Whatever the cause of cellulite, it's important to know that there aren't any miracle products, treatments, or medicines that can make it go away. For example, some fancy salon treatments that promise to get rid of cellulite simply cause your skin to puff up through deep massaging, temporarily reducing the appearance of cellulite.

Treatments like liposuction (surgery to remove fat) and mesotherapy (injection of drugs into cellulite) are either expensive or may produce only temporary improvement. Many doctors even warn that liposuction is not an effective treatment for cellulite because liposuction is designed to remove deep fat instead of cellulite, which is close to the skin.

WHAT IS CELLULITE?

Before attempting to find the best cellulite treatment solution and to understand how cellulite reduction is possible, you must have a little background on some important cellulite information and understand the exact definition of cellulite and also the cause of cellulite.

Cellulite is the expression used to describe pockets of fat which are trapped and cause dimpling in the skin. This dimpling is irregular and patchy and has been identified with orange peel.

Cellulite is a combination of fat globules, waste matter, and water, accumulated in connective tissue (collagen and elastin fibres).

Deposits of unattractive dimpled skin or dimpled fat are found on the thighs and buttocks and other body areas, where large areas of fat are found in close proximity to the skin.

Underneath the dermis and epidermis are three specific layers of fat. Cellulite tends to develop in the subcutaneous fat layers. This layer of fat is unique in its structure compared to the other layers because its fatty parts are structured into specific chambers by strands of linked tissue around it.

The subcutaneous fat layer in a woman is organized into large upright chambers allowing fat to be stored. In men, these chambers are organized into small slanting units. These store smaller fat quantities and are not likely to form cellulite.

The scientific theory of cellulite is that the skin's underlying supports called fibrous septae do not hold the skin together evenly and this uneven support causes the irregular bulging and dimples.

Underneath your skin is a mesh work of collagen fibers (septae) that resemble "fish net stockings." In the subcutaneous level of your skin, your fat cells are held in place by this fish net. When your fat cells are not "bloated" with water and/or fat, nothing sticks through the threads and everything looks nice.

And here is where the drainage problem comes in, when water and/or fat enters the fat cells, they bulge, if your cellulite metabolism is working right, your body makes the corrections necessary and drains the area. If it is not working correctly or is overloaded (unfortunately this is what happens in over 90% of women) the fat cells expand against the collagen threads of your fish net stocking and the fat cells bulge out and like sausage links that are twisted at the ends, cannot escape! The cellulite is here to stay because it cannot be drained out no matter how much you exercise or diet.

It does not matter if you are obese, overweight, normal weight, or underweight, cellulite is not a condition dependant on how much you weigh. Although it is often mistaken for obesity, cellulite is not actually obesity related because it can also take place in thin lean women.

Even die-hard exercisers and dieters are battling hard with cellulite reduction as well.

Cellulite affects 90%-95% of women, but it is very hardly ever seen in men. In women, fat cells are arranged a little bit differently than men (which is why cellulite does not usually affect men) because women, since the birth of time, carry more fat and less muscle than men.

CELLULITE CAUSES

Several changes in metabolism and physiology may cause cellulite or contribute to cellulite.

Hormones:
Hormones play a dominant role in the formation of cellulite. They have a crucial role in fat, blood circulation and connective tissue in the body. Cellulite can be developed when women are going through stages of hormonal changes such as puberty, pregnancy and menopause.

Pregnancy can cause cellulite. In preparing your body to give birth, it secretes hormones that "loosens" things up to allow parts of you to stretch more than you would believe possible. This means that a lot of connective and supportive soft tissue is becoming weak or "lax" and not holding things (including fat) in place.

Pregnancy also causes "The Drainage Problem." This is why you retain water in your legs and ankles, pregnancy causing problems of circulation, effecting that very drainage system needed to get rid of water and fat in your fat cells in your subcutaneous skin level in your butt, thighs and hips.

Another factor which may contribute to the formation of cellulite is poor blood circulation.

Predisposing factors:
Several genetic factors have been shown to be necessary for cellulite to develop. Cellulite may also be hereditary.

Aging:
Another factor that contributes to the development of cellulite is due to aging. As you age, the surface of skin thins and loses its elasticity; causing fat deposits under the overlying skin becomes more noticeable.

