It doesn’t matter if you are overweight or underweight, cellulite doesn’t discriminate. It affects women of all shapes, sizes, ages, and races and it is always a concern. Nearly 90% of women in the United States have it to some degree, regardless of figure and height. Even for super-fit women, cellulite is the “final frontier” of the perfect body. So we know cellulite is natural, normal, and very common. And that we should embrace it. But it’s also totally okay if you want to get rid of it.
Read on as we explore some of the latest information to help you understand and possibly diminish these unwanted dimples.
What causes cellulite?
While we don’t know exactly why it happens, we do know that sex, genetics, and overall lifestyle are involved. Doctors have associated it with a range of conditions, from vascular changes and inflammatory factors to hormonal changes and structural issues. Cellulite isn’t fat tissue nor is it exclusively linked to gaining weight, so let’s just set aside that myth right now. It is the appearance of skin when fatty tissue pushes through the fibrous bands that connect the skin to muscle. And hormones do have a hand in the matter. Case in point: the majority of men typically don’t develop cellulite while most women develop these puckered patches of skin after puberty.
What actually works for cellulite?
There are so many promises and advertised solutions out there that it can all be a little overwhelming. But we went ahead and gathered a few well-known and proven practices to make your skin more soft, smooth, and cellulite-free.
Hit the gym
Working out not only helps to maintain healthy body fat levels but also improves circulation and muscle definition in cellulite-prone areas. Exercise won’t get rid of cellulite entirely but it will help you lose weight, get your blood flowing, and tone things up. All which will help banish that dimpled look. Invest in squats, lunges, and step-ups. Hit the gym to burn calories and cellulite away from your hips.
Skin Brushing
Invest in a good brush tool and I don’t mean the Photoshop one. Daily body brushing and massaging can jumpstart lymphatic drainage, which helps to eliminate toxins that can accumulate in the fat layer, leading to inflammation and ultimately more pronounced cellulite. When combining lotions or creams to this self-care session, be on the lookout for caffeine or retinol. Caffeine increases circulation to the affected area and retinol has been shown to improve skin elasticity.
Eat clean
Eating a low-fat diet consisting of lean proteins and veggies is an anti-cellulite way to lose body fat. Avoid sugar, starches, alcohol, processed foods, and sugary fruit. Cellulite is often caused by toxins present in every less than perfect diet, which eventually reduce skin elasticity and slow down circulation. So make your plate colorful and filled with plenty of fruit and veg. Because they contain the most antioxidants, which help our bodies to shed toxins. The only orange peel here should be on your plate, not on your thighs.
Radio treatments
Sometimes we just need a little push from technology to speed things up. Multi-polar Radio Frequency Technology is a non-surgical skin rejuvenation treatment that blasts away stretch marks and cellulite without the need for an anesthetic. A clinical device that looks a bit like a showerhead, placed on your skin for 15 to 60 minutes per session, targeting problem areas with ultrasound waves that work to destroy fat cells. As they break down, it releases liquid fat. The fat cells then shrink and collagen and elastin renewal pick up, resulting in smoother and younger-looking skin. Goodbye cellulite, with no recovery time.
The verdict?
There’s no magical wand move with this condition. But even if you may not be able to spellbindingly get rid of all cellulite, you can get it to look a whole lot better with the right assessment. Adopting good practices and incorporating treatments like the ones we mentioned in this blog will certainly get you closer to that smooth look. StudioMD will be happy to guide you in this journey and say farewell to cellulite once for all.