CELLULITE was a hot topic at the Idea World Fitness Convention held in San Diego, California, last June. Although seminars in this prestigious convention are usually about more "serious" health and fitness topics, well-respected research scientist Len Kravitz presented an in-depth lecture on cellulite because he felt that it was a significant psychological issue for women.

Last week, I shared the possible causes of cellulite based on researches that Dr. Kravitz had reviewed. This week, we will take a close look at cellulite treatments to determine which ones are worth your time, effort and money. I have categorized the treatment into creams, pills, machines, surgery and exercise.

Cellulite affects 85 percent of post-adolescent women and is probably the result of an irregular pattern of connective tissue in the skin, which is vertically anchored to the muscles below. Fat cells are trapped in-between the skin and muscles in cylinder-shaped "fat chambers." Cellulite, both a skin and fat problem, is more pronounced when a woman gains weight and her connective tissue weakens as she grows older. Treatments are designed to either strengthen the skin or reduce the fat, or both.

The most popular ingredient in cellulite creams is aminophylline (sometimes its chemical cousins, caffeine or theophylline, are used). Aminophylline's claim to fame is that it can make fat cells smaller. This is true "in vitro" or in a laboratory Petri dish where you can literally see fat cells shrink, but not quite true "in vivo" or in real life when applied to a woman's thigh. The reason is aminophylline is absorbed by the dermis, the second layer of the skin, before it reaches the "cellulite zone," the superficial or first fat layer (the second fat layer is called the deep layer, which is where liposuction is done). Aminophylline can be injected directly into the superficial fat layer but you would need an awful lot of injections since cellulite is spread out over a large area. So, while theoretically possible, injection is definitely not a practical idea.

"Transdermal" fat gels, which also contain aminophylline or a similar substance, claim to have overcome the dermis problem. Manufacturers also say their products are good for spot reduction of fat in other parts of the body aside from cellulite-prone areas. However, there is no solid scientific proof yet that their formulation can really go under the dermis to attack the fat cells below. Interestingly, instructions usually include the advice to diet and exercise because "you have to help burn that released fat by exercising or reducing caloric intake so that free fat isn't redeposited." Under those conditions, it would be difficult to determine if the product really works or not.

Another point to consider is that if transdermal gels really have a significant effect on subcutaneous fat, they would be classified as drugs and would require a prescription, according to regulations of the United States Food and Drug Administration.

Some promising cellulite creams are those containing retinol, the most active form of Vitamin A. Retinol is a common ingredient in anti-wrinkle creams for the face. It has a proven track record for improving skin thickness and elasticity by working on the collagen and elastin in the dermis. In a recent study done on 15 women, a retinol cream was applied to one leg for six months, while a cream without retinol was used on the other leg. This was a double-blind study, meaning neither the researchers nor the participants knew which leg had which cream. The results showed that skin elasticity improved by 10 percent and the skin on the retinol-treated leg appeared smoother.

Another ingredient that is being studied is ruscogenine, a substance derived from the herb butcher's broom. A study of 46 women showed an improvement in the orange-peel appearance of the skin. However, since the product being tested contained retinol and caffeine as well as ruscogenine, more studies are needed to provide definite answers.

If you want to know which anti-cellulite cream to try, here is some practical advice from dermatologist Mitchel Goldman given during this year's scientific meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology: "Some women report an improvement in cellulite using these over-the-counter creams and others do not," said Dr. Goldman. "What makes one product work over another is really unknown at this point. I would encourage women who want to try one of these products to test it on one leg to see if they notice any improvement over a period of a few months before using it all over their body. If they don't see any improvement, that's really when they should see their dermatologist for other treatment options."

On a personal note, I have used a retinol-based product for three months now ever since listening to Kravitz's cellulite lecture. Although the product makes my skin feel and look a bit smoother, it is no miracle cure. While doing additional research for this article, I came across a website pitching a product called the "Instant Cellulite Eraser." Their refreshingly honest claim that their product only worked for five hours got my attention. If it really works, that's just enough time to have dimple-free thighs while at the beach or on a night out in a short skirt.

Another cream that can ease the problem of cellulite but is not an anti-cellulite treatment is self-tanning cream or lotion. Tanned skin makes cellulite look less obvious. Tanned thighs even look smaller than pasty white thighs, in much the same manner that dark denim jeans will make your rear end look smaller than white jeans. Want more proof? Spend a few days at the beach and watch your cellulite "improve" by the day.

But since real tanning can cause skin damage, self-tanning creams are the next best thing. Unfortunately, they aren't the easiest things to apply. You can end up with "streaky" skin or orange palms. It's too bad that local skin care centers don't offer a tanning lotion service.

The best method I have heard of is one where you stand naked in the middle of a small room and the lotion is applied evenly all over your body in a fine mist from a special machine. Not only are you untouched by human hands, the result is a more natural looking tan.

One product that you might as well forget about trying is Silhouette Cream. Way back in 1995, the US Federal Trade Commission won a case against the manufacturers for falsely claiming that their product could break down, reduce or eliminate cellulite or fat.