What Is The Best Cellulite Cream?

As long as women have had cellulite, they've been looking for a way to get rid of it. You can't pick up a beauty magazine without finding an ad for anti-cellulite cream. Before and after photos of real women have you day-dreaming of smoother, firmer thighs and wearing cute shorts again instead of sweatpants. With so many cellulite creams on the market vying for your attention, picking the best may require you to keep your sense of reality in check.

Significance

According to Dr. Lisa M. Donofrio, an assistant professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine and Tulane University School of Medicine, "Cellulite is a storage pattern of superficial fat stored in little pockets separated by fibrous strands called septae." In other words, cellulite is the cottage-cheese looking dimples under the skin of your thighs, hips and buttocks that you can't get rid of no matter how hard you try. Anti-cellulite creams offer women hope that reducing the appearance of their cottage-cheese thighs just might be possible, even if the results are temporary.

History

According to Dr. Patrick Treacy, European women began complaining to their physicians over a hundred years ago about their unsightly dimpled skin, referred to at the time as cellulitis. However, since this was neither a medical condition nor illness, doctors dismissed women's concerns. It wasn't until 1973 when a book called "Cellulite, Those Lumps, Bumps and Bulges You Couldn't Lose Before" was published that people sat up and took notice. Suddenly, pills and potions proclaiming a cure for cellulite were everywhere, but did little if anything to live up to their claims. Then in 1996, Dr. Neil Solomon of Johns Hopkins University took a closer look at cellulite under a microscope, only to find it was no different than ordinary fat cells.

Considerations

Keep in mind the results you may achieve, if any, from even the best cellulite creams are only a temporary reduction in the appearance of your cellulite. By managing your expectations, you can also prepare for disappointment if the cream doesn't perform the miraculous transformation you were looking for. Heed the advice from Linda Wells, editor-in-chief of "Allure" magazine when she states that these products only claim to help with the appearance of cellulite, and that no cream will actually get rid of it.

Features

The best cellulite creams contain the ingredients caffeine, retinol A and aminophylline, according to TheBestCelluliteCreams.org. Caffeine is a popular ingredient in anti-cellulite creams for its dehydrating properties, which can tighten the skin, giving it a smoother appearance. Retinol A is a derivative of vitamin A, which is used to produce more collagen, improving skin's elasticity, according to CosmeticsGalore.com. Aminophylline is an asthma medication that, when used in anti-cellulite creams, can shrink fat cells.

Prevention/Solution

Women want to know if it's possible to prevent cellulite. According to Dr. Lisa M. Donofrio, the answer is no, as cellulite is normal and most likely due to genetics and hormones. However, since cellulite is an accumulation of fat cells, there is no harm to your overall health in following prevention tips. First, maintain a healthy body weight to keep excess body fat levels down. Exercise regularly, including fat-burning activities and resistance training as part of your routine for muscle toning. Make sure you drink plenty of water daily to stay hydrated, rid your body of toxins and improve the look of your skin.