Cellulite

Irregular skin surface created by lumps of fat is known as Cellulites. Most women who have cellulite would concur that it is almost indestructible. Maintaining a low body weight and lower fat stores helps but is no guarantee that this problem will not creep into your life with advancing age.

Heredity and hormonal changes play a role in the creation of this localized change to the smooth skin surface of the thighs and buttocks. The connections between the coating of the muscle and the skin stretch in some areas and contract in others creating a fibrous mesh. The fatty layer between the skin and the muscle thickens and pushes out of the holes in the mesh creating the uneven cobblestone appearance of cellulite.

Heat generating massaging creams, superficial suction devices, and electronic muscle stimulators are some of the techniques for which claims have been made that they work to reduce cellulite. It is doubtful, however, whether these techniques provide permanent results. They irritate and inflame the superficial tissue resulting in an accumulation of fluid (or edema). This layer of fluid behaves like a water cushion in the skin’s second layer (over the fatty third layer). This effectively masks the cellulite, temporarily disguising but not solving the problem. The effect is similar to that of agents used to cause irritation, fluid shifts, and swelling of the skin to temporarily puff up and iron but out wrinkles.

Unfortunately, there is no long term solution to cellulite. However there is some hope. A medicated cream containing aminophylline as an active ingredient applied to the affected area twice a day reduces cellulite in some people. The regular use of this cream in combination with the following suggestions should help to improve the look of the thighs and buttocks of women afflicted with cellulite. Please ask the doctor details about this cream and wheather it can be suitable for you.

• Maintaining lower fat stores with a well balanced low fat diet.

• Avoiding anything that encourages deep fluid retention, such as too much salt in the diet and too many diet drinks. In this case, the hormonal balance should also be evaluated.

• Tones the muscles with daily buttocks, hip, and thigh exercise so that the fat cushion is sitting on a firm base. Exercises such as vigorous walking, swimming, and cycling are particularly helpful.

• Vigorously massage the areas of cellulite for 20 minutes each day to break down the fibrous mesh and the larger fat globules. Applying a hot water bottle or heating pad to the area prior to vigorously manipulating the area with aggressive judo chop will help, but care must be taken not to overheat and burn the skin. Follow the massage with an ice pack.

STRETCH MARKS
To minimize the possibility of stretch marks, care should be taken to avoid unnecessary and prolonged use of potent cortisone skin preparations which weaken the skin and predispose it to stretch marks. Excessive weight fluctuations and use of muscle building steroids during physical training should also be avoided.

Stretch marks are unsightly and a cosmetic solution is commonly sought. To date, this condition has been difficult to treat. Vitamin E oil, aloevera, and similar agents do not prevent or reverse this problem, and allergic reactions to these agents are common. Many techniques currently being used to reduce or eliminate stretch marks are not yet refined and require further exploration and research.

What is the best available treatment for stretch marks?
The use of tretinoin has proven to be the most effective treatment to date. Tretinoin in the form of Retisol-A, Retin-A, Stieva-A, Rejuva-A, Renova or Vitamin A acid applied to stretch marks in high doses causes a realignment of the collagen in the skin.

To be effective, tretinoin must be applied in a high dosage, no less than 0.1% per day, for a period of twelve weeks. The area becomes very irritated, dry and itchy. This reaction is important to the success of the treatment and must not be interfered with by using moisturizing creams or mild cortisone creams to improve the discomfort.

Researchers have found that 4 out of 20 people find they cannot tolerate the irritation. Of the remaining numbers; 25% demonstrate a complete reversal of their stretch marks, 70% experience some improvement and 5% show no improvement and 5 % show no improvement at all. Stretch marks that have developed recently to treatment with tretinoin than stretch marks which have been around for awhile.

Are there other alternatives for the treatment of stretch markes?
Yes, there are other options, but they are not as effective as the application of tretinoin. The next best alternative is to resurface the stretch marks with the carbon dioxide laser. Ad with tretinoin, this causes a reorganization of the collagen architecture in the skin.

Up to 75% improvement has been noted with this technique but complete reversal of the stretch marks has not been achieved. Also, the treated area may remain red or pink for a long as 1 or 2 years. Care must be taken, as overly aggressive laser treatments may result in scarring and irregular pigmentation.

In some cases the vascular removal lasers may help to improve the look of stretch marks.

Another option is the use of inject able collagen. Zyplast collagen can be injected and moulded into the dipressed and thinned areas of the stretch marks. The results are variable and not permanent, and the amount of collagen that would be required to fill large areas of stretch marks would be very costly.

These factors do not make this an attractive alternative for most individuals.

Linear surgical excision may help in select instances where a fine white scar would be preferable to unsightly stretch marks.

Opaque cosmetics, such as Covermark and dermablend, may be used to camouflage visible stretch marks if they are particularly troublesome.