CELLULITE: FACT OR FICTION?
Do you think only older women get cellulite? Or that liposuction gets rid of it but exercise doesn’t? So many myths about cellulite abound, it is worth taking a little time out to separate fact from fiction.
MYTH 1: Only overweight people get cellulite.
FICTION. Reports suggest that more than 80% of women have some degree of cellulite, so you don’t have to be a mathematician to work out that a lot of thin people must suffer from the condition. Even supermodels confess to being victims. It’s important to remember that cellulite sits in the superficial layer of the skin – the last area to be affected by weight loss – and yo-yo dieting makes things worse by stretching the connective tissues that keep skin firm.
MYTH 2: You inherit cellulite from your parents
FACT. Just as some families are susceptible to certain diseases, so some are more likely to suffer from extreme cellulite. But there are other factors involved, so just because your mother and grandmother have cellulite, it doesn't mean you should just sit back and wait for the dimples to appear. What it really means is that the sooner you start to take care of yourself and your skin, the better!
MYTH 3: Cellulite only occurs in women
FICTION. This is one of the most common myths of all. In truth, although cellulite is more common in women because of the different way fat is distributed in male and female bodies, it can also affect men. In the US, over 5000 men a year are treated for cellulite. It is suggested that men with lower levels of the hormone androgen have a tendency toward cellulite.
MYTH 4: Drinking water will improve cellulite
FICTION. Drinking six to eight glasses of water a day helps keep your skin prooperly hydrated. Unfortunately, it does nothing for cellulite. In fact, too much water can actually worsen the appearance of cellulite by generating swelling under the skin.
MYTH 5: Exercise can help reduce cellulite
FACT. Cellulite cannot be completely eliminated by exercise – even athletes suffer with it. Nevertheless, exercise can improve circulation, muscle tone, and the flow of blood to cellulite-prone areas, making skin appear smoother. An inactive lifestyle results in the fibres tightening their hold of the fat cells which leads to cellulite – so don’t be a slave to your desk or sofa!
MYTH 6: Cellulite is for older people
FACT & FICTION. Cellulite can develop at as early an age as 13, beginning to form as soon as levels of estrogen increase at puberty. However, as the years pass, the skin’s elasticity diminishes and its supporting fibres stretch, making the skin thinner and leaving cellulite with nowhere to hide.
A few menu changes can also help. Swapping sweets and cakes for fruit and vegetables is always a good start. Similarly you should try walking - or shopping! - more often, and take the stairs instead of the elevator.
If you combine a healthy diet, exercise and Jergens® Skin Firming Moisturizer, you should definitely see your skin get firmer and your cellulite become less and less visible.
But you need to keep up the good work – or cellulite will rear its ugly head again, someday in the future!
