Fat or fiction: the truth about cellulite - bodycare - Brief Article

Dimples may be darling, but if you're one of the estimated 90 percent of women with cellulite, they're a source of irritation and embarrassment. While most women are familiar with the characteristic orange-peel skin, cellulite remains the subject of some controversy.

In fact, the phrase "cellulite" isn't a medical term. It was coined in European spas and popularized in America in the early 1970s, when New York salon owner Nicole Ronsard published Cellulite: Those Lumps, Bumps and Bulges You Couldn't Lose Before. Since then, experts have had conflicting opinions about what exactly cellulite is.

According to most doctors, cellulite is just plain fat. "The skin sends down anchoring fibers to the muscle," says Melvin M. Propis, MD, president of the Florida Academy of Cosmetic Surgery. "Between the skin and the muscle is a space filled with fat cells. When the fat cells start pushing against the skin between these fibers, it creates a lumpy appearance. It's like pushing the fat through cheesecloth--where the skin isn't being tethered down, the fat forms a dome, and where the skin is tethered down, there's a pitting."

So, if cellulite is just plain old fat, why is it so stubborn? Theories abound. Some say sluggish blood and lymph circulation allow fluids and toxins to accumulate, causing fat cells to inflate and bulge up against the skin. Another possibility: Age and sun damage cause skin to lose its elasticity and strength, so it's unable to "hold" fat smoothly.

skin-toning treatments

The good news: Whether or not you believe it's fat or fiction, cellulite can be treated.

"Start by focusing on your diet," says Linda Upton, vice president of Borlind of Germany, a cosmetics company located in New London, New Hampshire. "Eliminate processed foods, alcohol, sugar and caffeine, cut back on salt and focus on fresh fruits and vegetables. And exercise is an important component--focus on aerobic forms that rev up the whole system, rather than spot toning."

Other tips:

* Water encourages elimination, flushes out toxins and rehydrates skin to smooth its tone, says Jeffrey Light, president of Jason Natural Cosmetics. The minimum: two liters a day.

* Massage, with or without cellulite cream, helps boost blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, says Susan Ciminelli, owner of Susan Ciminelli Day Spa in New York.

* Cellasene, an herbal product marketed as a cellulite reducer, has been linked to thyroid problems, according to the University of California, Berkeley's Wellness Letter. Safer bets: horse chestnut reduces water retention and boosts circulation in the legs, and gotu kola and horsetail lessen lumps and bumps by strengthening connective tissue.

* Essential oils enhance circulation and help eliminate retained water. Some to try: grapefruit, cypress, juniper, clary sage or lemon added to a base of jojoba oil for a massage or bath oil.

natural neutralizers

Even if you diet diligently, massage regularly and flood yourself with water, you may need a little extra help getting rid of stubborn cellulite.

Topical creams, lotions, gels and toners promote circulation, stimulate fat burning and tone skin for a smoother look. But avoid mainstream products: most contain aminophylline, a bronchodilator that can cause heart palpitations, anxiety and, in extreme cases, respiratory failure. Instead, look for topical cellulite treatments that contain these natural ingredients:

* Caffeine. Although drinking caffeine seems to increase cellulite--probably by impairing circulation and lymph flow--topical application can reduce fat content in cells by blocking phosphodiesterase, an enzyme that inhibits fat breakdown. Caffeine may be listed on ingredient labels as caffeine, kola nut, tea or green tea.

* Cocoa contains theobromine, an alkaloid that penetrates the skin to the subcutaneous fat layer and may help stimulate the release of stored fat.

* Theophylline is an alkaloid found in black and green tea that's absorbed into the subcutaneous fat layer, where it helps increase circulation.

cellulite-taming topicals

In combination with a healthy diet, regular exercise and other treatments, cellulite creams, lotions and baths may help. Some to try: Body Lind Cellulite Creme from Borlind of Germany; Jason Natural Cosmetics' Firming Therapy Daytime Gel; Susan Ciminelli's Algae Fine Powder Bath; Body Sculpture from Spectrum Inc.; and Dr. Hauschka's Rosemary Arm and Leg Toner.

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