cottage cheese that forms beneath the skin.

Fat beneath the surface of the skin pushes against connective tissue causing it to give that dimpled look commonly known as cellulite. Health experts have been trying to discover the cause for some time as it is not a condition that affects every woman but they believe it does have some connection to the way the fat cells are made and possibly how toxins enter and are stored within the body.

What is certain though is that the older you become the greater the likelihood of this type of cell forming as the elastin and collagen, that help stop aging lines, becomes less effective. Women are more prone to hormonal imbalances as they age and the fat found in their thighs and buttocks where it forms is different to the fat in other areas, unlike men who rarely suffer with this condition.

Cellulite often goes unnoticed for the majority of the time for most people and is only seen when a person has their thigh muscles compressed in the case of squatting for example or when the skin is pinched in the thigh area and the puckered skin becomes apparent; when the fatty tissue can be felt but most women suffer with this. After a great deal of research, certain conditions do help with the formation and retention of the fat cells; the age of the person, their gender, how thick their skin is and the amount of extra fat they carry, all play a part.

One thing for sure is that technology has not as yet devised a miracle potion or treatment that can eradicate it completely. One method that hides the cellulite quite well by puffing the skin is deep massage and an increasing number of clinics are now offering this therapy.

Another technique used to remove the fat cells, but not that successfully, is liposuction which is used to remove excess fat in the body but a method called mesotherapy which injects chemicals into the fat cells is still too expensive for most people who desire it. These known remedies offer only temporary relief and are likewise not advisable as liposuction for example should only be used to remove deep fats and is not very effective in the removal of cellulite.

There isn’t one single therapy or treatment that can rid someone of these fat deposits and even special burning creams provide dubious results; however the most recent creams available seem to just hide the effects or offer a temporary fix. Although no treatment can really help, adjustments to lifestyle habits seem to be a better option which means adopting a healthy diet, with regular physical activity and an overall reduction in weight.

In addition, increasing the intake of water will help cleanse the system and flush out damaging toxins plus smokers should stop smoking or at least reduce it which will also be beneficial as smoking impacts negatively on the capillaries in the skin and reducing stress will help reduce the amount of cellulite.

It is often surprising to see the amount of money people are willing to spend on a cellulite treatment. What is sad is that many people are choosing a product with hefty claims without understanding how cellulite forms. This leads to poor decisions regarding which product to buy.

An informed consumer is a smart buyer and this is no different when comes to choosing a cellulite removal treatment. The 5 myths outlined below are busted and will give you the right information that is required to sort through all those confusing marketing messages.

1. Cellulite Starts in Your 40’s

As people get older they put on more weight and the structure holding their cells together begins to breakdown. This makes age a major risk factor for cellulite. However, the condition can occur at any age including when you are a teenager.

2. You Have to be Overweight to Get It

Just as many skinny women are affected by cellulite than overweight ones. Why? Because cellulite occurs when the thin layer of fat under the skin begins to become lumpy and uneven. This fat layer exists even when the rest of your body has very little fat.

3. Sodium in Soda Pop is a Cause

There is a myth that the sodium contained in soda pops can cause cellulite to form. There is no evidence that sodium can do this. However, the calories contained in soda pop can most definitely contribute to being overweight, which is a major cause of cellulite.

4. It is Only Found on The Thighs and Buttocks

Cellulite can be found almost anywhere on the body provided that there is enough fat content to be found under the skin. That is why the bum and thighs are the most common trouble spots for women but it can also affect other areas if your fat content is high enough.

5. All You Need to Do is Change Your Diet and Exercise More

Changes to your diet and exercise are extremely important. As already mentioned, cellulite’s major risk factor is being overweight. But because slender people also get the condition it shows that being overweight is only a contributing factor. For the best results it is important that you do other treatments combined with exercise and diet changes.

Cellulite removal treatments can include creams and lotions, body wraps, radio therapy, sound wave therapy and laser therapy. Most of these treatments can be done by your beauty therapist at your day spa. If these don’t appeal do you there is always the options of having a trained plastic surgeon conduct liposuction.

There are thousands of cellulite treatment products available on the shelf at your local drug store or online. Not all of these products are the same nor do all of them actually work. But cellulite reduction is big business and many women fall for the slick marketing campaigns because they don’t understand the condition or how it forms.

An informed consumer is a smart buyer and this is no different when comes to choosing a cellulite removal treatment. The 5 myths outlined below are busted and will give you the right information that is required to sort through all those confusing marketing messages.

1. The 40’s is Where Cellulite Begins

Cellulite can occur at any age, even during puberty. Getting older is a risk factor, especially for those in their 30’s and 40’s. This is because people put on more fat as they age and the structures that hold the fat cells start to breakdown.

2. Only Overweight People Get It

Overweight people are more likely to get cellulite because they have a higher level of fat content in their bodies. However, slender women are also affected by the condition. This is because all women have a higher fat content than men and this leads to a higher risk of cellulite forming.

