Photo: Barbara L. Hanson, Flickr

Sorry gals, eating less cottage cheese won't get rid of your cellulite. Neither will nutritional perfection and an impeccable gym record. But maybe you'll feel better if you know the facts and a few steps you can take.

There's a reason why 90 percent of women stare at their backside in the mirror with angst, while few men ever face dimpled thighs. Blame those bumpy hills and valleys on estrogen. Doctors think excess estrogen weakens connective tissue, allowing fat to bulge up from underneath. Cellulite also has a genetic component, so if you're described as your mother's daughter and she's got bunches of it, that's likely your future.

But don't be totally bummed out, even if cellulite can't be cured, you can minimize it. Quit smoking to protect those connective tissues. Keep your weight down, too -- more fat, more cellulite. And exercise firms your skin, so skip the late-night miracle creams and hop on a treadmill. Don't head to the lipo doc, the American Academy of Dermatology says liposuction won't remove cellulite, and can actually make it look worse. But if you've got the cash, there are two FDA-approved treatments to temporarily remove cellulite. Light therapy with suction or massage breaks down and redistributes the fat, sending it out of sight to the bottom layer.

Now if it would only stay there. You can always try yoga.