Cellulite… It strikes a huge number of beautiful female body parts like an epidemic, encroaching on their main purpose of being carriers of sexuality and beauty, perplexing discerning admirers of the fine male gender, and overloading Google’s servers with countless queries:
“How to get rid of cellulite on the legs, on the butt, buttocks?”, “How to remove cellulite at home?”, “oils, creams, products for cellulite?”
Let’s figure out what cellulite is, what its causes and stages of development are, why it occurs in women but not in men (only occasionally), and how to get rid of cellulite.
Main thoughts:
There is no medication that can permanently eliminate cellulite
Excess salt and sugar in the diet are likely to increase the risk of cellulite
It is better to start getting rid of cellulite when it is not yet present
What is cellulite?
Cellulite (med. gynoid lipodystrophy 2) is predominantly a female condition: about 90% of women suffer from it, and only 10% of men.
Externally, it manifests as “crumpled” skin, with bumps and dimples like a cotton blanket, primarily on the surface of the legs. An unattractive sight in the eyes of both women and admirers of female beauty – men.
Behind such external skin deformities lie internal processes. Cellulite is the result of the sum of three components:
- an increase in the size and number of fat cells;
- thinning of the collagen layer in connective tissue, making it less elastic;
- reduced circulation of blood and lymph.
Wikipedia characterizes it as “stagnation phenomena in adipose tissue, leading to its dystrophy”.
In essence, cellulite does not pose a serious health risk and does not even cause significant discomfort; many doctors do not even consider it a disease.
The main problem is that it is unaesthetic, introducing cosmetic defects into the female body, whose purpose is to be beautiful.
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Facts about Cellulite
- From 80 to 90% of women and girls have cellulite on their legs, buttocks, and thighs or will inevitably “acquire” it during their lifetime.
- There are many anti-cellulite products, but almost all of them provide only a temporary effect.
- There is no medicine for the complete cure of cellulite.
- Dietary adjustments, quitting smoking, an active lifestyle, and weight loss can significantly reduce the visual signs of cellulite.
Causes of Cellulite (on legs, buttocks, thighs)?
The reasons for the appearance of cellulite on the legs and other characteristic parts of the body are not fully understood by scientists. Most likely, it is a combination of factors.
Four factors are most often cited as responsible for the occurrence of cellulite: hormones, gender, lifestyle, and inflammatory processes.
1 Hormones
Cellulite appears as a result of changes in the size and structure of fat cells.
This provides a basis for the assumption that hormones such as insulin and catecholamines, which regulate the processes of storing and breaking down fat cells, may be causes of cellulite 4.
In particular, it is believed that any hormonal imbalance that stimulates an increase in fat mass and hinders its breakdown (for example, high insulin levels) is a likely cause of cellulite 3.
Insulin
Insulin is the hormone responsible for opening fat stores to retain excess energy that comes from food.
When we consume sweets (glucose), there is always a release of insulin into the blood, as its main function is to control blood glucose levels. A chronic love for sweets leads to the “doors” of fat storage not closing.
In medicine, this condition is called hyperinsulinemia, in layman’s terms – ideal conditions for the growth of existing fat cells in size and the formation of new ones 5.
Increased mass and volume of subcutaneous fat leads to an increase in its pressure from within on the skin layer, increasing the likelihood of it being “pushed out”.
Estrogen
Also, given that cellulite predominantly appears in the female part of humanity, it is a logical conclusion that female hormones, particularly estrogen, must “have a hand” in this.
This hypothesis is grounded, as the problem of cellulite (its appearance or sharp deterioration) is most often tied to moments of hormonal upheaval in the bodies of girls and women: the onset of menopause, puberty, and pregnancy.
Scientists say that the decrease in estrogen levels during menopause is one of the main reasons for the development of cellulite in middle age 3. This is related to the fact that collagen production 1, which is responsible for the density of the skin’s connective layer, decreases, reducing its elasticity.
The formation of “bumps” on the skin occurs when the layer of subcutaneous fat “pushes out” the connective tissue, causing the characteristic orange peel texture.
