Last updated
17 October 2009

Cellulite - How to get rid of cellulite

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What is cellulite?

Cellulite is an expression used to describe dimples and bumps found in the skin, usually around the thighs and buttocks, caused when the natural structure of the skin is stretched by fat cells becoming too large, allowing these fat cells to protrude in the fashion described.

Some people say that it looks a bit like orange peel hence descriptive names such as orange peel syndrome, cottage cheese skin, the mattress phenomenon, and hail damage are all used to describe cellulite.

Apparently, approximately 90% of post-adolescent women develop cellulite whilst men rarely do.

Cellulite affects thin and fat women alike. It is not something that is simply related to obesity, although being overweight does accentuate the appearance of cellulite. The areas that are typically affected are the thighs, buttocks and the abdomen.

Cellulite images

Below are some pictures which demonstrate the appearance and typical areas affected by cellulite.

What causes cellulite?

The exact causes of cellulite are poorly understood, but there are a number of factors that contribute to its formation.

Lifestyle factors

Lack of exercise / sedentary lifestyle - a lack of exercise is strongly correlated with the formation of cellulite for a number of reasons.

If you don't exercise regularly, there is a high chance that you will be overweight and have a high body fat percentage. As cellulite is essentially body fat, by reducing your overall level of body fat, it is possible to reduce the amount of cellulite; certainly, as you will learn from reading this chapter, by reducing your 'reserve' fat layers, you can reduce the appearance of cellulite.
When the body is inactive, the systems within the body work more slowly and less efficiently. Exercise makes the heart work harder, gets blood pumping round your body and uses muscles that would otherwise remain unused. Better circulation encourages the elimination of toxins and fatty deposits that contribute to the development of cellulite. Whilst your circulation is poor, fatty deposit removal and general under-skin repairs are not happening as frequently as they could be.

Diet - diet has been shown to affect the development and amount of cellulite. Excessive amounts of fat, carbohydrates, salt, alcohol, coffee or too little fibre can all contribute to increased cellulite.

Dehydration, Bowel Congestion and Breathing - Dyhydration and infrequent bowel movements are contributors to congested tissues which can lead to the development of cellulite. Not drinking enough to flush waste products out of the body and not having regular bowel movements, leads to toxins poisoning your internal environment. In addition, most people do not breath deeply enough, thereby not properly oxygenating the cells in the body. It is important to try to breath from the diaphragm to help resolve this oxygenation problem which can help with the fight against cellulite.

Smoking - Cigarette smoke is very damaging to vein and capillary walls whilst nicotine is a vasoconstrictor which causes blood vessels to constrict. Both of these contribute to reduced micro-circulation and the development of cellulite.

Other Lifestyle factors - tight clothes, high heeled shoes, and sitting or standing in a single position of long periods have all been correlated with an increase in cellulite.

Genetic factors

A person is more likely to develop cellulite if there is a family history of the problem. Several genetic factors affect the development of cellulite, the most important perhaps being the distribution of subcutaneous fat around the body and the predisposition to circulatory insufficiency.

Hormonal factors

Oestrogen - Hormones play a dominant role in the formation of cellulite, of which Oestrogen is the most important .. It seems to initiate, and aggravate cellulite. It is thought the contraceptive pill plays a large part in the formation of cellulite as the body's natural waste elimination processes become overwhelmed with the higher levels of oestrogen in the body. The contraceptive pill can also cause fat cells to enlarge and spread as well as encouraging water retention, which increases the potential for toxins to be retained. This can lead to fat cells in the subcutaneous layer under the skin protruding through the fibrous mesh that holds them together.

Pregnancy - During pregnancy, women will often suffer increased fluid retention and hormone imbalances due to the many different hormones that are acting across the body at this time. Increased hormone levels can lead to a weakening of connective tissues, including those in the walls of the veins and lymphatic vessels. The growing womb, which presses down on the veins and lymph vessels, cause reduced circulation and lymph drainage, thus leading to the development of cellulite around these areas.

Other factors

Injury sites - Cellulite is also known to form around the site of injuries, as the supply of blood and lymph vessels are damaged and can no longer function properly in the elimination of toxins from the body.

What is the science behind cellulite?

Briefly, the human body has thee layers of fat. The bottom two are reserve banks where excess consumption of calories is stored as a rainy day energy supply. The top layer, known as the subcutaneous layer, is the layer where cellulite develops - this is not one of the rainy day energy banks.

The subcutaneous layer of fat is held together in chambers of fat cells by fibrous tissue. However, this fat can effectively 'break through' these chambers so that it is visible through the skin. This escaped fat causes the bulges and the honeycomb 'orange peel' look that is a hallmark of cellulite.

