There is no shortage of anti cellulite cream products promising to turn your dimples into smooth, flawless skin. Just turn on the television or open a magazine and you'll see them, but whether or not these creams really help is debatable. The general consensus among scientists is that anti cellulite creams (especially the expensive ones) do provide some benefit, but they are not a "cure" for cellulite. The consensus is that they temporarily change the appearance of the skin, making it appear firmer.

Cellulite Causes

Cellulite is a common condition seen mostly in women (and in some men). Cellulite causes the skin to look dimply or like "cottage cheese." Researchers are uncertain of the cause of cellulite, but suspect it is related to the hormone estrogen since it is seen mostly in women and it first appears during adolescence. Studies have estimated as many as 90 percent of women will struggle with cellulite at some point in their lives. Overweight women tend to have more cellulite, but healthy women and underweight women are also afflicted with it.

Retin-A

Retin-A is an active ingredient in most effective anti cellulite creams. Retin-A has been demonstrated to change the appearance of skin by changing the water composition. Retin-A is frequently used to treat acne, but it can also help cellulite. The problem is that Retin-A can also cause your skin to become red and irritated or even blister, if used too often. It also requires a prescription.

Other Ingredients

Anti cellulite creams contain various other ingredients ranging from caffeine (which is supposed to increase blood flow to the skin thereby reducing cellulite) to antioxidants, such as dimethylaminoethanol (which is supposed to cause the skin to become firm). The claims of reducing the appearance of cellulite with these ingredients is unsupported. Some people believe that they receive benefits from these other ingredients in anti cellulite creams, but the evidence is anecdotal.