Archive for July, 2009
Cellulite is many things. It’s unsightly. It’s embarrassing. Cellulite is also controllable but not necessarily preventable and only as long as there’s a willingness to implement dietary and lifestyle changes.
Everybody knows what cellulite looks like because it’s so easily recognizable. It resembles the skin of an orange or worse, cottage cheese. It has a unique pattern and it generally appears on one of 3 parts of the body – the hips, the buttocks or the abdomen.
Cellulite is far more prevalent in women than in men. It varies in intensity from mild to extreme and, contrary to popular belief it’s not at all a medical condition. It’s simply the term used to describe the visible effect on the epidermis of excess fat deposits being stored just below its surface.
Causes of cellulite
Cellulite doesn’t generally become an issue until the years preceding puberty. That’s when a young girl’s hormone levels surge and those hormones begin sending messages to various parts of the body signaling the need to begin changing. One of these changes involves the formation of a layer of fat within the innermost layer of skin called the subcutaneous fat layer.
During the manufacture of this fat layer, a patterned structure within this layer is created, the purpose of which is to contain stored fat. It is this pattern, or framework for fat storage, shaped somewhat like the letter ‘X’ that creates the dimpling effect when too much fat is stored and the fat deposits begin to bulge. The pattern that’s created in a man’s body is different. It’s shaped more like column so even when there’s excess fat being stored it’s usually not visible in the same manner.
Normal levels of fat stored in this innermost layer of the subcutaneous won’t create the external dimpling because there’s enough space for all the fat deposits. So really, every woman has the tendency to develop some degree of cellulite when fat begins to accumulate.
How to treat cellulite
Clothing can cover the appearance of cellulite, but most people cannot remain in long pants all the time. You could spend hundreds of dollars trying hundreds of cellulite treatment products and not get anywhere close to the same results you’ll get by treating cellulite naturally. Not with some herb or balm, but with diet and exercise. The only way cellulite will be less noticeable is by shrinking the size of the fat cells stored in the subcutaneous layer so they no longer bulge.
And contrary to what the marketers of these hundreds of cellulite treatment creams, lotions, wraps, pills and other procedures will tell you, a sensible diet that’s heavy on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein and low in sodium and saturated fat will put you on the road to recovery. Combine moderate, regular exercise with the nutritious diet and do exercises that focus on the areas where cellulite appears like walking or biking. In a few months (or longer, depending on the severity of the cellulite) this embarrassing skin problem should be well under control.
Massage may help reduce cellulite because the motions help break down the stored fat deposits.
Just as your body needs different clothing to protect it against the changing weather, your skin needs a different skin care regime to properly protect it from the elements. As the body’s largest organ, skin is far more delicate than you probably realize. Here is a closer look at how winter versus summer affects skin and its care.
Why is skin care different in winter than in summer months?
Winter months generally are colder and drier than summer months when heat and humidity levels are on the rise. When skin is exposed to the harsh winter weather, it takes a beating, becoming excessively dry, irritated and chapped. Clothing protects most skin but we often fail to protect our faces. Moving indoors isn’t any better. Constantly running heaters and dehumidifiers sap every bit of moisture from the air.
During the summer, temperatures warm and more skin becomes exposed to the elements. Higher temperatures and humidity levels increase the amount of sweat the body produces in an attempt to cool off. As an unintentional consequence, skin becomes oilier and more prone to pimples and other irritation. Swimming is great way to cool off however exposure to harsh pool chemicals and salt water can lead to excessive dryness.
Tips for protecting skin during the winter months
Apply sunscreen regularly because you’re just as likely to sunburn in the winter as you are in summer. Apply a sunscreen, moisturizer or make-up with a minimum SPF of 15. Be sure to protect lips by wearing lipstick or lip balm with sun protection. Stop licking lips!
Moisturize. Add moisture to inside air by turning on a humidifier. If you don’t have one, place a pan of water near radiator or heat source. Plants help moisturize the air. Add moisture to your body by using emollient-based soaps, lotions and creams.
Take shorter, warmer showers and baths. Hot water strips away natural oils as does staying submerged in water. Adding moisturizers to bath water helps, but take care when exiting as tub will be slippery.
Reduce the number of times you apply toner after cleansing and use toners with no or low alcohol levels. Gently exfoliate using a washcloth or scrub to remove dead skin cells and stimulate skin.
Tips for protecting skin during summer months
Always protect your skin from the effects of ultraviolet radiation by applying sunscreen, wearing sun protective clothing, and seeking shade whenever possible. Stay out of the sun when it’s strongest, between 10:00 am and 3:00 pm.
Excessive sweat and oils clog pores so use a cooling cleanser containing salicylic acid to keep skin blemishes under control. Cleansers made with eucalyptus or menthol extracts feel good and help keep pores clean and open.
Change your moisturizing products because skin doesn’t need as much moisturizing protection during summer as it does during winter.
Always rinse your body with cool water after swimming to remove chlorine and salt.
A facial mask applied once a week will deep-clean pores and help skin retain its natural pH balance. Use a mister to keep skin cool and moist.