By: Linda Vongkhamchanh

Jun 30, 2009

Oh cottage cheese thighs, orange peel buns, quilted mattress legs, how I despise you. It’s the most dreaded condition haunting women, big or small, tall or short, the awful case of cellulite. While millions of women have to deal with having uneven, dimpled skin, we can also just be satisfied in knowing that not only big girls get cellulite, the skinny minnies do too—finally, something’s fair in life. Although cellulite is caused by the uneven structure of fat cells and connective tissue, we can all get it at some point or another. While men do not get cellulite (another prime example of the privileged lives men live when it comes to biology), they better get used to their ladies living in dimpleville.

We talked to dermatologist Dr. Amy Wechsler about this unsightly part of life. “It’s genetics for the most part. Young women in their twenties have it. It’s not necessarily all related to weight.”

While there’s currently no cure for cellulite, why has it become a multi-million dollar industry when there’s not even a permanent solution for it? It's simple—women are turning to any procedure possible that can even slightly help minimize the appearance of the bumpy skin. “There’s definitely a lot of research going into it and it’s a million dollar industry because so many women ask about it, care about it, wan to know more about it,” says Dr. Wechsler.

Before you go out and spend your savings on a pocket-emptying procedure, why not try the simplest and cheapest solutions first. Dr. Wechsler shares her cellulite-reducing tricks with us. “A lot of women feel that exercising more helps reduce the appearance of it. I think that’s true. A lot of women say that if they’re tan, that the appearance of the cellulite is less [noticeable]. I definitely agree with that and I’m not condoning regular tanning, but self-tanner could definitely help.”

Here's the breakdown of all the advertised treatments out there:

Lotions: There are lotions that claim to be cellulite treatments. What they do is that they’re humectants, which means that they draw water into the skin where they are applied. It works but it’s temporary, and not a cure. Sometimes, those creams can be irritating because it plumps [the skin] up. People with sensitive skin can get a bad rash.

Massaging/laser/vacuum procedures: These treatments, like Endermologie and Velasmooth, are very costly and only minimizes the appearance of cellulite for a couple of weeks, if that. Unless you have hundreds of dollars to throw around, this isn’t the most cost-effective or efficient solution.

Injections: Many women do it overseas, but it’s not FDA approved. We say “nay” on this one.

Liposuction: While the fat can be removed, you’ve still got the issue due to your tissue and skin that your mama gave you. Again, not worth it.

Dr. Wechsler, who has tried various cellulite treatments herself, says, “don’t spend your money on these sorts of treatments because nothing’s proven to work yet. It’s better to spend your money on a spray tan and a gym membership. I find that, for myself, when I’m more fit and my muscles are firmer, my muscles seem to squash up those fat molecules and push it away—but, that’s my own theory.”

We hear you, doc. That's the cheapest and easiest solution (and not to mention, just as effective) we've heard so far, so why not? Save your money for that cute dress you’ve been eyeing, dimples or not. 

What treatments have you tried? What did you think?

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