Is Cellulite Predetermined?

In our never ending search for the illusive "Fountain of Youth," nothing strikes a chord like the term "cellulite." Interestingly, the term "cellulite" was first introduced to us by a fashion magazine.

That fact is sufficient to generate speculation among opposing sides to this controversial subject.It is interesting to note that nearly two decades ago, The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) stated that "there is no medical condition known or described as cellulite in this country." Because there is no official medical term for the conditions, does that mean that there can be a cure for cellulite? Apparently so, as evidenced by the thousands of anti cellulite creams and procedures available to combat the condition.

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 call cellulite.

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.

If research indicates that cellulite is not recognized as a disease, is there no such thing as a"cure?" whether there is or is not a "cure," 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 anti cellulite creams all claiming to reduce or eliminate the ravages of cellulite, and "for only $xxxxx you too can rid yourself of this condition."

Do the anti cellulite creams work? The government argues that the majority of cellulite creams don't work. Some dermatologists and clinicians have a different point of view. One such practice conducted an abstract study where they used a "double-blinded randomized trial." This means that neither the clinicians conducting the test nor the subjects, knew which of a particular cellulite cream they were testing.

Twenty women with a moderate degree of cellulite on the buttocks and/or thighs were entered into a four-week, double-blinded, randomized trial where an anti-cellulite cream was applied to the affected sites on a nightly basis. High quality digital photography was used to photograph them from different angles before and after four weeks of treatment. 17 of the subjects actually completed the study. Of those 17, 76% saw overall improvement in their cellulite.

But 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.

If you follow a regimen of good health, nutrition and exercise which will rid your body of excess toxins and promote a general state of health that is optimum for pursuing any program you use for dealing with cellulite.

To your better health.