Despite the logical arguments presented, the hormonal cause of cellulite’s appearance has not been conclusively proven by science. But it has also not been disproven.
2 Gender
– Why is cellulite more common in women than in men?
Life shows and science confirms that women have a much higher risk of developing cellulite than men 6.
One of the reasons, aside from the hormonal one mentioned above, is the difference in the structure of connective and adipose tissue 4.
Fat cells in the subcutaneous layer of women are oriented vertically (perpendicular to the skin). As they grow, they “push” the skin layer, causing bulging.
Fat cells in men are arranged horizontally (parallel to the skin), which explains their polished and “tight” appearance even in a state of obesity.
Cellulite is predominantly a female condition: about 90% of women suffer from it, while only 10% of men do. The reason for this difference lies in the structure of adipose tissue.
3 Lifestyle
The visual manifestation of cellulite can worsen with the accumulation of fluid in the surrounding tissues.
There is a suggestion that the disruption of the circulation of biological fluids in the body (blood and lymph) may be a cause of the appearance and worsening of cellulite 22. That is why many of the methods listed below for correcting cellulite are based on improving circulation.
What causes the disruption of circulation?
One of them is an inactive sedentary lifestyle or spending a long time in a standing position. Another is smoking 7.
The disruption of circulation hinders the transformation of fats and their entry into the bloodstream for use as energy.
4 Inflammatory Processes
Another theory suggests that a possible cause of cellulite is a chronic slow inflammatory process in the body that affects the connective tissue of the skin.
The basis of this assumption is that in one study, scientists found cells characteristic of chronic inflammatory processes (macrophages and lymphocytes) in tissues damaged by cellulite 23.
However, there are studies that do not confirm this.
The main causes of cellulite: decreased estrogen levels during menopause in women, increased insulin levels due to excess sugar in the diet, sedentary (inactive) lifestyle
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Stages of Cellulite
The best time to start fighting cellulite is before its signs begin to appear. The onset of the process in women can begin in youth, at the age of 16.
There are 4 stages of cellulite development:
- Stage 0: no cellulite;
- Stage 1: smooth skin when standing, lumps and dimples appear when the girl sits down;
- Stage 2: crumpled skin texture appears in both standing and sitting positions;
- Stage 3: extreme degree of cellulite with rough skin texture “like a cotton blanket” in any position; a state when “everything hangs”.
How to Get Rid of Cellulite: Natural Remedies
Unfortunately, scientists and doctors have not yet created a medication to combat cellulite that would allow one to get rid of it forever.
Most of the existing strategies for combating cellulite today are designed for temporary smoothing of its signs on the skin or to halt its development.
Since cellulite is a stagnation, anything that improves the circulation of biological fluids in the skin has an anti-cellulite effect. Almost all of the methods listed below for combating cellulite utilize this property.
There is no medicine that can permanently get rid of cellulite.
1 Massage
Massage stimulates circulation in the lymphatic and circulatory systems. It is also suggested that during massage, fat cells can break down, restructure, and redistribute more evenly, smoothing out the signs of cellulite.
The positive effect of massage on cellulite is supported by scientific data 16, but the effect is short-lived.
The technique of massage has not only aesthetic benefits but is also useful for the entire body, as our skin is the largest organ by surface area.
2 Coffee scrub or wrap
Caffeine found in coffee is a well-known stimulant for the circulatory and lymphatic systems. Therefore, applying coffee to the skin improves its blood supply, making it more plump and firm.
Additionally, coffee is rich in antioxidants, and some scientists believe that when they penetrate the skin, collagen and elastin synthesis is enhanced, which strengthens connective tissue, the weakening of which is one of the causes of cellulite 8,9.
The positive effect of a coffee scrub on cellulite lasts for several hours.
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3 Normalizing hormone levels
As mentioned above, one of the causes of cellulite development is hormonal imbalance.
Hormones control countless internal processes in the body. And what governs the levels of the hormones themselves? Much of it is our lifestyle habits. Natural factors affecting hormonal status include diet, physical exercise, and sleep 10.
Sweets, food contamination with chemicals (particularly pesticides), and a sedentary lifestyle distort the hormonal background.
