Do Anti-Cellulite creams really work?
Cellulite is said to plague the majority of women, statistics sometimes indicating a percentage as high as 90%. Cellulite is not just an overweight woman’s affliction. If we believe the recent pictures in a popular celebrity magazine, even the skinny and beautiful celebrities like Mischa Barton fight the cellulite battle. The most commonly asked question concerning cellulite is how to get rid of it.
Many women resort to anti-cellulite cream to find the answer. But do these creams actually eliminate cellulite. The answer from the medical community is a resounding no. The medical community agrees that there is no ‘cure’ for cellulite. Logically then it would be clear that anti-cellulite creams will not be able to permanently remove cellulite. But some of the experts allow that anti-cellulite creams may be used to minimize the appearance of cellulite.
Anti-cellulite creams can contain a variety of ingredients. Manufacturers of the anti-cellulite creams regularly claim to have found the new break-through ingredient that will finally end the consumer’s battle with cellulite. But the majority of anti-cellulite creams contain the same main ingredients; caffeine, retinol, and antioxidants or DMAEs. Each of these ingredients reduces the appearance of cellulite by fortifying the skin.
Cellulite is mainly found on women. Experts believe this is largely due to the fact that men have thicker skin which hides the appearance of bulging fat cells that cause cellulite. The ingredient retinol found in the anti-cellulite creams attempts to minimize the appearance of cellulite by improving the skin’s texture. Retinol is said to increase the collagen production which can make skin thicker and better able to hide cellulite. DMAEs, when used in combination with amino acids, are supposed to stimulate the muscles to contract and make the skin appear firmer.
Caffeine is the ingredient present in almost every anti-cellulite cream. Caffeine is said to have the ability to enhance fat metabolism. The reduction in the fat causes the skin to appear smoother. Another theory on why caffeine is effective in reducing the appearance of cellulite has to do with the improved blood flow. Whatever the reason, most of the anti-cellulite creams use caffeine to help reduce the appearance of cellulite.
There are mixed feelings regarding the effectiveness of anti-cellulite creams. Not everyone agrees the creams will reduce the cellulite. Currently there isn’t any definitive scientific evidence supporting the success of using anti-cellulite creams. If you choose to try an anti-cellulite cream it is recommended that you stick with ones that are inexpensive.
L’Oreal has an anti-cellulite cream for day and one for night costing around $14. You should expect to use the anti-cellulite cream for at least eight weeks before seeing any improvement. And you will need to continue using the creams if they are effective to maintain results since the anti-cellulite creams are not capable of permanently removing the cellulite.