Zap the cellulite away

Table of Contents
Introduction To Cellulite
What Is Cellulite?
Cures & Treatments
Drugs or Cosmetics?
Topical Treatment
Body Wrapping
Electric Muscle Stimulation
Liposuction
Glossary
Resources

What is Cellulite
Cellulite is a term that is used to describe fat deposits under the skin that outwardly give the skin a dimpled, or orange-peel like appearance. Cellulite is most often seen in women because the fat is arranged in large chambers separated by columns of collagen fibers.

Fibrous strands of tissue connect your skin to deeper tissue layers, creating compartments of ordinary fat cells. When the fat cells increase in size, the compartments bulge and produce the dimpling appearance on your skin.

In overweight people excess fat is stuffed in these compartments causing them to bulge out. On the surface of the skin the bulging provides the dimply appearance of cellulite, especially in areas such as the hips, buttocks or thighs.

Oddly enough, cellulite is predetermined by genetics so even thin women can develop the appearance. Factors such as hormones, pregnancy, and aging may all attribute to the weakening of the collagen fibers to give the cellulite appearance.

Even people diagonosed as the “morbidly obese” are not necessarily genetically pre-disposed to cellulite and may display no symptoms at all.

It is important to note that even though it is unsightly, cellulite is normal for many women and some men as well. The dimpling appears to be less obvious when the subject has thicker skin which further enforces the genetic predisposition. As the body ages, the skin becomes thinner and there is nothing that can be done for that natural aging process.

Cures –& Treatment Options
If our research indicates that cellulite is not recognized as a disease, is there no such thing as a “cure?” We aren’t here to make that determination. That is something the reader should pursue for him or herself. Whether there is or is not a “cure,” there are various methods of treatment and we will endeavor to review them for you with an eye toward “Conquering Cellulite.”

All you need to do is begin a search for information about cellulite and you will find yourself bombarded with commercial messages. There are hundreds of sources all claiming to reduce or eliminate the ravages of cellulite, and “for only $xxxxx you too can rid yourself of this condition.”

The most widely advertised methods we have found are topical creams and/or ointments, body wrapping, electronic muscle stimulation and liposuction. Let’s review them beginning with topicals.

Topical Treatments
Numerous products are available to consumers that are promoted in the area of “skin care products” and/or “thigh creams.” Some of the claims are:

• Increased collagen production
• Strengthening collagen and elastin fibers
• Cellulite reduction through cellular stimulation to release stored fat
• Weight reduction through appetite suppression, increased metabolism, and fat burning
• Reduced water retention.

When is a topical considered a drug or a cosmetic? That’s a difficult question.

According to the government drugs, unlike cosmetics, alter the structure or function of the body. Here’s where it gets really confusing. If the manufacturers claim that thigh creams or other topical treatments eliminate cellulite, is that considered as “altering the structure or function of the body?”

We don’t have the answer to that question nor are we in a position to present a plausible argument either way.

What we do know, is that many people have hidden allergies. These allergies only surface when the individual comes in contact with a “new” trigger. Some of the thigh creams and other topical products contain an ingredient that can be potentially harmful for certain individuals. We will discuss that in just a moment.

Before you use any new topical treatment, you should “test” the product on a small area of skin and give yourself sufficient time to observe any reactions.

You should also carefully read product labels and follow directions. If it contains an allergen that you already know affects you, obviously you won’t want to use that particular product.

Persons who suffer from asthma need to pay particular attention. “Aminophylline,” an approved prescription drug used in the treatment of asthma, is an ingredient used in many thigh cream products that marketers claim will dissolve the fat and smooth the skin.

Since some individuals suffer from allergic reactions to ethylenediamine, a component of aminophylline, there is some concern and these people may wish to avoid these products so that they don't develop a sensitization (become allergic) to aminophylline.

For these and other reasons the government argues that the majority of “topical agents and thigh creams” should be regulated as drugs. They further dispute the efficacy of these creams. As we said earlier, that isn’t our determination to make.