Getting rid of unsightly cellulite

By Inga Fetting Jan 23, 2012, 3:06 GMT

Hamburg - The dimpled or bumpy skin known as cellulite is unsightly, and many women who have it feel ill at ease wearing shorts or skirts, much less a bikini. So now is the time for them to get their thighs into shape for the summer. Most commonly found on women's thighs and buttocks, cellulite is caused by fat cells pushing up against connective tissue under the skin.

'The structure of fat and connective tissue is less stable and elastic in women than in men,' explained Nicola Otte, a physician specializing in dermatology and laser treatments at the Dermatologikum in Hamburg, a day clinic for the diagnosis and therapy of skin disorders.

Otte said that the fibrils in women's connective tissue were thin and aligned mostly perpendicular to the skin - like a picket fence - therefore offering little resistance to fat cells protruding from below. The fibrils in men's connective tissue, by contrast, look more like a cross-linked fence, making them stronger and better able to hold fat cells in check. Otte added that excess weight and oestrogens, a group of hormones produced primarily in the ovaries, encouraged cellulite.

Too little exercise and an unhealthy diet can be contributing factors as well, noted Sarah Schretzmair, a Dusseldorf-based natural health professional and cosmetologist. But she said the 'orange peel-like skin' can be smoothed somewhat. 'I always recommend a holistic therapy of physical exercise, a healthy diet and good cosmetics,' she said.

Schretzmaier advises cellulite sufferers to use creams with a high caffeine content or algae extract. They are to be applied all year round and not just during the bathing season. In addition, she said, the tissue should regularly be purged with alkaline baths and body wraps.

But cosmetics alone are no remedy for cellulite, as Otte pointed out. 'Peels, creams and gels improve and care for the skin's surface. However, getting rid of cellulite completely isn't possible with purely superficial treatment, which only plays a supportive role,' Otte said, adding that radio-frequency systems that work deep into the skin can further improve the skin's appearance. 'They're currently given the best chances of success,' she said.

Vigorous massage, too, improves blood flow and stimulates lymph drainage. But no amount of massage or topical creams can bring success in the absence of a healthy lifestyle. 'Cellulite is generally aggravated by the consumption of cigarettes, alcohol and medications,' Schretzmaier said. Sugar-rich foods should also be avoided. Mineral water high in calcium is good, on the other hand. 'Two litres of mineral water a day, preferably uncarbonated, stimulates metabolism and really flushes out the body,' she said.

According to Otte, endurance sports have a beneficial effect as well.

Finally, clothing can do a lot for cellulite sufferers' self-esteem, said Andreas Rose, a fashion advisor in Frankfurt. 'Whether it be shaping panties, high-waisted panties or bodysuits, there are fashionable body-shaping undergarments for any part of the body where there's something to hide,' he said, adding that some articles of clothing are unacceptable: 'If you have cellulite, you shouldn't wear skirts that are too short and you should avoid thin fabrics.'