3. Sodium in Soda Pop is a Cause

A myth that has been around for years is that the sodium found in soda pop causes the fat cells in the body to swell, leading to cellulite. This is untrue. But what is in soda pop is plenty of calories and these can lead to weight gain and therefore a higher risk of developing cellulite.

4. It is Only Found on The Thighs and Buttocks

The thighs and buttocks are the most common place for the condition but it can also occur elsewhere. This can include your arms, stomach, lower legs and neck. These other areas are more likely to develop cellulite when you are more overweight.

5. Diet and Exercise Are The Only Treatments

Changes to your diet and exercise are extremely important. As already mentioned, cellulite’s major risk factor is being overweight. But because slender people also get the condition it shows that being overweight is only a contributing factor. For the best results it is important that you do other treatments combined with exercise and diet changes.

Treatments for cellulite removal include cellulite cream, massage, radio therapy, sound wave therapy, laser therapy and body wraps. Your beauty spa will have more information on these treatments and how they can help the cellulite reduction process. A surgical alternative to these treatments is liposuction.

Every woman hates cellulite. Over 90 per cent will have the condition at some time with most developing it in their 30’s. The most common place for cellulite to occur is on the buttocks, thighs or stomach but it has been known to appear elsewhere including the back or even the neck. A woman doesn’t need to be overweight to develop cellulite with many skinny women also being affected. Trying to find a way to get rid of cellulite can be difficult with so many treatments available.

The number one cause of cellulite is too much fat. The condition occurs at the level below the skin where there exists a thin layer of fat. When a person is overweight the fat here becomes lumpy and uneven which causes the skin above to become dimpled. Research has shown that women will add around 15 pounds of fat every decade and this is one of the major contributors to cellulite. The first step in losing cellulite is to start eating more healthy foods and increase your intake of water.

Any change to your diet that you do should be accompanied by a exercise program. The best method is to combine strength training and cardiovascular exercise. This will ensure that you burn off the fat while at the same time building more toned muscle.

For the cardio you can do any type of exercise that will raise you heart rate, getting you breathing heavily and burning fat. This could be walking, stair climbing or cycling. Don’t forget to warm up and cool down properly to avoid any injuries.

When choosing a muscle building exercise you should choose one that focuses on the problem area. So, for example, if your problem area is your thighs then you should select an exercise like lunges, leg press or squats as these will tone the area around the cellulite and help increase the muscle. Make sure you exercise these muscles intensively.

Stretching is also an important part of your exercise routine. While this won’t reduce cellulite directly it will keep your muscles long and flexible, and decrease the chance of your getting an injury from the intense workout.

A simple and easy method to minimize the look of cellulite is to have a spray on tan done. The more dark your skin is the less likely people will notice the cellulite. However, you shouldn’t tan in the sun if you have cellulite as the UV light will damage the skin and make the cellulite even more problematic.

Cellulite is one of the things that every woman fears and millions of dollars are spent on treating cellulite every year. The condition occurs mainly on the stomach, thighs and hips because it is these areas which have the highest fat content in the woman’s body. There are fat deposits that exist below the skin and when they begin to bulge dimples on the skin above begin to appear.

One cellulite treatment is massage. Massage reduces the appearance of cellulite by increasing circulation to the skin and softening and smoothing the fat deposits.

Massage machines are available in both a spa or home environment. But not anyone can afford to purchase equipment or a pay a trained beauty therapist to carry out the treatment. This is why self-massage can be a cost-effective cellulite treatment for those on a tight budget or in combination with other treatments like wraps, radio therapy, laser therapy or creams and lotions.

When starting out with self-massage you will first need to choose an oil that will help you lubricate the skin. Some oils that are available claim to be able to aid the cellulite reduction process. Your local dealer of oils will be able to explain to you what these oils are in more detail.

For the cellulite on your abdomen and hips use two hands on your stomach. Knead the skin and fat by lifting it with one and then dropping it into the other one. Do this all over your tummy and hips.

Gently make circular movements and strokes. It is recommended that you avoid doing counter clockwise movements as this is not the natural direction of your digestive system. Also, you should avoid any cellulite massage on the abdomen when you are or may be pregnant to avoid hurting the foetus.

If you have cellulite on your thighs as most women do, start at the knee and use a long stroking motion upwards. Also use the same stroke with the area behind the knees and back thighs.

Also switch to a kneading-like motion once you have done enough of the long strokes.

Cellulite self-massage is best combined with other treatments. Cost effective treatments can include increasing your intake of water, undergoing a weight loss diet and more cardio and weight bearing exercise. You can also use a loofah sponge to rub the affected areas during a bath or shower to improve skin circulation and massage the fat deposits.

Using a cellulite massage machine can increase the effectiveness of the treatment. There are home units available that mean you can self-massage in the privacy of your own home. Many beauty spa also have commercial machines that they use on their private clients.