Cellulite - what should you know about it?

Cellulite is often referred to as “orange peel” because the texture of this skin lesion resembles this fruit. Cellulite is formed when too much fat or water accumulates under the skin. This problem most often occurs in women, because cellulite is associated with excess estrogen in the body, so it rarely occurs in men. Where does cellulite come from? What is conducive to its formation? How can I get rid of it? In this article, we will answer these and other questions that keep many women awake at night. We cordially invite you to read its content.

What is cellulite?

Cellulite is a distorted fatty tissue that forms under the skin and appears as unsightly lumps. Its formation is mainly caused by disturbed microcirculation, when toxins are not properly discharged and begin to accumulate in adipose tissue, which as a result begins to grow and rub against the connective tissue. The result is that the fat collects into lumps. The cause of cellulite is also the female sex hormones, i.e. estrogens. Most often, “orange peel” is formed on the thighs, buttocks, abdomen and arms. It can appear in a woman of any age, regardless of her weight.

What can contribute to the appearance of cellulite?

In addition to estrogens, the formation of cellulite is influenced by factors related to insufficient physical activity and improper diet. When sweets, excess salt, carbonated drinks, processed foods, and cheap meats, often loaded with antibiotics, are consumed frequently, the risk of cellulite increases significantly. Smoking cigarettes, frequent alcohol consumption, wearing tight clothes, high-heeled shoes and a sedentary lifestyle are other factors that can cause cellulite.

How to get rid of cellulite?

It might seem that getting rid of cellulite is very difficult, if not impossible. Nothing could be more wrong. All you need is a willingness to work and change your lifestyle, as well as the awareness that you should expect the effects only after a few months, and the complete disappearance of the problem only after a few years. Cellulite is easier to prevent than to treat. However, if you can see the changes with the naked eye, then you should immediately start fighting to get rid of the unwanted skin change. If the lesions became hard, it was much more difficult to bring the skin back to its former smoothness.

To start fighting cellulite, first of all, you need to introduce a balanced diet – remove unhealthy food from it and replace it with foods rich in fiber and vitamins. It is worth choosing wholegrain bread, lean fish, fruit and vegetables and various groats. It is also extremely important to drink plenty of water to keep the body hydrated. Water removes toxins from the body, so drinking it is extremely important. It is also worth drinking herbal teas and yerba mate.

Physical activity is also very important. If we have had a sedentary lifestyle so far, you can start taking daily walks and doing simple exercises.

Professional treatments and massages

For people struggling with cellulite, lymphatic massages with the use of a sharp brush, glove or massager with special protrusions are also recommended. They restore skin firmness and accelerate the removal of toxins. Chinese bubbles effectively break up the clumped fat tissue. These two procedures can be performed at home without any problems.

However, if such methods do not prove to be effective enough, it is worth going to professional offices and opting for minimally invasive or non-invasive treatments. The first group includes needle mesotherapy, injection lipolysis and iontophoresis. The second one includes needle-free mesotherapy, velashape and endermology.

What kind of cellulite do I have?

To check what type of cellulite we are struggling with, you can perform a simple test at home. Just below the buttocks, grab a fold of skin with your fingers and squeeze it. Then you should carefully examine it and if it is swollen, whitish in color and your fingers even dig into it, it means that cellulite has been caused by water retention in the body. If the skin hurts when pressed, is uneven, and has light lumps, cellulite is the result of excess fatty tissue accumulating under the skin.

Cellulite or cellulitis?

Many people confuse the concepts of cellulite and cellulite with each other, because the two terms sound similar, but have completely different meanings. The word cellulite refers to the uneven distribution of body fat, as mentioned above.

Cellulitis, on the other hand, is a disease that results from inflammation of the connective tissue under the skin. This disease is caused by bacteria that attack connective tissue, tendons and muscle fascia. Untreated cellulitis can be dangerous to the body and leaves unsightly scars. Also, the infection can spread to the muscles. This disease is treated with antibiotics.