The article Growth hormone: how to increase it naturally describes lifestyle factors that can help normalize hormone levels in the body (not just growth hormone).
4 Consume gelatin
Gelatin is primarily composed of amino acids that form bone and connective tissues. Its consumption has numerous health benefits: from improving the condition of hair and nails to speeding up the recovery process of joints after injuries and positively influencing the digestive process.
From the perspective of combating cellulite, gelatin strengthens the connective layer of the skin, which prevents its deformation under the pressure of the fat layers lying beneath it.
The best source of gelatin is bone broth, not store-bought alternatives.
5 Finally quit smoking
Smoking negatively affects blood circulation and collagen production. Collagen and elastin strengthen the skin and prevent the development of cellulite.
Smoking also makes the skin dry, wrinkled, and colorless.
6 Grapefruit oil
One of the beneficial properties of grapefruit oil and other citrus oils in combating cellulite is that they stimulate the lymphatic system and circulation.
7 Physical exercise
The benefits of sports in the fight against cellulite have already been partially explained in previous points.
In summary, physical activity:
- improves circulation throughout the body, eliminating stagnation;
- normalizes hormone levels;
- activates metabolism and fat burning not only during exercise but also for many hours afterward.
All three factors, which by no means exhaust the benefits of physical exercise for health, have an anti-cellulite effect.
Natural methods to combat cellulite: massage, coffee scrub, physical exercise, quitting smoking, citrus oils for rubbing, consuming gelatin. All of them provide only a temporary effect.
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How to eat properly to reduce cellulite
To be honest, it cannot be said that the role of nutrition in the development of cellulite is well studied.
Mostly, scientists make logical guesses.
Sugar
They suggest that excessive consumption of simple carbohydrates affects the appearance of cellulite, as they stimulate the release of the hormone insulin 5,6.
The higher the insulin level, the more fat accumulates. Cellulite is the result of an increase in the number of fat cells and their size.
The cause of increased insulin is carbohydrates, primarily those containing sugar. If you want to reduce cellulite on your legs – limit the amount of sweets in your diet.
One effective way to do this is through a ketogenic diet, which has numerous health benefits and is extremely effective for weight loss. Its main principle is minimal carbohydrates (5%) and maximum healthy fats (~75%).
Salt
Another assumption concerns salt: its excess in the diet stimulates water retention in the subcutaneous tissues, increasing internal pressure on the weakened layer of skin and exacerbating the degree of cellulite manifestation.
But again, these are just guesses.
However, something suggests that limiting the amount of harmful products filled with refined sugar and trans fats is an idea worth considering. After all, they are surrounded by an aura of unceasing criticism for a reason.
The excess of salt and sugar in the diet is likely to increase the risk of cellulite appearance.
Will cellulite disappear if you lose weight?
Want the most effective way to get rid of cellulite?
Lose weight.
This advice is often given as a radical means of eliminating cellulite.
But what does science say?
It is definitively proven that obesity and excess weight contribute to the appearance of cellulite 26.
But how interconnected are weight loss and cellulite is a controversial question 24,25.
In a small experiment, the external manifestations of cellulite on the legs of most of the test subjects improved to some extent when losing weight, but 32% got worse 12.
What is the reason for the difference?
Probably, it lies in other factors affecting cellulite: differences in the structure and elasticity of connective tissue, water retention.
It can be said with a high degree of certainty that for most women with excess weight, losing weight will likely lead to a smoothing of cellulite, as this reduces the pressure of subcutaneous fat on the skin.
How to lose weight?
The answer to this question has filled millions of books and pages on the internet, and many of the best diets have been developed.
On our website, you can find a large number of scientific materials on the topic of how to lose weight. In all of them, the following principle is a common thread: weight loss is primarily a matter of calorie control, not exercise, as is commonly believed, since the global cause of obesity is overeating.
Learn to eat properly, understand which foods you can eat to lose weight and which should never appear on your table.
Do not touch anything refined, improved, and processed by humans to suit their appetite. Leave only whole natural foods rich in vitamins and minerals.
Vitamin C, for example, enhances the body’s ability to burn fat 13. Consuming sufficient amounts of potassium, selenium, zinc, and calcium also contributes to activating internal metabolism and more effective fat burning 14.