Overweight:
Though cellulite affects everyone regardless of size, weight or body type, it is more common to those who are overweight or have a higher level of body fat percentage. Excess weight or obesity are prone to cellulite formation. Obesity in itself may not cause cellulite, but it will make the situation look a lot worse

Food:
Excessive amounts of fat, carbohydrates, salt, alcohol or too little fiber can all contribute to an increased cellulite.

Lifestyle:
Smoking, drugs, tight clothes, high heeled shoes, and sitting or standing in a single position of long periods have all been correlated with an increase in cellulite. A high stress lifestyle will cause an increase in the catecholamine hormones.

Lack of Exercise:
Lack of exercise and the inactivity of our lifestyle contribute to the formation of cellulite. When you exercise and burn calories off the body, the less likely you will gain weight. It helps to improve blood flow, hence, decreasing the chances of developing cellulite or at least reducing the ugly effect as much as possible.

One or more combinations of factors may be the culprit for the cause of cellulite.

CELLULITE TREATMENT

Whatever the actual cause individual sufferers, the result is that fat cells are effectively trapped, and locked up in the collagen and elastin fibres. The local circulation is often slowed and the nerve endings may become compressed and tender. Cellulite is in essence imprisoned fat, and cannot be eliminated by diet or exercise alone. It can be treated in a variety of ways, with varying success.

Finding the cellulite cause can be useful before pursuing cellulite treatment.
* Do you exercise, consume adequate amount of water, eat healthy food?
* Do your parents or grandparents suffer from cellulite as well? Did you just give birth to a baby?

While there are variety of cellulite treatment products and techniques available in the market that may help you to reduce the appearance of cellulite – anti cellulite cream, cellulite lotion and pills, it is a widely known fact that none of these can successfully get rid of cellulite completely and for ever. All these cellulite treatments are useful to temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Cellulite creams, which marketers claim will dissolve the fat and smooth the skin are not a permanent solution. Cellulite creams are somewhat effective, but only if they are used on a regular basis.
Many products alone are ineffective in the treatment of cellulite. There are also creams available which contain herbs, antioxidants, minerals and vitamins. These assist the skin to become softer, healthier and smoother and allow it to repair itself more easily.

Creams which contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatories are more effective when treating cellulite as they stimulate the flow of blood. The areas which are affected by cellulite are usually dry and damaged therefore needing additional moisture, increased blood supply and protection. The appearance of cellulite can be reduced temporarily by increasing moisture to the affected area. It needs to be remembered cellulite needs to be treated from the inside as well as the outside.

The best defense against cellulite is to:

* practice a healthy diet to improve your inner nutritional health, consume adequate amount of fluid to keep your body hydrated quit smoking, avoid alcohol, avoid excessive coffee intake, reduce salt consumption – salt causes water retention, cut down sugar and fat

* exercise regularly to improve blood circulation. People who stay in good shape or who have less total body fat seem to have fewer problems with cellulite (exercise program aimed for fat burning is not enough - appropriate exercise program is the one that tones the underlying muscle).

* massage can be effective if performed very vigorously. Ten to twenty sessions are needed to see the results. (Ultrasonic cellulite treatments are often combined with massage and brushing of the skin. The treatment requires 20 to 40 sessions, but is effective.)

* liposuction can remove cellulite fat and the strings of tissue that pull the fat down by scraping under the surface of the skin to disconnect them from the fat. This works best in younger persons. However, in older persons liposuction may cause more dimpling of the skin.

Cellulite's formation is a result of complex physiological changes that occur in the subcutaneous fat layer. Regular exercise and well balanced diets do not always reverse or prevent its formation, although an unhealthy lifestyle will make the overall appearance worse over time due to poor nutrition, weight gain and lack of sufficient water intake.

There is no magical cellulite cure. The most practical, safest and long lasting way to prevent or reduce cellulite once and for all is a combination of regular exercise, proper food, healthier lifestyle and massage with cellulite creams.

The best thing to reduce the amount of cellulite is to decrease excess body fat. Eat fewer calories and most important - exercise more! Experts agree that an exercise routine that combines aerobic exercise with strength training is the best weapon against cellulite.