Cellulite has become one of the most hated female conditions in recent years especially amongst those who are generally slim; most areas of the body can experience its effects but sufferers mainly have it below the abdomen. Although additional fat is normal in women, this is not just a problem exclusive to overweight women; the cottage cheese appearance so familiar with this condition can affect slim women as well.
Cellulite forms just below the surface of the skin in the thighs and buttocks region, where areas of fat collect and force themselves against the tissue creating a puckered look to the surface of the skin. Health experts have been trying to discover the cause for some time as it is not a condition that affects every woman but they believe it does have some connection to the way the fat cells are made and possibly how toxins enter and are stored within the body.
Two components of the skin that decrease with age are elastin and collagen, both of which may be responsible for the increase of these fatty cells as women grow older. Whilst many would disagree, this condition is often referred to a hormone imbalance problem as men almost never have this happen to them.
Even women who do not appear to have cellulite may have them and sometimes this is visible when the skin is compressed as in the case of squatting or when it is pinched between the thumb and forefinger; however as most women suffer with at some stage it seems to be a perfectly normal condition. Although it may not be known what causes, some factors seem to contribute to its build up including age, sex, extra fat carried and skin thickness all seem to aid the formation.
As medical science cannot prove conclusively what causes the problem, it makes it difficult creating a cure even though a number have been tried including special burning creams. Some clinics specialize in the removal of cellulite simply apply deep massaging to puff up the skin and temporarily reduce the cellulites appearance.
Perhaps the most drastic therapy is liposuction where fat is literally sucked from the body or the more expensive procedure of injecting certain chemicals in a process called mesotherapy. These known remedies offer only temporary relief and are likewise not advisable as liposuction for example should only be used to remove deep fats and is not very effective in the removal of cellulite.
For people who are prone to the problem, there are no magic treatments for selective removal but there are now a number of creams on the market which are designed to help hide the effect it brings. It can only really be reduced as part of an overall weight reduction program through adopting a healthy eating and living plan, together with increasing exercise, so that body fat is reduced rather than connective tissues.
If this is also followed by the adoption of drinking plenty of fresh water every day; unwanted toxins which can help in the formation of cellulite in the tissue are gradually removed.