Cellulite

Cellulite or ‘orange peel skin’ affects 80-90 % of all females. This dimpling of the skin is seen most commonly on the thighs, buttocks and stomach.  The cause is unknown and there is nothing that “cures” cellulite.   

Liposuction will remove the fat cells, but if you get overweight again, the cellulite will return.You can take steps to make it less noticeable:

• Weight loss

  It is not only overweight people that struggle with cellulite, skinny people may also have cellulite, but extra weight can make it more visible. Thus, if you are overweight, losing weight may help. If you have lost a lot of weight, you may see cellulite in areas where your skin is loose.

   

• Exercise

  Exercise is one of the best cellulite treatments. It does not make it disappear, but having strong muscles under lumpy areas can make your skin look more even.

   

• Stop Smoking

  Smoking affects the blood supply to your skin, making it thinner and more likely to sag. This may contribute to make the cellulite on your arms, thighs and bottom more visible. 

   

• Massage the Dimpled Zone

  Take a few extra minutes every day to firmly massage trouble spots eg when showering.   Massage improves blood flow and shifts excess fluid in that area, which may make dimples less noticeable for a while.

   

• Cellulite Products

  Creams with plant extracts might make your skin look better for a while. For example, products with caffeine, can help quickly tighten the skin for a little while. Firming creams that contains “retinol” can improve your skin’s look and texture. Treatment is required for at least 6 months, and a product with 0.3% retinol is best. It thickens the skin’s outer layer to help cover the bumpy areas underneath.

   

• Tan from a Bottle

  If you have a light skin, a self-tanner may help. Dimpled areas are less noticeable on darker skin. Start with a gentle body scrub, apply a self-tanning lotion to the cellulite areas only. Then spritz your entire body with a tanning spray.  A real tan will damage your skin and make cellulite look worse.

   

• Body Wrap

  You can get a body spa wrap to tighten and smooth your skin for a while. The effects last about a day.  A body shaper around your cellulite zones might give you the same results without having to go the spa.

   

• Stockings

  Wearing modern compression stockings can also help to let the cellulite look smoother, however, only after a year or two!   Compression stockings help prevent cellulite via prevention of storing fluid in that area. 

   

• Massage and Suction Team Up

  “Lipomassage” uses a rolling suction device to gather your skin and massage it and takes several treatments to get results. The benefits are likely to go away unless you have repeated treatments many times.

   

• Lasers and Radiofrequency

  The expensive lasers or radiofrequency (RF) based technologies heat the skin from the outside, and then operate via massage and suction. It can give the bumps a smoother look that may a few weeks or months, however, you may need several treatments.

Adapted from http://www.webmd.com