One of the confounding factors with cellulite is the fact that in impacts 90% or more of all women and there is no consensus on what works to reduce it and what does not. For each new cellulite treatment you’ll find positive reviews and disappointment expressed in online forums. But it’s worthwhile to look at the active ingredients used most often by the brands that dominate the market.
Caffeine is probably the ingredient most consistently found in cellulite creams. It can increase metabolism and thus, in theory, reduce the fat cells that form the dimpling effects in cellulite skin. It can also firm the skin, making the cellulite less noticeable. One of the important points on caffeine based cellulite creams and all others, for that matter, is that they work only as long as you keep using them. Without consistent treatment, cellulite will return to its original degree of visibility.
There is no getting rid of the stuff; that’s why you can’t exercise it off. It has to do with skin structure more than the possibility of excess fat cells. That’s why creams containing retinol may have a good approach, because retinol is a powerful antioxidant that can thicken the epidermis and improve skin texture and circulation, as well. The net effect is skin that appears smoother, the orange peel factor visibly reduced.
Another common ingredient is aminophylline, an amino acid that is said to break down fat cells into liquid form which is then disposed of by the body. The question with creams that treat the dermal layer beneath the skin is whether or not they have the penetration power to pass through the outer layer and reach these fat cells.
Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are compounds derived from natural sources such as milk (lactic acid), sugar cane (glycolic acid) fruits (citric acid) and grape wine (tartaric acid). These compounds cause the sloughing off of dead cells on the epidermis, freshening the skin. They also contribute to fat cell metabolism. Because any anti cellulite cream that is going to impact fat cells beneath the skin’s surface must penetrate the outer layer, compounds with the smallest molecules are most successful. With AHAs, glycolic acid has the smallest molecule.
There are also a number of herbal remedies on the market for cellulite, with compounds that have varying effects on skin cells, fat cells and connective tissue. Selecting a cellulite cream is a project that takes some research and an understanding that there is no treatment, surgical or topical, which can eliminate cellulite.