So, you have cellulite? You are not alone.
Cellulites, just like stretch marks are not painful or harmful. It is just not pretty.
For most women, the introduction to cellulite is after giving birth. According to Nnenna, a nurse and mother of 3 kids “A few months after giving birth to my 2nd baby, I started noticing little peaks and valleys on my thigh and buttocks. That was 3 years ago. Right now it looks like mountains and valleys”
Cellulite is fat that is located under your skin. As the fat pushes against connective tissues, it causes your skin above to dimple and gives it a lumpy and bumpy look.
Both the slim and fat have cellulite
According to medicalnewstoday.com, dermatologists say that cellulite may affect up to 90% of women at one point in their lives.
Cellulite is usually found on buttocks, thigh, breasts, hips, and upper arms. Cellulite is not only seen in overweight people. Slim people also have cellulite. It is not specific to women, men also have cellulite.
Causes of cellulite
- Pregnancy
- Rapid weight gain
- Fad dieting
- Being overweight
- Diet with too much and salt
- Lack of exercise
Over the years I have received a lot of questions from mostly women about cellulite. Today, I am sharing my answers to those questions with you.
Question # 1: Is there a way to remove cellulite permanently?
Answer: There is still no way to remove cellulite permanently. There is no permanent cure. What you have are treatments that can reduce the appearance for some time. There are costly treatments like laser assisted liposuction and endermologie which is available in hospitals and spas. The treatments last from 3 months to 6 years but eventually you will need to go for maintenance treatments once or twice each year.
Question # 2: Can topical creams remove cellulite?
Answer: Lotions and creams that claim to remove cellulite do not work in the long term. Most of them contain caffeine, Vitamin A (retinol) and other skin tightening ingredients. What they give you is a temporary tightening effect. The effect is so temporary that it rarely lasts more than 24 hours.
Question # 3: Is there a connection between weight gain and cellulite?
Answer: Weight gain can increase the appearance of cellulite. Cellulite is caused by fat. Most women notice cellulite during and after pregnancy. However, gradual weight loss through exercise and healthy nutrition coupled with the level of the elasticity of your skin will determine how your skin recovers.
Answer B: Fast weight loss can also lead to the appearance of cellulite.
Question # 4: Can massage remove cellulite?
Answer: Massage especially vigorous massage usually increases blood circulation. The effect of increased blood circulation is the compression of fat cells. The beneficial effects on cellulite appearance do not last long. Massage will not remove your cellulite but it does have other beneficial effect on your health.
Question # 5: Does age have anything to do with cellulite?
Answer: Yes. After the age of 35 onwards the skin starts to lose is elasticity. This may lead to the appearance of cellulite.
Answer B: As women age their body produces less of the hormone estrogen. Estrogen is a female sex hormone. It helps in thickening the skin and improves blood supply to the skin. After menopause the estrogen level declines with its benefits to the skin
Question # 6: Can collagen help to reduce cellulite?
Answer: Collagen is found in the connective tissue in your body, skin and bone. When it declines with age or from bad nutrition, your skin sags, wrinkles and cellulite appear. You can make more collagen available for your body by eating cabbage, orange, eggs, pineapple, tomato, watermelon meat, soy products and nuts.
Question # 7: Is cellulite hereditary?
Answer: Yes, cellulite is hereditary. If your mother and grandmother had cellulite, it is more likely that you will have cellulite.
Question # 8: Can exercise remove cellulite?
Answer: Exercise cannot remove cellulite but it can prevent cellulite and also reduce the appearance.
Using weights, elastic bands and other body toning exercise like yoga tightens the skin and make cellulite less visible.
Question # 9: Can wearing tight clothing remove cellulite?
Answer: Wearing clothes that compress your body can actually do more harm. They can limit blood flow which can lead to the appearance of cellulite.
Cellulite is not a painful condition. It is just a beauty concern. Do not let it stop you from enjoying your life.
Start doing exercises that works more on your butt and thigh like lunges and squats, add strength training exercises, fruits and veggies to your nutrition and you will notice a tighter looking skin. It will not remove cellulite permanently but it will reduce the appearance.