9:56am Tuesday 31st July 2007
Such is the obsession with cellulite that there is now a plethora of treatments available. Jenny Needham discovers more about how to dispel the dreaded 'orange peel'.
THERE aren't many women who don't have to worry about cellulite. Even Victoria Beckham, who has been her displaying her well maintained pins for the paparazzi in Los Angeles, got caught out when the bright sunlight appeared to highlight the classic signs of cellulite. As the supermum teetered up some steps in vertiginous heels and skin-tight mini, puckered skin could clearly be seen on her legs.
"Unfortunately the make-up of the female body just makes us more prone to it," says Cristina Moreira, owner of Beauty Angels salon in Sedgefield.
Cellulite affects around 80-90 per cent of the female population and is caused by obesity, pregnancy, ageing, smoking and poor lymphatic drainage. Lack of exercise, high consumption of fat and sugar and processed food, food allergies and exposure to the sun can also contribute to its development.
So what is the dreaded orange peel and how do we get rid of it?
Well, cellulite is a kind of fat tissue in the subcutaneous layer of the skin, which contains constricting bands of connective tissue. This connective tissue, which varies in thickness and is laced with fat cells, is held in place by a network of fibres that protects our body, cushioning our muscles and organs. It is also surrounded by a liquid that nourishes it and provides it with an effective waste system. When all is working well in the system, waste products are removed from the body and smooth curves result; when fats, fluids and toxins are trapped deep in the skin, however, the connective tissue thickens and hardens, causing the dimples and bumpy appearance that we all recognise as cellulite.
The lumpy layer only occurs in certain areas of the body: the thighs, buttocks, abdomen and breasts. When men get cellulite, which is rarely as their fat cells are embedded much deeper in the skin - it tends to be on the neck and abdomen.
Cellulite is not necessarily a factor of body weight. "You don't have to be heavy to have cellulite, though overweight people often suffer more from it because of their diet and lifestyle," says Cristina. "A large part of cellulite is made up of toxins and fat that build up in the body, and can affect women of any size, weight and body structure."
If you're someone who gets cellulite, you're in good company. Around 80 per cent of Western women think they have it. It is common for it to begin to appear in girls around the time of puberty and in women during pregnancy. Many women also find that cellulite worsens after childbirth, as it takes a long time for the body's waste system to get rid of the enormous flow of oestrogen in the body.
Such is the obsession with the orange-peel effect that there is now a plethora of treatments available. Cristina recommends two in particular at her salon. The first, Crystal Clear, is great for shifting stubborn cellulite.
The magic ingredient is a hand-held machine that gives sharp pinches to dimpled thighs and bottom, vacuuming up the toxins and sending them on their way.
"The system is the most-up-to-date method of breaking down toxins in between the cells and flushing them out via the lymph system," says Cristina. "It is quite time intensive, though, as you need three treatments a week for at least three weeks, so you have to be committed, but it is the best long-term answer and gives fantastic results."
It works on any part of the body, says Cristina - thighs, bums, tums and 'bingo wings', the flabby upper arms that start to appear in middle age. "It can be uncomfortable because it works on a deep level, but we can start on a mild setting and build up," says Cristina.
I tried the second method recommended by Cristina, a Murad body scrub with firming and toning serum, which can be backed up with a home care package. Therapist Kayleigh Newby used all her muscle power to massage in the potions in the direction of the lymph glands so they could be flushed out of the body. Again, a number of treatments are recommended and though it was quite a tough massage, even after one treatment my skin felt much firmer and smoother.
Once you've had treatments, there are certain things you can do to prevent cellulite building up again.
* Drink lots of water as it helps the waste system operate, flushing toxins from your body.
* Cut down on your alcohol, caffeine and spicy food intake. The toxins get trapped in the fatty tissue.
* Don't crash diet. It increases your risk of cellulite because the body thinks it's starving and by attempting *to compensate, can start forming cellulite.
Stop smoking. It weakens the skin by causing constriction of capillaries and damages the connective tissue that causes the dimpling effect of cellulite.
* Exercise regularly. It helps fight cellulite because it improves muscle tone, circulation, helps to break blocked tissue and purifies the body.
Beauty Angels, 1st Floor, 3 High Street, Sedgefield TS21 2AU; 0845-603-6687; www.angelsinc.co.uk
SPECIAL OFFERS
Buy three Murad products and get the treatment free. A Murad cellulite treatment costs from £65. All sports massage and holistic treatments at Beauty Angels currently have 20 per cent off.
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