The four stages of cellulite; Identifying which stage your cellulite has reached is the first step to tackling those lumps and bumps. By JOYCE WALTER. But do not mistakenly assume you are at stage four as it is often not the case.
What stage is your cellulite?
HOW IT LOOKS: A slight dimpling of the surface but only noticeable if you squeeze the flesh between your hands. WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CELLS: Fat cells start to enlarge and hold more water and toxins.
WHO GETS IT: Most often seen in women under 30, especially if on the oral contraceptive pill as cellulite is influenced by oestrogen levels.
The treatment
Exercise is the most important factor as it increases blood flow, burns fat and tones your muscles - essential for smooth, taut thighs. The best exercises for cellulite include brisk walking, running, cycling, using a step or cross-trainer machine or step aerobics. The skin is cool due to poor circulation and can look blotchy and tinged with grey or blue.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CELLS: There is a serious impairment of local
blood circulation and the fat cells swell, mass together and harden. Elastic and collagen fibres in the skin break and weaken, becoming less able to contain the bulkier fat cells beneath.
WHO GETS IT: Typically affects women over 35, especially those who have been on the Pill and/or had children.
The treatment
Do what's recommended in stage sone and two.
Invest in a course of endermologie. This increases circulation and may help you lose water from the fat cells. Sucking these with endermologie will pull the boxes back into shape." It shouldn't hurt, except in the purse. Each 30 to 45 minute session costs from pounds 40 to pounds 70 and a course of 10 is recommended, with once-a-month top-ups after that.
HOW IT LOOKS: The lumpy bits are very noticeable and can even be seen through clingy clothing, altering your silhouette.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CELLS: The collagen breaks down almost completely in areas and may form scar tissue, increasing the lumpy effect. These may be combined with electrical stimulation or clays or creams containing cellulite-fighting ingredients such as seaweed, co-enzyme Q10 or dead
sea minerals. This is a special form of deep-tissue massage that uses a machine to target cellulite and pummel it into oblivion. Smoking decreases circulation in every single tiny blood vessel in your body, including the ones in your skin and thighs.
Drink at least five pints of water a day to help flush out toxins.
HOW IT LOOKS: A dimpling which is visible to the naked eye but mainly in small, localised areas. According to Dr James Fleming, author of Beat Cellulite Forever (Piatkus, pounds 6.99) the ingredients to look for include escin (or horse chestnut extract), topical retinoids and aloe vera. The hard truth is, your cellulite will probably be with you for life. It is the only treatment which has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and been shown to work.
You are fitted into an elasticated body stocking and a therapist uses a hand-held machine to lift, roll, and massage the skin. Try Crystal Clear X-Cell Lip Gel pounds 49.99 for 125 ml, or Roc Retinol Body Contouring Concentrate, pounds 21.99 for 150ml, or far cheaper and just as good, go for a simple Aloe Vera Gel. These treatments use materials such as clingfilm, foil and rubber to wrap the skin very tightly. And this will ultimately make it harder to lose fat.
You may be tempted by surgery or liposuction but Dr Bowler advises against it for cellulite. Don't be tempted by crash or fad diets as these will trigger your body's metabolism to slow down because it is protecting itself
from starving. Ginger helps boost circulation
Massage your thighs and bum or book in with a professional. Increases circulation.
If you smoke, stop. Skin will look smoother for a few days and if done regularly it may give longer-lasting results. Eat more oily fish as these have been shown to help reduce the level of cholesterol and fat in the blood which will increase circulation to the fat cells. The massaging action will help boost circulation to the area and some key ingredients may lessen the appearance of cellulite for as long as you use them. He says, "Cellulite is in the upper layers of the skin and you can't suck out that bit of fat without causing more dimpling. But time, hormones, smoking and a lack of exercise all cut off a good blood flow to the fat cells and they respond by enlarging, changing shape and doing whatever they can to get more blood flow.
As a result your skin feels cooler and gets thicker - and this makes it even harder for blood to reach the cells.
So doing whatever you can to increase the circulation into these cells is the key to tackling cellulite, says Dr Patrick Bowler, a London-based cosmetic dermatologist who has worked with Italian researchers on cellulite.
