Banishing Orange Peel: Ways to Reduce Cellulite Appearance

It’s often called the cottage cheese or orange peel affect and it shows up on the stomach, hips, and thighs of sufferers across the country. Also known as cellulite, this troubling occurrence can happen regardless of a person’s size or weight. But what exactly is cellulite, and how can you reduce cellulite appearance? Read below for more information on cellulite and the many techniques that can be used to reduce cellulite appearance, including creams and gels, laser treatments, and electrotherapy.

What Exactly Is Cellulite?

The appearance of cellulite is called orange peel or cottage cheese because of the dimpled effect it has on the skin. But what is it exactly? Cellulite refers to fibrous tissue and subcutaneous fat that causes these dimples in the skin. Toxins and fats that build up in the body compose a huge part of cellulite in the body.

How Can You Reduce Cellulite Appearance?

Cellulite creams and gels are often the most accepted way to reduce cellulite appearance. Gels and creams are often utilized as part of a body wrap treatment. Xanthines, retinoids and alpha hydroxy acids are the three most powerful ingredients in gels and creams. Xanthines are thought to penetrate and encourage fat metabolism. Retinoids improve skin surface circulation while alpha hydroxy assists the sloughing off of dead skin. These three ingredients help reduce cellulite appearance.

Another treatment that is being sought after for the reduction of cellulite appearance is a laser treatment. Laser treatments utilize a combination of laser stimulation and massaging. The lasers stimulate circulation and breaking down of fats, and then the massage allows for an increase in lymphatic draining. The Tri-Active laser has been approved by the FDA for temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite. In addition to the massage, laser combination, the Tri-Active laser also utilizes a cooling head to reduce burning.

Another alternative to wraps, massages and laser treatments is electrotherapy. Electrical muscle stimulators, or EMS devices, are what administer electrotherapy for the purpose of cellulite. Health spas incorporate EMS cellulite reduction treatments even though the FDA has not promoted the use of EMS for cellulite treatment. The idea behind the treatment is that it vibrates the fat on a level that breaks it down into smaller cells that can be eliminated from the body.

Conclusion

Even though you may be tempted to try one or all of the above, it is important that you remember that the FDA has not approved all of the products that claim to cure cellulite. The best medicines are diet, exercise and plenty of water.