The science - in more detail......

Cellulite is caused by a build up of fatty deposits and ultimate escape of fat in the subcutaneous layer of the skin to just below the skin surface - the contributory reasons for this build up have been considered above.

The appearance of cellulite is primarily caused by the weakening of a mesh of connective fibres which support the subcutaneous layer of fat due principally to poor microcirculation.

What exactly happens?

Poor microcirculation leads to weakening and thinning of the connective fibrous tissue that lies just beneath the surface of the skin. This tissue effectively holds together the fat cells in the subcutaneous fat layer. This subcutaneous layer of fat is unique in its structure compared to the reserve layers because its fatty parts are essentially held together in chambers by strands of fibrous linked tissue - these are call septae.

Poor microcirculation results in blood and lymphatic vessel walls becoming more permeable, which leads to fluid leakage into the surrounding tissue which in turn causes congestion. This congestion causes swelling, prevents nutrients such as oxygen from being carried to the tissue, and hinders the drainage of toxins. This then leads to weakening of the fibrous tissue mesh - as it weakens and becomes starved of nutrients and oxygen, it becomes more fibrous and inelastic, allowing fat cells to protrude through, causing the characteristic "bulges" and "bumps" associated with cellulite. Fat cells then become trapped in these bulges and are difficult to break down.

To understand this better, you need to consider a cross section of the skin. There are 3 layers of fat:

Top layer - subcutaneous layer where cellulite occurs;
Middle layer - reserve layer;
Bottom layer - reserve layer.

The top layer of fat is where cellulite occurs. This layer of fat is not an energy storage bank - i.e. where excess calories are stored in case of need - that job is reserved for the middle and bottom layers. If you over eat and under exercise and have a calorie surplus everyday, you will accumulate body fat in the bottom two layers.

This subcutaneous layer of fat is unique in its structure compared to the reserve layers because its fatty parts are essentially held together in chambers by strands of fibrous linked tissue - these are call septae.

Cellulite is formed as the subcutaneous fat cells are pushed upwards, and the septae are pushed downwards. This pressure on the fibrous tissue mesh causes fat cells to be squeezed into small bulges below the skin - i.e. the lumps and dimples or 'orange peel' effect.

Obese people are likely to have much more conspicuous cellulite than leaner people. This is because the trapped subcutaneous fat is pushed outwards by their larger underlying layers of fat, thus worsening the cellulite appearance.

Also, as women age, the connective tissue beneath the skin becomes thinner and looser which means that they are more likely to show noticeable signs of Cellulite.

A common question that is often asked is "Why do men not suffer from cellulite?"

Well, the answer is this......

The subcutaneous fat layer in a woman is organised into large upright storage chambers. In men, these chambers are organised into smaller and better interconnected units - these store smaller fat quantities are less susceptible to damage and risk of fat protrusion even with significant pressure from fat layers below.

Other reasons for cellulite mainly being a female cosmetic problem is that women also have less collagen in their skin than men, thus making it easier to see cellulite; and women's naturally higher percentage of body fat means that they are more likely to have more fat storage in reserve fat layers in and around 'problem' areas such as the thighs and hips.

Cures for cellulite

Exercise

Although it won't get rid of it totally, it can greatly reduce the appearance. Working out improves circulation, removes excess fluid and tones muscles, meaning that skin will look smoother, regardless of the cellulite.

Exercise is important as it has several effects. It improves blood circulation hence can help improve lymphatic drainage. It also helps to strengthen the fibrous tissue mesh that is trying to contain the subcutaneous layer of fat by supplying it with the nutrients that it needs to repair itself. Also, as part of a calorie controlled diet, exercise is very important in the process of losing body fat from the 'reserve' layers. By burning calories and losing body fat in these layers, less pressure will be placed on the subcutaneous fat layer which in turn reduces the pressure on the fibrous tissue mesh that is trying to contain the fat cells that can protrude to cause the cellulite appearance.

Most experts agree that reducing your body fat through a calorie controlled diet combined with an exercise routine that combines aerobic exercise with strength training is probably the best weapon against cellulite - working out for 30 minutes 3 to 5 times a week is probably the optimum amount of aerobic exercise required. Find out more about reducing your body fat percentage in our body fat percentage section.

Why not register make use of the free tools and resources here at Purple Weight Loss to combat your cellulite today.

Diet

A healthy balanced diet will provide you with all the nutrients that your body needs to function properly and will help your body with circulation, drainage and repair of tissues in the susceptible areas.