Changing just dietary habits can normalize weight and stop the development of cellulite.
As for fat burners.
Among them, there are indeed some that work and even have scientific confirmation. For example, green tea, caffeine, capsaicin, and others. But: their effect is always very, very minimal and their use is associated with the risk of side effects.
You will never lose weight just by taking fat burner pills without radically changing your eating habits and lifestyle. They can only be supplements to a proper diet and training, but they will NEVER replace them.
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Weight loss does not always lead to the elimination of cellulite on the legs; often its manifestations even worsen. In most cases, normalizing weight will yield good results.
Medical methods for treating cellulite
Remember: no anti-cellulite creams, lotions, or other products can stop the growth of fat cells.
All available medical procedures only temporarily can smooth out the signs of cellulite, and even then, with varying effectiveness.
No anti-cellulite creams, lotions, or other products can stop the growth of fat cells; all of them provide only a temporary effect.
Creams and lotions
The active ingredient in most anti-cellulite creams and lotions is caffeine. You will get the same effect by using a scrub made from regular coffee, as described above. Moreover, without the additional chemicals that are present in large quantities in the formulas of all modern cosmetic products.
Sound wave therapy
In this procedure, low-energy sound waves are applied to the skin, which, according to those who developed the method, improves fluid dynamics and destroys fat cells.
The results of scientific research on the effectiveness of this method in combating cellulite are contradictory 15,16.
Laser and light therapy
The essence of the procedure is to irradiate the skin with a laser. This can be done both externally and internally.
The effectiveness of external irradiation in combating cellulite is not confirmed 11.
However, internal irradiation does indeed eliminate signs of cellulite and looks promising: the anti-cellulite effect can last up to 6 months 17-19.
Radiofrequency Therapy
The skin is heated using electromagnetic radiation, which is supposed to stimulate collagen synthesis and reduce the signs of cellulite. The frequency and intensity of the radiation can be varied for different levels of impact. The results of scientific research on effectiveness are contradictory 20.
Mesotherapy
In this controversial technique, certain medications (approved for use for other purposes but not for treating cellulite) are injected directly into the skin. About 10 or more repetitions of the procedure are required. Many experts in the scientific community do not endorse this method and find it dangerous to health 21.
Surgical Excision
As the name suggests, in this procedure, certain areas of the subcutaneous layers are excised to correct appearance. It has a long-lasting anti-cellulite effect that lasts about 2 years.
The most effective medical treatments for cellulite are surgical excision and internal laser irradiation.
Other Cellulite Treatment Methods
There are a vast number of other methods for treating cellulite that claim to be effective. High demand, as always, creates extensive offerings.
Among them:
- Biological supplements: including Ginkgo biloba, Centella asiatica, and Melilotus officinalis.
- Carbon Dioxide Therapy: infusion (blowing) of carbon dioxide under the skin.
- Collagen Injection: injection of collagen, which is responsible for skin elasticity, into the areas affected by cellulite.
- Compression stockings: eliminate fluid stagnation in the legs.
As you might guess, none of them have unequivocal scientific confirmations of 100% effectiveness 16.
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There are a vast number of methods for treating cellulite; however, practically none of them have reliable scientific confirmation of effectiveness, and in most cases, the long-term effects are unclear.
In Summary: What Have We Learned About Cellulite and How to Get Rid of It?
Cellulite is an unpleasant phenomenon, with a chance of encountering it for every ninth woman (and even girl) out of ten.
It does not lead to any serious health consequences but significantly detracts from the picture of female attractiveness.
Today, there are no medical products that can completely eliminate cellulite. All available creams, lotions, and scrubs provide a temporary effect that lasts for several hours.
Radical methods (surgical excision, laser treatment) allow for the removal of cellulite for a longer period (from six months to several years).
Weight normalization (weight loss), consumption of healthy natural foods, and physical activity are natural factors that help avoid or significantly reduce the signs of cellulite.
It is better to start getting rid of cellulite when it is not yet present.
It is better to start getting rid of cellulite when it is not yet present
