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The Doctors Book of Home Remedies: Cellulite

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Cellulite

18 Ways to Fight It

To paraphrase a raven-haired monarch of fairy tale fame, "Mirror, mirror, in my hand, whose skin is fairest in the land?"

"Yours and yours alone, my queen," the loyal mirror responded.

And all was well. Until one fateful evening around bedtime when the mirror felt compelled to comment on a telltale patch of—ugh!—cellulite on the royal thighs. As you may recall, things went pretty much downhill from there. No wonder the queen was in such an evil mood when Snow White and those seven silly dwarfs came whistling down the lane!

The queen's mirror wouldn't lie, and neither will yours if you're carrying around those less-than-pleasing puckers along your thighs, on your derriere, or on the insides of your upper arms. Cellulite is actually no more than pockets of fat, says Paul Lazar, M.D., professor of clinical dermatology at Northwestern University Medical School. Its appearance is due to strands of fibrous tissue anchored to the skin, pulling the skin inward and, in the process, plumping the fat cells outward. Some people may be more susceptible to cellulite than others, Dr. Lazar says—especially women, who generally are more fatty and less muscular in the buttocks, hips, and thighs than men.

Some nonmedical skin specialists see cellulite as more than just fat. "Cellulite is a combination of fat globules, waste matter, and water imprisoned in connective tissue," says Carole Walderman, aesthetician and president of Von Lee International School of Aesthetics, in Baltimore.

Medical doctors and researchers may not agree with this theory. Neither are they likely to agree that much can be done to get rid of cellulite once it sets in. Cellulite is something you can try to avoid, says Dr. Lazar, through exercise and by keeping your weight normal. But those face-to-face with cellulite are willing to give something a try. We weeded through the claims, tossed out the bizarre, and came up with the following middle-of-the-road remedies. They're yours for the trying.

Peel off the pounds. Since cellulite is fat, excess weight can contribute to it, says Dr. Lazar. Lose weight gradually, he says, and "hopefully, some of what you lose will be cellulite."

Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables—low in calories yet packed with nutrients—and drink fruit and vegetable juices, suggests Dolores Schneider, a nutritionist and director of Sharon Springs, a spa in upstate New York, where people go to lose pounds and detoxify their bodies.

Get back in balance by eating well. Eat a healthy, balanced diet overall, urges Kim Ulen, supervisor of the skin care department of the Cal-a-Vie Spa in Vista, California. "This returns your body chemistry to a balanced state in which cellulite is less likely to develop," she says.

Get back in balance by resting well. Relax in your bathtub, Schneider suggests, with a home mineral bath containing sea salt. Add about 2 cups of sea salt to warm bathwater and luxuriate in the soothing waters for at least 20 minutes. It will leave your skin feeling smooth.

Combat constipation. "People who are constipated on a regular basis usually have cellulite," says Ulen. Your meals move more quickly through your digestive tract when you eat plenty of high-fiber foods like green vegetables and grains every day, she says. For an extra boost, she suggests sprinkling raw bran on your foods or in your beverages at each meal. Plus:

Practice the eating habits your mother (hopefully) taught you, like chewing your food thoroughly and forgoing late-night snacks, Ulen says.
Drink beverages at room temperature rather than ice-cold. "Ice constricts your esophagus and stomach, hindering the flow of digestive enzymes into your stomach," she says.

Make your skin an exit ramp. Keeping your body's natural highways and byways clear gives cellulite an easier escape route, skin specialists say. They say the following techniques will open up the blood vessels in and just below your skin, and also keep your waste-removal system working properly.

Drinks lots of water. "I have found that a lot of people who have cellulite don't drink enough water," says Walderman. Drink at least six to eight glasses of bottled water—distilled or mineral—per day, she says.
Steer clear of salt, which contributes to water retention and adds to cellulite problems, says Ulen.
Kick the coffee and cigarette habits, says Walderman. These substances constrict your blood vessels and may actually make your cellulite more prominent.
Dry-brush your skin. It helps improve your circulation, says Walderman. Press a soft-bristled brush gently onto your skin and rotate it in circular movements from head to toe or on cellulite areas alone, she says.

The Alternate Route

Lotions and Potions

Beauty consultants believe that certain herbal formulas have restorative powers that can help smooth skin affected by cellulite. You'll have to decide for yourself how effective they really are—if at all.

Add sage, cypress, or juniper oils to your bathwater, suggests Cal-a-Vie Spa's Kim Ulen. These fragrant plant oils, frequently used for a type of massage called aromatherapy, are absorbed directly through your skin and combat cellulite from the inside out, she says. Aromatherapy oils are available in many health food stores.

Take up muscle-toning exercises. Building stronger muscles with methods such as Nautilus or working out with weights may help fill out the tissue in cellulite problem areas, says Dr. Lazar.

Massage those trouble spots. Reinforce the benefits of exercise, says Ulen, with gentle, kneading massage you can do yourself in areas like your thighs and the insides of your knees.

Take a deep breath. Learn to breathe from deep down in your diaphragm, says Schneider. The oxygen helps burn fat. A deep breath also helps clean out toxic carbon dixoide from all your cells, says Ulen.

Stay calm. Cellulite builds up when muscles get tense, and muscles get tense when you're feeling stressed, says Walderman. You need to relax. If you're among those who find it hard to relax, the following might be of help.

Try yoga for an ideal antistress, anticellulite remedy, she says. This discipline teaches you to breathe deeply, gives your muscles a good stretch, and relaxes you all over.
Wipe worrisome thoughts from your mind by spending a few minutes on a slant board, Walderman suggests. Lie with your head at the low end of the board for up to 20 minutes each day. For the same benefits without a slant board, lie on the floor with your feet propped up on the wall, suggests Ulen.

PANEL OF ADVISERS

Paul Lazar, M.D., is a professor of clinical dermatology at Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago, Illinois. He is a former board member of the American Academy of Dermatology.

Dolores Schneider is a nutritionist and director of Sharon Springs, a holistic health spa in upstate New York that emphasizes weight loss and detoxification.

Kim Ulen is supervisor of the skin care department of the Cal-a-Vie Spa in Vista, California.

Carole Walderman is an aesthetician and president of Von Lee International School of Aesthetics, Inc., in Baltimore, Maryland, a clinic and professional school that specializes in skin care.

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