Cellulite

Natural Strategies For Fighting Cellulite

The only people who “don’t believe in cellulite” are people — mostly men — who don’t have any!

Cellulite isn’t “just fat” – it is fat that has undergone a “mattress effect” due to the underlying landscape of connective tissue. It occurs far more frequently in women than in men and is influences by female hormones. When seen in men, cellulite suggests a possible androgen (male hormone) deficiency or estrogen excess.

Cellulite is not due only to overweight, since normal weight people can have cellulite and many fat people do not. However, excess weight amplifies the appearance of cellulite in most cellulite-prone people.

Cellulite is thought to be a “multi-factorial” condition. Factors that contribute to the development of cellulite include:

  • Female hormones, especially estrogen
  • Collagen fiber break-down (as occurs with age and nutrient deficiencies)
  • Poor venous and lymphatic circulation
  • Overweight

Although believed by many to be largely a cosmetic problem, cellulite tissue often feels heavy or tight and is often tender when massaged. (NOTE: DO NOT confuse this with “cellulitis,” a serious inflammation or infection of connective tissue. There is no underlying infection in cellulite).

Books and tabloid articles have been written about “cellulite cures” and diet changes, although there is little substantiation for this in the medical literature
apart from overall weight loss.

Diet And Lifestyle Recommendations

  • Maintain a normal weight. Excess body fat alone does not cause cellulite, but it does increase estrogen levels. Excess body fat typically makes
    cellulite more noticeable. For weight loss help, try The Super Fast Diet.
  • Exercise: regular aerobic exercise with weight training for specific problem areas may be helpful. Exercise is known to improve estrogen balance and assist with weight (fat) loss. Spot exercises for lifting the glutes (butt) and hips may help reduce the appearance of cellulite on thighs.
  • Massage: daily self-massage of cellulite tissue, using the hands with a “kneading” motion. Massage helps break up the problematic connective tissue and improve venous and lymphatic circulation. Special percussion massage therapy may be particularly helpful.

Primary Support

  • Maxi Multi: 3 caps, 3 times per day with meals. Optimal (not minimal) doses of antioxidants & bioflavonoids are particularly important for strengthening blood vessels, reducing inflammation and decreasing free radicals. Vitamin C is crucial to collagen formation.

Additional Support (Internal)

  • Maxi Flavones:1 cap, 1-2 times per day with meals. High potency antioxidant / flavonoid herbs to strengthen blood vessels, decrease inflammation and improve liver function (which in turn helps hormone balance).
  • Conjugated Linoleic Acid (CLA): 4-5 caps per day with meals. CLA has been shown to decrease body fat, increase lean muscle tissue   and assist  with cellulite improvement.
  • Gotu kola (Centella asiatica): 1 cap, 3 times per day with meals. (Target dose: 90 mg triterpenes per day)
  • Horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum): 1 cap, 3 times per day with meals. (Target dose:30- 60mg escin per day).

Additional Support (Topical)

Topical preparations containing caffeine, xanthines and related thermogenic substances, and glycyrrhetinic acid (from licorice) may have benefit.

Tests

Males with cellulite should have a male hormone profile test performed. When seen in men, cellulite is highly suggestive of a male hormone deficiency and/or an excess of estrogens.

References

1.) Querleux B, Cornillon C, Jolivet O, Bittoun J. Anatomy and physiology of subcutaneous adipose tissue by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy: relationships with sex and
presence of cellulite. Skin Res Technol. 2002 May;8(2):118-24.
2.) Rosenbaum M, Prieto V, Hellmer J, Boschmann M, Krueger J, Leibel RL, Ship AG. An exploratory investigation of the morphology and biochemistry of cellulite. Plast Reconstr Surg.
1998 Jun;101(7):1934-9.
3.) Piérard GE, Nizet JL, Piérard-Franchimont C. Cellulite: from standing fat herniation to hypodermal stretch marks. Am J Dermatopathol. 2000 Feb;22(1):34-7.
4.) Mirrashed F, Sharp JC, Krause V, Morgan J, Tomanek B. Pilot study of dermal and subcutaneous fat structures by MRI in individuals who differ in gender, BMI, and cellulite grading. Skin Res Technol. 2004 Aug;10(3):161-8.
5.) Pavicic T, Borelli C, Korting HC. Cellulite–the greatest skin problem in healthy people? An approach. J Dtsch Dermatol Ges. 2006 Oct;4(10):861-70.
6.) Quatresooz P, Xhauflaire-Uhoda E, Piérard-Franchimont C, Piérard GE. Cellulite histopathology and related mechanobiology. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2006 Jun;28(3):207-10.
7.) Piérard GE. Commentary on cellulite: skin mechanobiology and the waist-to-hip ratio.J Cosmet Dermatol. 2005 Sep;4(3):151-2.
8.) Rotunda AM, Avram MM, Avram AS.Cellulite: Is there a role for injectables? J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2005 Dec;7(3-4):147-54.
9.) A. V. Rawlings. Cellulite and its treatment. Int J. of Cosmetic Science. 2006 Feb; 28(3):175-190.
10.) Velasco M.V.,Tano C.T.,Machado-Santelli G., Consiglieri V.O., et al. Effects of caffeine and siloxanetriol alginate caffeine, as anticellulite agents, on fatty tissue: histological evaluation.
J. Cosmetic Derm. 2008 Jan; 7(1):23-29.
11.) Lupi O., Semenovitch I., Treu C., Bottino D., Bouskela E. Evaluation of the effects of caffeine in the microcirculation and edema on thighs and buttocks using the orthogonal polarization
spectral imaging and clinical parameters. J. Cosmetic Derm. 2007 May; 6(2): 102-107.
12.) Smalls LK, Hicks M, Passeretti D, Gersin K, Kitzmiller WJ, Bakhsh A, Wickett RR, Whitestone J, Visscher MO. Effect of weight loss on cellulite: gynoid lypodystrophy.Plast Reconstr Surg. 2006
Aug;118(2):510-6.
13.) Distante F, Bacci PA, Carrera M. Efficacy of a multifunctional plant complex in the treatment of the so-called ‘cellulite’: clinical and instrumental evaluation. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2006 Jun;28(3):191-206.
14.) Rona C, Carrera M, Berardesca E.Testing anticellulite products.Int J Cosmet Sci. 2006 Jun;28(3):169-73.
15.) Armanini D, Nacamulli D, Francini-Pesenti F, Battagin G, Ragazzi E, Fiore C. Glycyrrhetinic acid, the active principle of licorice, can reduce the thickness of subcutaneous thigh fat through topical application. Steroids. 2005 Jul;70(8):538-42.