Known to the medical world as gynoid lipodystrophy, on the street, cellulite runs with a more colorful, yet no less flattering description: orange peel syndrome or cottage cheese. While cellulite is not deemed a disease, it’s still problematic, causing social anxiety to many.
In former times, like the voluptuous shape of a woman, the appearance of cellulite was seen as a status symbol, of high wealth and attractiveness. It marked the good life, of someone who was well fed and waited on hand and foot. While it’s not seen to serve any evolutionary purpose, it’s grown more common along with the sedentary lifestyle and has become less favored among the general public.
Cellulite appears when there is a dense amount of fat cells under the skin, which then press up against the epidermis. This is what gives cellulite it’s lumpy appearance. It can affect anywhere fatty tissues are found, in both slim and curvier women alike. Being is most noticeable in areas where fat cells are highly distributed like the upper arms, abdominal region, thighs and buttocks.

Why do I have cellulite?

Because you’re a girl.
Cellulite affects more women than men, simply because of the female hormone estrogen. Estrogen is linked to cellulite in two ways: it is collagen decreasing and fat producing. When estrogen starts to decrease (which is usually age associated), many changes start to happen in the body. Circulation reduces, therefore diminishing the overall nutrient supply. This means there is a gradual loss of collagen, which is the substance that keeps our skin tight and supple. The end result is relaxed and loose skin that’s lost its vava-voom.

On the other hand, younger girls who are overweight and getting cellulite have too much estrogen. This estrogen dominance can be over produced in the body from exposure to xenestrogens, which have estrogen mimicking effects and mess around with the endocrine system causing weight gain. BPA and other industry plastics, parabens in skincare products, preservatives and additives as well as pesticides and herbicides are all examples of xenestrogens.

Other reasons you get cellulite are:
▪ Genetics: Some of our genetic predispositions will make us more susceptible to cellulite, such as metabolic rate, distribution of fat and circulatory insufficiency.
▪ Diet: Those who over indulge on unhealthy fats (like trans fats in deep fried food) highly processed carbohydrates (like cookies, cakes and pastries) andhave little intake of plant based fibre and water have been seen to have greater amounts of cellulite.
▪ Lifestyle factors: Cellulite is seen to be higher in those who don’t exercise and stand or sit for prolonged periods.
▪ Clothing: Tight clothes, such as underwear that cuts into the skin and limit blood flow will lead to higher chances of cellulite accumulation.

Do anti-cellulite creams work?

There is no solid research that proves that any anti-cellulite cream actually gets rid of cellulite, sorry to break it to you. This is also to say there is no real quick fix to making cellulite vanish for good. Even if there was a quick fix, cellulite would still reappear without ongoing care. However, this doesn’t mean there aren’t treatment options available.

How I see it, an accumulation of toxins manifests itself in fat cells, and the more we have, the more likely they will show up as cellulite. So, first, you need to address long-term lifestyle changes that promote the natural detoxification process and improve the overall health and appearance of the skin. Then work on short-term treatments like improving circulation and the manual use of massaging and scrubbing to target the affected areas.

Steps to getting rid of cellulite

1. Clean and tone up the body
The key isn’t to loose weight, because this can make a loosening in the skin causing cellulite to look more obvious. Instead, focus on removing toxic waste and toning the muscles and skin.
The best way to rid toxins and fat out of the body (next to exercising) is through the bowel. Sweeping the gut clean and having healthy bowel movements is the first thing you can implement as a longterm change in your lifestyle.
Fibre, fibre, more fibre, water and exercise are the secrets here.
Fibre comes from plant foods and works with the bowels to pack together and remove unwanted waste from the body. This is also how fat is literally removed from the body.
Water enhances the body’s ability to burn fat and strengthen the skins structure. It will also be absorbed by fibre and will help to move toxic waste out of the body.
Exercise is fueled by excess fat. Emphasize toning, strengthening and firming. Check out yoga, pilates, try to walk more, and if all else fails, resort to the old faithful lunges and squats.
Tip: Add plant-based foods to every meal time, carry a bottle of water with you and refill it several times a day, and walk more daily. Commit to doing this for 3 weeks and see what improvements it makes.

2. Stimulating circulation is key
The lymphatic system is connected to the circulatory system and is responsible for getting waste and toxins out of the tissues and cells and then out of the body.
The lymphatic system sits just under the skins surface and if its flow is underproductive or stagnant, cellulite will be more apparent, allowing toxins to accumulate and store in the fat cells.
Unlike our blood flow, the lymph needs physical encouragement to move.
Lymphatic massage, dry skin brushing, scrubbing, using a roller massage tool and movement are essential for promoting lymph drainage. It will encourage blood flow to the area, which will bring nutrients in and get waste out. To get the most out of this, it has to be done regularly.

3. Implementing a beauty regime
At the same time as working from the inside, there is no reason you can’t buffer the skin from the outside and make it look even-toned and fresh with an extra flattering glow.
Advise from the experts at Eco by Sonya:
Complete a beauty regime of dry body brushing in circular motions towards the heart (see skin brushing link above), this can best be achieved using the Extreme Exfoliating Glove. We suggest doing this two to three times a week on affected areas. Pink Himalayan Salt Scrub can be used two to three times a week, the sea salt and essential oils help to improve blood flow and remove toxins.
Lastly, we suggest waiting 24-48 hours after this beauty treatment and then applying our Invisible Tan, to leave your skin with a gorgeous honey glow and make the skin look more even.

Advise from the experts at PRTTY PEAUSHUN: This range of body lotions contain subtle light reflecting particles that work to conceal small imperfections of the skin. The ingredients are derived from plant extracts to help firm, tone, tighten and lift the appearance of the skin, making it appropriate not only for cellulite, but also stretch marks and varicose veins.

In the end, the solution to getting rid of cellulite isn’t solely found at the bottom of an anti-cellulite cream. It’s more of a lifestyle change, with ongoing care. While the appearance of cellulite might come down to genetic or hormonal factors, improvements to the diet, movement and a beauty routine might be all you need to see change. Try implementing the above 3 steps for 3 weeks and measure the outcome. It’s a small sacrifice to make, to live a life free from cellulite, wouldn’t you say?
What’s the best way you’ve treated cellulite?