Cellulite is caused by a layer of fat between the skin and muscle. The bands that connect skin and muscle sometimes allow fat to squeeze through unevenly, and these deposits appear on the thighs, buttocks and abdomen. Cellulite is harmless, but it causes great distress during swimsuit season. Because cellulite is common, there are many products that claim to treat it. According to the New Zealand Dermatological Society, women are much more likely to be affected than men and genetics play a role in determining how smooth your skin will be.
History
Cellulite is a beauty industry term, not a medical one. Medical professionals simply call it fatty tissue and consider it normal. The term "cellulite" originated in Europe, and in 1973, a New York City salon owner popularized the term in a book about cellulite treatment. In the late 1960s, 40 people were injured in a quest to treat cellulite. The culprit was a device called the Relax-A-Cizor, which was sold with the promise of improving skin appearance by delivering electric shocks to muscle. The FDA stepped in and halted sales of the device in 1970.
Types
Cellulite has been organized into grades based on appearance. Grade I is skin that is smooth when lying or standing, but if pinched appears to have dimples. Grade II means that cellulite is visible when standing but disappears upon lying down. Grade III skin has visible cellulite upon standing and lying down. The grades are important when judging treatment effectiveness.
Misconceptions
Obesity is not a cause of cellulite, and losing weight is good for general health but will not necessarily improve cellulite. Age also is not a factor--cellulite affects young people as well as older--but aging skin loses elasticity, which makes skin appear worse. Diet does not make a difference in the appearance of cellulite, so avoiding certain foods and favoring others has no proven effect.
Professional Treatments
Endermologie involves massaging affected areas with a special device, but there is no proof of long-lasting results. Subcision is surgery to cut the bands of tissue that allow fat to protrude, which can improve skin appearance but there are no guarantees of lasting results. Radio-frequency devices like VelaSmooth have shown mixed results in studies. Lasers are capable of removing fat and improving skin texture.
Home Treatments
Improvement in cellulite has been documented with long-term retinol use. Topical creams that contain caffeine, aminophylline or herbal combinations have not been proven effective, although some consumers report improvement. Exercise is an effective way to improve the appearance of cellulite and has health benefits as well.
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