Women often see cellulite as a problem or unattractive feature of their bodies. Cellulite is actually perfectly normal and natural and affects all body types. However, it's clear that many ladies spend a lot of time trying to get rid of cellulite through various methods.
If you're interested in trying for a reduction in cellulite, then read on - we will try to help you understand why cellulite forms and the best methods we can use to stop it.
Cellulite occurs when a layer of fat deposits are trapped beneath the skin, causing fat tissue to build up over time. This causes localised dimpling of the skin tissue, which makes it look lumpy and uneven.
To get rid of cellulite, there are several things we can do and most of them contribute to our overall health anyway so it's not a bad idea to try them!
What is Cellulite?
Cellulite occurs when fat deposits become trapped under the layer of skin around the thighs, hips, buttocks, neck, back, arms, shoulders, legs, and stomach.
The body has two ways of storing energy: glycogen – stored carbohydrates – which stores energy in the muscles and liver, and triglycerides – fatty acids – which store energy in adipose tissue.
When excess calories accumulate, some of these energy reserves turn into triglycerides, resulting in unwanted pockets of fat cells.
Wondering which type of cellulite you have? Discover your results with our cellulite calculator quiz. Start now!
What Factors Influence Cellulite?
Cellulite can be influenced by many different factors. Some women may be born with cellulite dimples but there are several other main factors that influence cellulite aside from genetic factors:
- Ageing
- Pregnancy
- Weight Gain
- Diet
- Genetics
- Hormonal imbalances
- Medical Conditions such as Diabetes
There are several ways to combat cellulite and treatments for cellulite that we will look at later.
What are the “grades” of cellulite?
Cellulite occurs when subcutaneous fat cells accumulate under the skin causing dimples in areas such as the buttocks, thighs, hips, legs, abdomen and arms.
There are three main types of cellulite: superficial, fibrous, and adipose. The first type of cellulite is found on the surface of the skin, such as around the hips and thighs. Fibrous cellulite involves thickened connective tissue bands, while adipose (fat) cellulite is caused by pockets of excess body fat.
Cellulite can also be classified in different ways. Some talk about superficial and deep cellulite with deep cellulite affecting the underlying muscles and connective tissue while superficial cellulite occurs on top of your muscle fibers.
Some talk about three types - visible, non-visible and general. Visible cellulite protrudes outwards from the skin surface and requires no treatment.
Non-visible cellulite is located below the skin surface and may only be seen through medical imaging techniques such as ultrasound. General cellulite occurs throughout the entire body and is due to increased fluid retention.
We think it also makes sense to classify under three types: mild, moderate, and severe.
Mild cellulite appears as dimples under the skin, while moderate cellulite shows up as larger bumps and indentations. Severe cellulite leads to visible bulges and lumps beneath the skin. The severity of cellulite increases with age, pregnancy, menopause, weight gain, and certain medications such as birth control pills.
Treatment for all forms of cellulite depends on severity and location.
Can you actually get rid of cellulite?
Yes, it is possible to remove cellulite from your body but to really work a multi pronged approach is best. The first thing we recommend is regular aerobic exercise as the most effective place to start to reduce cellulite is to perform cardio exercises for 30 minutes three times per week.
Cardio exercises include fast walking, jogging, swimming, biking, dancing, running, etc. If you are just getting started you could get a personal trainer to start with.
The next thing to focus on eating a healthy diet. The best way to do this is to cut down on sugar, alcohol, and caffeine intake, while increasing protein consumption. A healthy diet helps weight loss, which reduces fat storage and increases metabolism.
Avoid foods high in refined carbohydrates such as white bread and pasta. Instead, eat plenty of whole grains like brown rice, quinoa, oats, and barley. These foods provide fiber, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, all of which help to keep your body healthy. Citrus and berry fruits are also great as antioxidants.
Cellulite treatments vary from person to person, depending on the severity of the problem and the individual’s skin tone. It can be hard to know what treatments work and don't work.
Some methods include massage therapy, laser treatment, microdermabrasion, dry brushing and chemical peels. Laser treatments may be painful, although they do provide immediate results. Chemical peels can cause some side effects such as dryness and redness, which usually go away after a week or two. As mentioned above these can happen in tandem with exercise and diet changes.
Many women use prescription creams, which contain retinol, vitamin A, and glycolic acid. These ingredients help reduce the appearance of cellulite, but they don't actually eliminate it.
Some commercial products claim to be able to smooth out dimpled skin, tighten loose skin, and firm up sagging areas. However, these products often include harsh chemicals such as hydroquinone, which may cause unwanted side effects like redness, irritation, and peeling.
