A curse to many women, cellulite is formed close to the skin surface, producing wrinkled fat cells intermixed with the connective tissue that gives that strange ‘orange peel' effect witnessed by many; although it can be found anywhere, it is primarily in a persons lower half. Although additional fat is normal in women, this is not just a problem exclusive to overweight women; this condition even affects slim women who have fewer fat cells.

A number of fats collect in the lower areas of skin and push against the connecting tissues forcing the skin to pucker or have a dimpled look which is called cellulite. Health experts have been trying to discover the cause for some time as it is not a condition that affects every woman but they believe it does have some connection to the way the fat cells are made and possibly how toxins enter and are stored within the body.

Two components of the skin that decrease with age are elastin and collagen, both of which may be responsible for the increase of these fatty cells as women grow older. It is classified as a hormonal imbalance experienced by women and seldom appears on males as normally fat stored in the thighs and buttock is the same as fat stored all over the body so no difference is observed.

Even women who do not appear to have cellulite may have them and sometimes this is visible when the skin is compressed as in the case of squatting or when it is pinched between the thumb and forefinger; however as most women suffer with at some stage it seems to be a perfectly normal condition. Many factors can influence the buildup; ranging from the sex of the person to their age, genetic make-up, skin type and skin thickness, all have a part to play in its formation.

As medical science cannot prove conclusively what causes the problem, it makes it difficult creating a cure even though a number have been tried including special burning creams. Massage has been found to help hide the indications of cellulite even though it cannot remove it; but is does reduce it's visibility for a temporary period and is available from some beauty clinics.

Liposuction has now started to be used to try and remove the fat cells and even by injecting drugs directly into the affected sacks directly. These known remedies offer only temporary relief and are likewise not advisable as liposuction for example should only be used to remove deep fats and is not very effective in the removal of cellulite.

For people who are prone to the problem, there are no magic treatments for selective removal but there are now a number of creams on the market which are designed to help hide the effect it brings. So far the best method is back to basics combining a healthy diet with exercise that gradually burns off the fat but not the connective tissue where it is found.

If this is also followed by the adoption of drinking plenty of fresh water every day; unwanted toxins which can help in the formation of cellulite in the tissue are gradually removed.

Beneath the skin are a large number of fat cells that form those orange peel type effects everyone knows as cellulite; it is generally found in the lower half of the body. Although additional fat is normal in women, this is not just a problem exclusive to overweight women; the cottage cheese appearance so familiar with this condition can affect slim women as well.

The fats just below the skin surface push against the tissue which results in the skin surface having that dimpled look common of cellulite. It may still be some time before medical science arrives at a definitive reason for why some people are more prone to this than others but it may have something to do with how toxins are held in the cells of some people.

What is certain though is that the older you become the greater the likelihood of this type of cell forming as the elastin and collagen, that help stop aging lines, becomes less effective. Women are more prone to hormonal imbalances as they age and the fat found in their thighs and buttocks where it forms is different to the fat in other areas, unlike men who rarely suffer with this condition.

It is not uncommon to only see the cellulite when the skin is pinched between the fingers at which pint it can normally be felt as well but it is a very common complaint amongst women. There are several factors that contribute to the build-up; genetics probably, gender, the amount of excess fats in your body, age is a major factor and the thickness of the skin are all instrumental to its presence and just how visible it is, even at a distance.

One thing for sure is that technology has not as yet devised a miracle potion or treatment that can eradicate it completely. Massage has been found to help hide the indications of cellulite even though it cannot remove it; but is does reduce it's visibility for a temporary period and is available from some beauty clinics.

Perhaps the most drastic therapy is liposuction where fat is literally sucked from the body or the more expensive procedure of injecting certain chemicals in a process called mesotherapy. These known remedies offer only temporary relief and are likewise not advisable as liposuction for example should only be used to remove deep fats and is not very effective in the removal of cellulite.

A number of cosmetic manufacturers claim their creams are an effective method of removing the fat cells but it would seem these are just a method of masking the condition making it less visible and so far no definitive treatment exists. It can only really be reduced as part of an overall weight reduction program through adopting a healthy eating and living plan, together with increasing exercise, so that body fat is reduced rather than connective tissues.

Many toxins that accumulate in the body can be flushed out with regular amounts of water which some believe is still an effective way to keep the body free of harmful substances including the toxins which help with the formation of cellulite.