He says: "A woman with stage one or stage two cellulite will almost certainly progress to the next stage within five to 10 years if she doesn't take steps."
You can easily reverse cellulite at stages one and two but it gets harder to shift by stage three. You might notice a blotchy skin tone in these areas which can feel a bit colder to the touch.
WHAT HAPPENS TO THE CELLS: Collagen and elastic fibres in the skin harden and begin to break so they don't hold the fat cells together as well as they should, which gives the uneven appearance. Pregnancy will also contribute, due to the surge in sex hormones.
The treatment
Do the steps suggested in stage one.
Cut down on alcohol, which dehydrates the cells and increases their levels of toxins, making cellulite worse.
Consider switching to a non-hormonal contraception if on the Pill.
Try a body wrap. So keep up the exercise, don't smoke, stick to a healthy diet and drink lots of water. Time to learn to love your body, ripples and all.
CONTACTS
Dr Patrick Bowler, 020 7224 2465
Endermologie: Harley Medical Group 0800 085 9085, Lasercare Clinics 0800 028 7222.
Supplements: Cellasene Forte, pounds 29.99 and Hoffels Ginger & Ginkgo in Garlic, pounds 7.19, from health food shops. And treat yourself to some flattering, looser-fit clothes. Or drastically cut down. Do some activity every day, even if it's only a brisk 20 minute walk.
Cut down on fatty and processed food to prevent adding to those fat cells. Try Banana Boat Aloe Vera Gel, price pounds 1.20 for 100ml, or Holland & Barrett Aloe Vera Gel, price pounds 2.99 for 100ml.
HOW IT LOOKS: By this stage the cellulite is very evident over the thighs, hips and buttocks. Fat cells are starved by a lack of circulation.
WHO GETS IT: Most common in women over 40 who have had children, worse after menopause.
The treatment
If you're overweight, go for a healthy, moderate weight-loss diet. Dr James
Fleming says: "The cellulite is housed in non-uniform cells, like boxes, which don't stand up straight. AS THOUGH you didn't have enough to worry about, scientists have how graded cellulite into four levels. Skin in these areas is likely to be less elastic, drier and thinner, with tiny veins showing. CellAssist from Superdrug, pounds 14.95.
Body wraps: Ionithermie 0175 3833 900, Phytomer 0808 100 2204; Boots Health and Beauty, 08450 708090; CACI; 020 8731 5678.
Cellulite creams: Crystal clear X-Cell Lipo Gel, mail order, 08705 934 934.
CAPTION(S):
1 A better diet and exercise will shift early stage cellulite; 2; Visible dimpling is common in smokers and those on Pill; 3 Your late 30s and a couple of kids contribute to this stage; 4; Just accept that it's there for life but minimise it with diet; CURVES: A perfect, cellulite-free bum. They're spelling out what we knew all along - cellulite gets worse with age. But the idea is that if you can identify which stage your orange peel legs have reached, you can tailor-make your cellulite-busting plan to hopefully regain smooth, youthful thighs.
When you're in your teens, the blood supply to the fat cells
under the skin is healthy and free-flowing. Salon wrap treatments are priced from pounds 35 - pounds 60.
Cellulite supplements, such as Cellasene Forte and CellAssist often contain plant and herb extracts such as gingko, grape seed bioflavanoids and kelp which are said to increase circulation and break down fat. New research from Italy has shown that those with stage two cellulite, who took Cellasene Forte for 12 weeks, combined with exercise and a better diet, could reverse their cellulite by 70 to 80 per cent.
Rub creams into it. By stage four there's not a lot of hope. The fat cells look like a line of boxes under the skin and the stronger the collagen network is, the straighter the boxes will stand, and the smoother the surface of skin will appear.
WHO GETS IT: Most common in women between the ages of 30 and 35, who might have a healthy diet but may slack off exercise. We can but dream..
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Thefourstagesofcellulite;Identifyingwhichstageyourcellulite...-a09840 8797. Liposuction is only good for women who have dieted and exercised but still can't shift deep pockets of fat on the hips and buttocks."
If you're a healthy weight, relax and don't throw your money away on expensive treatments