Cellulite is fat deposits below the skin, and usually, it makes the skin appear to look lumpy or dimpled. Cellulite is more commonly found in women than men, and most women will have it on at least one area of their bodies. Cellulite is commonly seen on the thighs, arms, and stomach area, but it can be found anywhere on the body. Often, people confuse cellulite with cellulitis, but cellulite is fatty deposits under the skin while cellulitis is a skin condition caused when bacteria enter the skin and could be life-threatening. Thankfully, it is easy to reduce cellulite and can be done in a number of ways.
1. Exercise more often.
Even if you are at your ideal weight, exercising more often will help reduce the appearance of cellulite. For cellulite reduction, body toning and muscle growth are more important than reaching a certain weight. You can still weigh less than someone else but still have more cellulite because they have more muscle tone than you do. To reduce your cellulite, you should focus on basic exercises (like taking more walks) if you need to lose some pounds, and if you are already at your goal weight but still have cellulite, you should focus on building muscles in your target areas and toning your body.
2. Watch what you eat.
Since cellulite is fatty deposits, it would make sense to watch what you eat. You should try to eat more fruits, vegetables, and filling foods instead of “empty calories” like sodas, processed food, and candy. You should also make more of an effort to drink more water because cellulite is easier to see when your body is dehydrated, and drinking water will help curb your sweet tooth which will limit the amount of sugar and fat you eat.
3. Stop smoking.
Quitting smoking or drastically reducing how much you smoke each day is important for a number of health reasons including reducing your cellulite. By smoking, you are affecting your body’s blood supply to your skin. Without enough blood, the skin will start to sag which makes the cellulite appear more noticeable. If you stop smoking, not only are you helping your respiratory system, but you are also making your cellulite less noticeable.
4. Massage the cellulite area.
You should spend time every day massaging your cellulite areas with either your hands, a roller, or a body scrubber, and some people find it helpful to make this a part of their shower routine. By massaging the areas with cellulite, you will increase blood flow to the areas with cellulite which will temporarily make the cellulite appear less noticeable.
5. Use an over-the-counter cellulite cream.
If you walk into almost any beauty or health store, you will be able to find a cellulite cream to try. Retinol body creams and serums are the most recommended by beauty experts. After trying one, you should watch your skin for noticeable changes after a few weeks so you can see if it is working or not.
6. Visit a dermatologist for cellulite treatment.
Receiving an in-office procedure to reduce your cellulite may be your best option if you’ve already tried to live a healthier lifestyle or need a quick reduction. Your dermatologist can do a body wrap which will temporarily reduce your cellulite, and for a longer-lasting treatment, you can try a lipomassage, laser reduction, or Cellfina (using a needle to slice through the lumps).
For many people, cellulite reduction is an important goal because cellulite can make them feel bad about their appearance and lower their self-confidence. However, you should remember many factors play a role in the reduction of cellulite including age, genetics, and pre-existing health conditions. If you have tried adjusting to a healthier lifestyle and the over-the-counter remedies, you should see your dermatologist or visit a spa to seek out the next steps.
