The Infrared Sauna and Cellulite
The infrared sauna may be an aid in the battle against cellulite. Anecdotally users of the FIT Bodywrap Infrared Sauna give it high ratings as an aid in the cellulite war. Firsthand experience is great but, in a day and age when research, diagnostic tests, medical and scientific data are the gold standard, one should begin with their opinions and theories.
What is Cellulite?
The my.clevelandclinic.org webzine defines cellulite as, “the name for collections of fat that push against the connective tissue beneath your skin. It often appears on your thighs, stomach, and buttocks. Cellulite makes the surface of the skin look lumpy and puckered or appear dimpled.” (October28,2021).
The Mayo Clinic takes on the cellulite discussion under the Diseases & Conditions section of its main website at mayoclinic.org. Here it is noted that “Cellulite is a very common, harmless skin condition that causes lumpy, dimpled flesh on the thighs, hips, buttocks, and abdomen. The condition is most prevalent in women.
People try, with variable success, to improve the appearance of their skin through weight loss, exercise, massage, and creams marketed as a solution to cellulite. Medically proven treatment options are available as well, though results aren’t immediate or long-lasting.”
The medical research is currently focused on the root cause with studies examining the breakdown of connective tissue bands. Currently, this area of focus seems to have explained why women are more susceptible to cellulite than men.
One theory about the cause of cellulite as summarized by the Cleveland Clinic is, “One theory involves the bands connecting your skin, your hypodermis (subcutaneous tissue) and deep muscle layers. In men, the fibers that make up the connective bands crisscross together. In women, the fibers that make up the connective bands run the same direction and are an equal distance apart (parallel). Parallel bands may show puckering better than crisscross bands.”
The thickness of the skin along with genetics, body fat percentage, and age all have an influence on the prevalence of cellulite in individual bodies. Among the focus areas of those investigating the root causes of cellulite the focus is on:
- Poor Diets – This includes crash diets, fluctuating between binge eating and fasting, and poor nutritional balance.
- Unhealthy Lifestyles – this includes overindulgence in foods, alcohol, prescription, and illicit drugs. A lack of exercise and proper sleep.
Physical Condition or Aesthetics
The medical community is joined by the cosmetology industry in seeking solutions for cellulite. As a medical condition, it is recognized and accepted that cellulite is not a health-threatening condition or one that requires medical attention. As the research progresses medical solutions may be discovered. For those individuals who are seeking an aesthetic solution, both the medical community and the cosmetology industry have suggestions. These include spa treatments such as massage, infrared sauna therapies, laser treatments, and acoustic wave therapy.
Unlike boxed and room infrared saunas, the FIT Bodywrap Infrared Sauna directly targets every area of the body during treatments. Clients find the FIT Bodywrap Infrared Sauna to be a reinvigorating experience that tightens skin and flushes out harmful toxins. It is a relaxing session for the mind, body, and spirit and offers a break from the busy world.