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Beauty-Basics.Net |
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CelluliteCellulite - or orange peel skin - affects 80 per cent of women some time in their lives. Yet medics are loathe to admit that the puckered, dimpled, blotchy surface skin that mars so many female buttocks, hips and thighs is anything more than just plain fat. So how come dieting doesn't always shift it? More to the point - is there anything out there that does? WHAT CAUSES Cellulite?Cellulite is an essentially female problem - men rarely suffer unless they re seriously, clinically obese. On average, women have 35 billion adipocytes (fat cells) compared to 28 billion in men. Deposited around the muscles, adipose fat plays an essential role in controlling body temperature and providing survival rations during pregnancy should food become scarce. Cellulite gurus also implicate highly refined foods, fizzy soft drinks, alcohol, coffee and smoking, and a sedentary lifestyle. Hormones are thought to govern cellulite formation. Surges of oestrogen levels dwindle along with fat reserves that stores the hormone. Taking some forms of HRT and the contraceptive. Pill can encourage both cellulite and the fluid retention that accompanies it. Cellulite can also be hereditary. Two STAGES OF Cellulite formationResearch at Laboratoires Elancyl pinpoints two stages of cellulite. formation, both hormone-induced: water cellulite and fatty cellulite Water cellulite occurs during the first phase the female cycle as the body stores water and fats prior to ovulation. Oestrogen slackens blood vessel walls, so the dermis and adipose tissue is flooded and fluid leaks to neigbouring tissue. If more water than fat is stored, bloating results. At the end of the cycle, fluid returns to the lymphatic circulation and fat is burned as energy. If you have water cellulite. when you pinch the flesh, the surface skin is curved, taught and sheeny. When you press it, your finger sinks into the puffy surface. You may also feel generally bloated. Catch water cellulite early, and you can halt its progress to the second stage. Adopt lymphatic drainage techniques such as skin brushing, massage and exercise. Body or "inch “ wraps may also help temporary bloating. Fatty cellulite occurs as the female cycle becomes less efficient. Fats that accumulate in the first half of the cycle remain unburned. Fat cells swell with fatty acids and sugars. Surrounding capillaries are compressed, vessels become congested with fluids and circulation slows. FJastin and collagen fibres arc also compressed, causing loss of tissue tone. If you have fatly cellulite, when you pinch the flesh, it has the classic "orange peel" dimples. Prod and it hurts - the fat cells compress nerve endings, too. Poor circulation also means the skin bruises easily and feels cooler than cellulite-free zones. Discourage fatty cellulite from becoming impacted by stepping up exercise and modifying your diet, especially during the second half of your cycle. Massage may help. A skin-conditioning cream will improve surface smoothness. Cellulite Prevention to Get Rid of CelluliteSKIN BRUSHING: Use a soft but firm, natural bristle brush to sweep dry skin upward from the soles of the feet, over thighs, hips and buttocks. It's thought this boosts lymph circulation - it certainly exfoliates and leaves a glow on the skin surface. Brush daily for tough cellulite or three or four times weekly to keep skin smooth. Shower afterward, using cool jets as a massage tonic. MASSAGE: Pummelling is now thought to damage and weaken skin rather than "break down" fat deposits. Gentle massage, though, encourages normal circulation and aids the penetration of cellulite creams. For at least three minutes on each leg daily, work in circular movements, kneading flesh between thumbs and fingers. Finish by sweeping firmly upward with the flats of your hands. EXERCISE: Stress and a sedentary lifestyle encourage fat lay-down. But avoid specific muscle-building workouts that could worsen dimples by pushing fat pockets upward into the skin. Concentrate on energy burners and circulation boosters, such as power walking, cycling, step aerobics, skipping and rebounding. |
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