Clearly, diet alone is not a cure - it is just something that will contribute to the reduction in visible cellulite. That said, if you are overweight, a calorie controlled diet, exercise and an overall reduction in body fat will reduce the 'reserve' fat layers across your body which will lead to reduced pressure on the subcutaneous fat layer which will help to reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Drinking water

As with dieting, drinking more water is not a fix as such. However, it is true to say that most of us are more dehydrated than we think and could do with increasing our water intake. If you are dehydrated the outer organ, the skin, is the organ that suffers, as the water you do have is used by the vital internal organs first.

It is often said that by drinking 1.5 litres of water a day, this should be sufficient to maintain a healthy lymphatic system - i.e. a lymphatic system that remove waste products and keep water levels in your skin at an optimum level.

Don't go overboard though, as drinking too much can cause swelling under the skin which can temporarily accentuate the appearance of cellulite.

Opening your bowels

Opening your bowels once a day helps to remove toxins from your body thus improving your internal environment. By reducing the toxins in the body, this can help with the fight against cellulite.

Breathing properly

Breathing from the diaphragm helps to ensure that all your cells become properly oxygenated. This keeps tissues strong, such as the fibrous tissue mesh that we have talked about so much. It is important that this mesh stays strong as it helps to contain the fat in the subcutaneous layer preventing fat protrusions and the development of cellulite.

Body brushing

Start body brushing three times a week in your shower and massage towards the heart to boost lymph drainage and your general circulation.

Gentle Massage

Gentle massage is excellent for general circulation. However, it is important that it is gentle as too harsh a massage can damage lymphatic vessels. Damage or broken lymph vessels can lead to lymph fluids draining into the surrounding tissues which can lead to the further development of cellulite.

Creams and topical treatments

There are a wide variety of products on the market today which claim to remedy cellulite. They range in price and it is very difficult to know if they work or not. Don't be sucked in by expensive, Hollywood star backed marketing campaigns as such stars will have undoubtedly have had access to cosmetic surgeons and make-up artists who could have worked wonders upon them.

The creams that might have some merit are those that stimulate blood flow to cellulite affected area. These creams often contain antioxidants and anti-inflammatories as well as moisturising agents. As areas that are often affected by cellulite are dry and damaged, additional moisture and increased blood supply can assist in the process of repair, thus helping to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Creams should not be relied upon as the sole cure for cellulite. Exercise and diet are perhaps the most important ways to reduce cellulite, hence cream treatments should be viewed as merely supplementary.

Cosmetic surgery

The most common treatments often talked about include:

Cellulite laser treatment;
Liposuction; and
Mesotherapy.

Cellulite laser treatment involves the use of a laser which is essentially a highly focused light beam, directed towards a specific point, which causes the target cells to heat up and rupture. This laser beam is directed toward the fat (cellulite) that can be seen below the skin in all the cellulite affected areas of the body, to break the fat cells down. In this way, the laser is assisting the body in the process of fat breakdown. Hence the body can effectively concentrate on the process of fat removal.

In this partially broken down form the body is better able to assimilate and eliminate the fat cells from the system - essentially, the laser beam is breaking down the fatty tissues for easy removal from the body The laser treatment also helps in the detoxifying process, as the lymphatic system is stimulated, leading to better and more rapid lymphatic drainage.

The problems with cellulite laser treatment is that it is expensive and requires multiple sessions before visible effects on the skin are noticeable. It is not a 'one stop shop' to permanent cellulite removal; rather is just assists in the process of removal. Other lifestyle changes need to be made for results to show and to become permanent including improving your diet and taking regular exercise. If such changes are not made, cellulite will undoubtedly reappear in time.

Liposuction (surgery to remove fat) and mesotherapy (injection of drugs into cellulite) are expensive procedures that may or may not work. If such treatments do work, it is likely that this might only be short term.

It is important to consider the science yourself as well. Liposuction is the removal fat from deep under the skin in the 'reserve' layers - it is not removal of cellulite. Indeed, less pressure from the reserve layers on the subcutaneous fat layer might reduce the appearance of cellulite, but it wont remove it.

Also bear in mind that liposuction is a traumatic procedure that could actually damage parts of your circulatory and lymphatic system. If that happens, it is possible that you might end up with less overall body fat, but the damage leads to the development of further cellulite so in the end, you might be thinner, but you might have more cellulite than you had when you started. Like anything, you should seek professional advice if you are considering this kind of treatment and way up the facts for yourself.

There have been several well publicised instances where well-known celebrities have suffered serious side effects from such treatments. In our opinion, lifestyle, diet, exercise, body brushing and massage should be the main weapons in your anti-cellulite armoury.