CELLULITE BUSTER - Workout tips and a topical cream to beat cottage-cheese skin for good

(with questions answered by Jeri Ross, Institut DERMed)

A woman’s worst nightmare is not the thought of having no comfort foods at home in the event of a snack attack. Nor is it the thought of having no shoes to wear for the date with the hottie next door. It’s the three-syllabic “C” word that results in a phobia of swimsuit season and wearing short shorts.

We’ve seen products that promise to deliver satin smooth skin. And we’ve also seen how short-lived these results can be. Cellulite appears when subcutaneous fat protrudes into the dermis, and there is a link between hormonal activity and cellulite. Research has shown that there is no link between obesity and cellulite.

Even if you follow the South Beach Diet or schedule a liposuction during your lunch hour, you will not be able to get rid of cellulite unless you exercise regularly and eat healthily. Experts agree that cellulite is not a fat problem but rather a skin problem. And it is genetic. So what do you do when you have it?

Eat well. Choose foods that are rich in lecithin, essential fatty acids, amino acids and antioxidants, according to Howard Murad MD, author of The Cellulite Solution. Some of these foods include soy, eggs, olive oils, pomegranate, raw nuts and citrus fruit.

You can opt for treatments like Endermologie, but chances are that you’ll have to spend a pretty coin to get results and keep them. The answer to banish cellulite: exercise, exercise, exercise! Plus using topical creams that improve circulation in those troubled spots can help (and I repeat, help, but not cure cellulite).

Here are some exercise tips that will help you combat those prune-like skin nightmares:

1. Do swift, heart rate accelerating cardiovascular activity for at least 45 minutes 3-4 times weekly. Remember to cool down (walking is helpful) and stretch those hamstring and quad muscles after you work out. Some cardiovascular exercises including walking, running, swimming, using the elliptical machine and the stair-master. Skiing is a great cardiovascular activity and helps target the gluteal and quad muscles.

2. During the “off” days, perform lunges and squats with dumbbells (1-3 lbs will do). Make sure to do at least 20 repetitions per set, and 3-5 sets. You can do lateral squats (where you are standing with feet together and holding the dumbbells on each side of your shoulders). Start with your feet close together, then move your feet apart, then squat until your legs are parallel to the floor. Then stand up on tiptoe and bring your feet together again.

3. Adding upper body workout components is beneficial to combating cellulite. Performing bicep and tricep curls using 2-5 lb weights, 2-3 times a week, can help with overall body toning.

4. If you have a gym membership, use the hip adducting and abducting machines to your advantage by doing 10-15 repetitions with at least 40lb weights. These will strengthen your lower and upper hips.

Now, comes part two of the step to banish cellulite: applying topical treatments. We spoke to Jeri Ross of Institut DERMed that specializes in skincare products. One of its power tools is CelluliteRX, which is a range of anti-cellulite topical treatments. BeautyNewsLA.com asked her some questions:

BN: What inspired you to launch the CelluliteRX line? What products should people start out with from that line to combat cellulite?

JR: I designed CelluliteRx products for my sister’s Medical Spa clients at Institut DERMed in Atlanta. My sister, Lyn Ross and I started a partnership to develop therapeutic body care products. CelluliteRx was our first offering. Our goal is to formulate corrective body care products for women that can noticeably improve conditions such as cellulite.

I recommend that women start with our three-product CelluliteRx system: This is a two month program. Each product is used once daily for two months. Results are maintained by using the products two or three times weekly following the two month program.

The LipoKit ($150) contains a one-month supply. This kit includes a 6 oz LipoSmooth Body Polish, which is a natural sea mineral body scrub promoting skin cell renewal. This is meant to be applied while bathing for exfoliation. It also contains a 6 oz LipoTherm Contour Cream, which is a corrective cream that attacks cellulite at the source by increasing circulation and fat burning. The 6 oz LipoLift Firming Cream is a rich, hydrating cream with glycolic acid and peptides that firm and tighten skin resulting in a more youthful appearance.

BN: Does exercise help combat unopposed estrogen levels? Is the ideal situation a combination of exercise and topical treatments?

LR: To my knowledge, exercise does not combat unopposed estrogen, however, exercise is a very important factor in antiaging that preserves a more youthful hydrated and toned skin structure; exercise burns fat for fuel instead of storing it and it contributes to increased circulation that helps to flush cellular toxins while ushering in nutrient rich blood.

Yes, the ideal treatment includes exercise, topical products loaded with actives that are engineered to penetrate the outer skin layer as well as drinking 8 glasses of water daily. Staying hydrated is critical for reducing cellulite. CelluliteRx products contain active ingredients that increase fat metabolism, reduce inflammation, promote cellular renewal and collagen production adding up to noticeable results.

BN: In your experience, are there any foods that cause cellulite more than others?

JR: Yes. Foods to stay away from are the usual suspects: sugar (which causes inflammation), saturated fats (including red meat), and processed foods. Foods that you want to eat include fruits and vegetables, nuts, flaxseed and olive oils (which are rich in Essential Fatty Acids).

BN: Are liposomes the best answer for cellulite, based on your research?

LR: In order to treat cellulite at a cellular level, the product actives must penetrate the skin barrier. Without liposome technology, the product will not be effective. I started my formulation researching the delivery system and worked backward from there. To me, the delivery system is the key component for a successful result.

BN: While researching and developing the skincare system, CelluliteRx, what were the primary factors you found to trigger cellulite in women? Why are women prone to cellulite and not men?

LR: My research pointed towards estrogen dominance as a key cause of cellulite, thus why women are prone to cellulite and not men. After the age of 30 (when most women start noticing they have cellulite) levels of our reproductive hormones (estrogen and progesterone) decreases. However, progesterone drops significantly more than estrogen creating a condition that promotes weight gain, fat storage and cellulite in women. By providing the dermal layers of skin cells with a natural-based progesterone as I have done with my topical CelluliteRx LipoTherm Contour Cream, the body is less prone to develop cellulite and/or may prevent it from getting worse.

BN: Where can people pick up CelluliteRX products?

LR: You can find them at www.victoriassecret.com, www.bathandbodyworks.com, www.beautyhabit.com and www.beauty.com

For more information, visit www.idermed.com.