We firmly believe in our MotherSage Anti-Cellulite Gel. It contains a clinically proven active ingredient that visibly reduces the appearance of cellulite by 37% on average in 56 days versus untreated skin.
The unique dual power of CBD and Iso-Slim Complex can work to inhibit the formation of new adipocytes (cells that specialise in fat storage) while improving skin elasticity and smoothness by 57% and 41% respectively. There are also a whole raft of natural ingredients in our SkinCare products that help to leave the nourished and looking wonderful.
Immediately after application brings a feeling of coolness and a relaxing effect. We do recommend for best results that it can be done in as part of the balanced lifestyle as above.
Which foods cause cellulite?
Eating white bread, pasta, potatoes, and rice are probably the worst types of food for cellulite. The carbohydrates increase blood sugar levels which increases insulin production. Insulin stimulates fat storage in cells, which leads to cellulite.
Food such as nuts, avocados, salmon and other fatty meats can also contribute to cellulite. These types of meals help to add volume to the body, and increase weight around the thighs and buttocks.
Try eating lean proteins such as turkey breast, chicken breast, fish, yogurt, oatmeal, beans, broccoli, spinach, and salads instead.
Is cellulite caused by dehydration?
Cellulite is caused when fat cells become trapped beneath the skin’s surface. Dehydration causes water retention which makes fat cells swell up and create dimples on the body.
Drinking water also helps keep skin elastic so when we lose weight, our skin loses some elasticity and becomes flatter. When we exercise, sweat evaporates from our skin, leaving behind salt and minerals that help reabsorb moisture from the air.
This is why sweating is great for reducing cellulite. So let's increase our water content and then sweat it out!
Can you massage away cellulite?
Massage helps reduce stress and improves blood circulation which results in reducing fat cells. Massaging also promotes lymphatic drainage which removes toxins from the body.
This means less cellulite for those who suffer from it! When done properly, regular massages can be part of any healthy lifestyle plan.
What vitamin helps with cellulite?
Vitamins help for skin care, but they don't repair damaged cells. Cellulite happens when fat collects under the skin which makes the surface uneven. So, try to lose weight, eat healthy foods, and exercise regularly to prevent cellulite from happening.
Why do I suddenly have so much cellulite?
A lot of women experience cellulitis at some point during pregnancy. This happens when bacteria build up under the skin causing swelling, redness and tenderness. If you have cellulite appear all of a sudden and are not pregnant, then there could be several reasons why this might happen.
It sometimes can occur after weight gain. Carrying around extra pounds can lead to excess fat being stored in different areas of your body.
This will cause unwanted bulges to appear on various parts of your body such as hips, thighs, stomachs, and buttocks.
What are the best exercises for getting rid of cellulite?
Some people recommend particular exercises to get rid of cellulite (or as some people call it the cottage cheese!) We believe that it is less to do with the particular exercises but rather cellulite reduction be achieved by regular cardio exercise:
- Yoga
- Pilates
- Deep Massage Therapy
- Weight Lifting
- Running
- Swimming
- Jogging
These activities and many more help eliminate fat cells, which cause cellulite. More important than the type of exercise is to get regular exercise.
The Final Say on Cellulite Reduction
To break it down and summarise - cellulite is caused due to fat tissue beneath the skin. The severity is decided by the several different factors that can influence the formation of cellulite.
Of those factors there are some that WE can influence greatly - maintaining a healthy weight and avoiding a poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle.
We can combat cellulite with positive lifestyle factors such as brisk exercise, body health, reducing alcohol intake and having a diet rich in whole grains and increasing our intake of citrus fruits and berry fruits. Deep tissue massages are also great and you can use a foam roller over the affected parts.
Unfortunately, many cellulite creams and anti cellulite creams simply do not work, for myriad reasons and we're hear to help you make the right choices when choosing effective anti-cellulite creams and solutions.
On that note, we strongly recommend that you try our MotherSage Anti-Cellulite Gel! It contains a clinically proven active ingredient that visibly reduces the appearance of cellulite by 37% on average in 56 days versus untreated skin.
The unique dual power of CBD and Iso-Slim Complex can work to inhibit the formation of new adipocytes (cells that specialise in fat storage) while improving skin elasticity and smoothness by 57% and 41% respectively.
Wishing the very best of luck to everyone on their own personal cellulite-busting journey - we're with you every step of the way.
The advice in this article is for information only and should not replace medical care. Please check with your GP or healthcare professional before trying any supplements, treatments or remedies.