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60 DAYSPA | APRIL 2014 Targeting Cellulite "It's an easy way to get clients to lose trust in you," says Rita Teixeira, national trainer for Silhouet-Tone. "What you want to do is fi nd out as much as possible about the subject, be honest with guests and offer educated solutions." Cellulite is also a topic most spa pros can't afford to ignore—at least 85% of women and 10% of men manifest it to some degree, most often on the thighs, buttocks, knees and/or stomach. And with swimsuit season just around the corner, it's safe to wager that this particular cellular phenomenon is looming large on the minds of many clients. Now is the time to empower yourself and your staff with the latest science and technology behind the causes and management of cellulite. To help you communicate the most helpful facts and strategies to clients, DAYSPA went to leading spa industry experts to suss out the latest intelligence surrounding cellulite's causes and risk factors. They helped us dispel some common myths, and got us up to speed on how some new and proven cellulite-countering topicals function. A FLAWED SYSTEM Experts agree that cellulite has three main causes: 1) herniated pockets of fat, 2) stiffened septae (cell walls), and 3) attenuated (thinned) skin. "At its core, cellulite is a combination of thin skin and uneven pockets of fat," af- fi rms Candace Noonan, director of training for Environ Skin Care. "The fat appears bumpy because it pushes against the septae, causing the skin above it to pucker." To further the problem, notes Dr. Bojana Matovski, CEO of Rejuvee, "The col- lagen bonds within those cells are also stretched, intensifying that skin surface unevenness." Adds Silhouet-Tone's Teixeira, "These chambers of fat are enclosed in collagen fi bers, and when circulation slows, less oxygen and fewer nutrients are able to get to the area to nourish the collagen, and it weakens." What happens next isn't pretty, either. "This localized accumulation of fat triggers infl ammation," explains Flora Vergnolle, founder of Provence Cosmetics, "because the swollen cells experience water retention, thereby compressing cir- culation and lymphatic movement." This then causes connective tissues to stiffen and contract, pulling them down, and creating the dreaded cellulite dimple. In the end, explains Dr. Christian Jurist, medical director of global education for Pevonia, "cellulite is a microcirculation disorder of subcutaneous tissue that affects all skin layers." And this, he says, triggers the stagnation of intercellular fl uid movement, as well as toxin retention, abnormal cell metabolism and the storage of fat. "Slowed microcirculation causes water retention," reminds Alice Pichery, na- tional trainer at Sothys USA. "And poor drainage encourages cellulite to set in." GlyMed Plus' marketing supervisor Paul Cuthbert sums it up neatly: "Cellulite is a Start talking with clients about cellulite and you're likely to hear some common misconceptions about the condition. Seize such opportunities to set guests straight and in so doing, build upon a trusting relationship. Here are some myths worth busting: Myth: Cellulite primarily affects overweight and obese people. Truth: "Cellulite has very little to do with one's quotient of body fat, and everything to do with subcutaneous fat storage, water retention and connective tissue strength," says Alice Pichery, national trainer at Sothys USA. That's why even skinny girls can have cellulite! Myth: Getting rid of cellulite comes down to diet and exercise. Truth: While health-conscious eating and exercise certainly won't hurt, Paul Cuthbert, marketing supervisor at GlyMed Plus, points out that "adipose tissue can turn infl ammatory at any time," and that "cellulite doesn't necessarily respond to weight-management efforts." Myth: Liposuction can get rid of cellulite. Truth: Although fat reduction can improve the appearance of cellulite, it won't do anything about skin's cellar structure. As Rita Teixeira, national trainer for Silhouet-Tone, notes, "You can still accumulate fat in existing fat cells." Myth: Women are disproportionately affected by cellulite because they have higher body fat content than men. Truth: "Male fat is simply contained in smaller, diamond-shaped pockets," says Lydia Sarfati, founder of Repêchage. "Furthermore, men's skin is thicker. Thanks to these structural differences, men very rarely get cellulite." Myth: Cellulite is a direct symptom of aging. Truth: Aging itself doesn't cause cellulite— but a more obvious manifestation of the condition can be an indirect symptom. "With subcutaneous tissue aging, one experiences loss of thickness, suppleness and elasticity," explains Pichery, "and cellulite always seems amplifi ed on clients with thinner skin." Myth: It's possible to eliminate cellulite permanently. Truth: "Because it's impossible to control hormones and other biological factors indefi nitely, there is no 'forever' solution," says Natalie Pergar, lead skincare trainer for Éminence. Myth: Cellulite can be treated with hormone therapy. Truth: "Although female hormones certainly play a role in cellulite, one can't change the shape or texture of sub-surface cells," explains Szilvia Hickman, founder of Ilike Organic Skin Care. Myth: Cellulite is a disease. Truth: Cellulite is nothing more and nothing less than a skin condition that affects most women. Says Cuthbert, "It's one of a constellation of connective tissue conditions that has various and often unrelated causes." BUST A MYTH © CAROL & MIKE WERNER/ VISUALS UNLIMITED, INC. NORMAL SKIN TISSUE SKIN TISSUE WITH CELLULITE T a r g e t i n g C e l l u l i t e 4 1 4 . i n d d 6 0 Targeting Cellulite 414.indd 60 3 / 7 / 1 4 9 : 5 6 A M 3/7/14 9:56 AM