More than 90% of women over 30 years old will develop cellulite of some kind.
Unfortunately, cellulite is not what comes to mind when you think of the perfect summer body. So many people who find themselves plagued by cellulite turn to cellulite cream.
The problem is, it is not unheard of for the beauty industry to take advantage of women’s imperfections and insecurities. This is part of how they make so much money.
But are these cellulite cream products actually working? Or is everything they say too good to be true? Read on for your answers.
Cellulite: What is it?
Cellulite is a change in the skin that is typically found in females around the pelvis, buttocks, legs, and abdomen. The altered appearance makes the skin appear dimpled rather than smooth and firm.
Why does this happen? Well, there are many factors that can cause cellulite.
Metabolism changes caused by dieting or changes in the diet can have an effect on cellulite.
Hormones actually play a large role in cellulite production, especially estrogen. After a certain age, your production of estrogen will begin to drop. This lack of estrogen production will make the cellulite worse.
Other hormones that could affect cellulite include insulin, catecholamines, adrenaline (epinephrine), and noradrenaline (norepinephrine).
Genetics or genetic predisposition can put you at risk for cellulite as well.
Cellulite Cream: What’s in it?
Creams that claim to help reduce cellulite will have a number of ingredients. These ingredients help create an immediate, but temporary effect. These common ingredients have the following effects:
Vitamin E
Used in a variety of skin care products, the vitamin plays an important role in repairing damaged skin. Does it help improve cellulite, though? That has yet to be seen.
DMAE
This antioxidant comes from fish and can stimulate muscles to contract more. This process is thought to allow for more firmer muscles, thereby creating more support for the skin.
Collagen
Although the idea that delivering collagen directly to the skin would achieve better results without the side effects of retinol, there is a big problem that is overlooked — Collagen particles are actually too large to fit through the skin.
Meaning, the ingredient doesn’t actually do anything.
Retinol
By penetrating and exfoliating the skin, retinol creates an increase in collagen production which can make the skin appear thicker and firmer.
Using too much of this ingredient can cause reddening and peeling — not quite the effect you were looking for when you bought the cream.
Caffeine
The inclusion of caffeine encourages blood flow to the skin which allows for the fluids to be flushed out and a more firm appearance.
The effect is only temporary, don’t let the illusion of immediate results fool you.
So… Do They Work?
A difficult question to answer. But ultimately, no. The cellulite cream will not give you the permanent results you are looking for. Rather, companies invest in creating a reduced appearance of cellulite through toning and firming the skin.
This reduction comes at a price, literally. The moment you stop using these creams, you will find yourself back at the beginning — with cellulite you hate and less money in your wallet.
What We Do Know
The three leading theories about cellulite and its formation are:
- Women’s unique skin structure on their thighs allows cellulite to form easily
- Connective tissue layers on the thigh are weak and/or thin and cannot maintain a smooth appearance
- Vascular changes or inflammatory conditions could be a contributing factor
These are the running theories, but that doesn’t make them true. For now, the only thing we truly know is that cellulite is a nuisance that is difficult to get rid of.
Cellulite Myths, Debunked
Cellulite and Men
It is often thought that men don’t get cellulite, but they do. About 10% of men will get cellulite. Now, compare that to the 90% of women who will get cellulite and you can see why this myth is so popular.
The reason? Physiologically, women are more prone to the accumulation of fat in their thighs and hips whereas men will gain weight in the abdominal area. So, it’s much more common to see a woman with cellulite than a man.
Water
Oddly enough there are two contradicting myths surrounding water. One saying that drinking water will help cellulite, and another saying that water retention is a cause of cellulite!
Both myths have not been proven.
Detoxing the Body
For consumers, this has come to mean purging problem substances from the foods and drinks consumed from the body. Unfortunately, the reality is that there is little research that shows any credibility behind detoxing in this sense.
In the scientific community, detoxing has a completely different meaning. It describes the process of reducing cellular damage through the use of antioxidants or enzymes.
This process is certainly helpful for the overall body, but there is no information on the reduction of cellulite.
Special Diets
Eating healthy is great and will certainly help you look better overall. But weight and cellulite are not as connected as we tend to think. There are plenty of women with cellulite who have perfectly healthy weights, exercise regularly, and eat properly.
Cellulite can easily be made worse by the accumulation of fats around areas in which case losing weight can help reduce the area and depth of the cellulite. But weight loss will not erase it completely.
Don’t Fall for it
We all want to feel confident in our bodies, but sometimes it’s hard to look past the small imperfections. So we try different products that claim they will get rid of our cellulite.
The reality is, there isn’t an easy way to get rid of cellulite. Going to the store and picking up the latest cream is not going to be as helpful as you’d like.
Thankfully, Verju is available. The Verju laser system provides an assured way to get the body you want. With updated technology producing 25% more energy than previous treatments, you can see faster results with better reduction rates!
Want to really get rid of your cellulite? Schedule an appointment now!
