Cellulite: Is There A Cure?

9 out of 10 women will, at some point in their lives, have to deal with cellulite. Many products claim to reduce or eliminate cellulite, but which, if any, are truly effective?

Do It Yourself

Many treatments are available for home use, without a prescription. Creams are the least expensive, and the most popular. None will actually remove cellulite, though some can temporarily improve your appearance. Experiment to find one that works for you.

Regularly brushing the skin using a loofah sponge or soft body brush will benefit the skin, and can improve the appearance of cellulite. Body wraps, some of which are used with creams or lotions, may also provide temporary improvement in appearance, mostly due to fluid loss. Skin brushing and body wraps also have the benefit of simply feeling good.

No herbal remedies or pills of any kind have been proven effective. One such product, Cellasene, was very popular a few years ago. Cellasene didn't work as advertised, however, and the manufacturer was forced to pay out millions of dollars in lawsuit settlements.

Professional Help

Some treatments require visiting a doctor's office, clinic, or spa. All of them involve multiple sessions, and costs can easily reach thousands of dollars.

The best of these treatments - Endermologie, Velashape, and TriActive - are all FDA-approved for cellulite. They use a suctioning massage device, and some also use RF or laser technology. These treatments have been shown to be effective for cellulite, but none completely cure the condition. Ongoing maintenance visits may be required after the initial series of treatments.

Mesotherapy, which uses injections of plant extracts, vitamins, and other substances, has become very popular. Because it is a "procedure", rather than a drug or medical device, the FDA cannot control its use. No standardization exists as to what substances are injected. In addition, no scientific studies support its effectiveness, and there may be risk of side-effects.

Liposuction, a procedure which uses suction to remove fat from the body, is generally not suggested for cellulite. It can actually make the condition worse, causing additional skin dimpling.

The Bottom Line

Cellulite is essentially fat. As with all fat, perhaps the most effective long-term solution is exercise combined with a healthy diet. It may be that no creams, pills, or expensive treatments will ever replace simple exercise and good nutrition for keeping us feeling great and looking good.

There IS a cure though for excessive car insurance bills, at least in the UK! Check out this site for short term car insurance or here for temporary van cover.

Copyright David Swindells 2007