How to Get Rid of Cellulite (Expert Tips)
Cellulite is an area of skin with a rippled or uneven appearance. It results from fatty tissues pushing up against the connective tissues deep in the skin. We have several recommendations in this guide on how to get rid of cellulite, which typically occurs in body areas with higher amounts of fat.
Basic Facts on Cellulite
While cellulite isn’t known to exhibit any health effects, it can make quite an impact on your physical appearance and body image. An overwhelming majority of women aged 21 and above have cellulite, but it isn’t common in men. Over 85% of women have cellulite ranging from mild to severe. Its noticeable cosmetic effect is enough to galvanize many women into learning how to eliminate cellulite. Some cellulite home remedies include exercise, dietary changes, supplements, and medical treatments.
Types of Cellulite
Cellulite is classified into three types depending on severity, including:
Mild Cellulite
This superficial dimpling usually leaves 1–4 light compressions in the skin, and it is characterized by an orange-peel appearance.
Moderate Cellulite
This variant looks like cottage cheese and leaves deeper ripples in the skin, along with 5–9 impressions.
Severe Cellulite
Due to its deep and numerous impressions, this type of cellulite has a mattress-like appearance. Thankfully, some simple home or DIY remedies can address all three levels of cellulite.
Cellulite Remedies
There are many ways to get rid of cellulite, and we’ll touch on the most effective ones. Getting rid of cellulite is easy if you follow the right procedures.
Massage
More research is required to fully understand the effect of massage on cellulite, but there’s strong evidence that it could be a promising solution to this problem due to its two main effects. Notably, massage improves lymphatic drainage, and this has a direct effect on smoothing out cellulite. Additionally, a good rub-down can stretch your skin tissue and, by implication, cellulite dimples. While using massage oil helps against cellulite, physical activity has more effect than any massage oil or even high-quality massage guns on cellulite.
Cellulite and Massage Oil
You can’t get rid of cellulite by simply applying massage oil or resting on a premium massage chair. However, hand massage with massage creams is an effective recommendation on how to get rid of cellulite on the legs and other body parts. Massage has to be done repeatedly every day until you achieve the desired result. Your cellulite may develop again after you stop the daily rub-downs.
Drink More Water
Poor circulation and lymphatic abnormalities are among the major causes of cellulite. Keeping your body hydrated is important if you want to maintain healthy blood circulation and optimal lymphatic system functioning. In light of this, drinking enough water is often recommended to people who want to know how to get rid of cellulite on the thighs and bum. Other weight loss benefits of water include reducing the amount of fat in your body. Notably, water increases what’s termed resting energy expenditure.
Studies on Water Intake
Several studies reinforce the excellent weight loss benefits of drinking water. Remarkably, drinking 0.5 liters of water results in your body burning 23 extra calories of energy. More water in the body also makes it easier for the liver to wash out toxic elements that would otherwise contribute to weight gain and, therefore, cellulite.
So, regularly drinking water, especially before a meal, helps eliminate cellulite. Notably, the feeling of water-induced fullness reduces your overall calorie intake—similar to how effective appetite suppressants work—and makes you less prone to eating carelessly.
Supplement With Bioactive Collagen Peptides
Bioactive collagen peptides supplements have proven effective against cellulite. In a 2015 study, where a group of women with mild to severe cellulite took this supplement daily for six months, the researchers noted significant improvement in their cellulite.
Results were more positive among women with moderate weight. This means that you can get rid of cellulite on your thighs and other body parts by using this supplement. These findings should dismiss most doubts you may have about bioactive collagen peptides’ effectiveness in eliminating cellulite. However, more studies are required to firmly establish this remedy.
Eat More Raw Food
Consuming more fiber is a proven effective weight-loss strategy. Notably, this gives you a lasting feeling of fullness and slows down calorie absorption, making extra fat deposits less likely to develop. Raw foods, especially vegetables and nuts, are usually the best sources of fiber.
If you’re overweight and trying to find out how to lose cellulite, you should focus on high-fiber foods rich in proteins and vitamins. While losing weight is typically good for cellulite, excessive and drastic weight loss—with or without the use of potent weight loss pills or similar products—will yield the opposite result. Namely, if you lose too much weight too fast, your skin might get loose or sag, potentially making the cellulite even more noticeable.
Use Support Stockings
There are many modern stockings you can use to smooth out cellulite. If you wear these stockings often, the cellulite on your thighs is unlikely to store any fluids, making it less visible.
Shed Weight
This is quite effective in eliminating cellulite in obese or overweight individuals. Losing weight reduces the severity of cellulite and helps to quickly eliminate it, especially when you combine it with other remedies this guide outlines.
Since cellulite isn’t unique to obese or overweight people, losing weight doesn’t provide 100% protection against it. Still, shedding weight by making lifestyle changes is one of the best home remedies for cellulite. If you are having trouble doing this on your own, there are a number of helpful weight loss programs out there that you might want to look into.
Exercises to Remove Cellulite
Exercise is one of the most effective and popular remedies for cellulite. While it’s unlikely to make it disappear altogether, it should give you stronger muscles that stretch out the dimples to a great extent. For best results, combine a healthy diet, exercise, and aerobic activities to help smooth out your muscles. Some exercises that work as a natural remedy for cellulite include:
- Squats
- Jump squats
- Step-ups
- Glute kickbacks
- Side lunges
Each of these exercises is effective against cellulite. But in each one, you rely on your body’s weight for the strain required. You can increase this strain by incorporating handheld weights.
How to Get the Best Out of Cellulite-Reducing Exercises
For each exercise, repeat at least 12 times for each leg. You can increase the number of repetitions or add weights as you get stronger. Warm up before doing these exercises as a precaution against muscle strain. Do this at least 2–3 days per week, 30 minutes at a time. If you want to know how to get rid of cellulite on the thighs and bum naturally, combining several exercises in your workout routine is often praised as an effective approach.
There are many other exercises against cellulite, including running, cycling, swimming, dancing, and walking. If you can’t do all these aerobic exercises due to time constraints or other reasons, just choose the one you’re most comfortable with and regularly engage in it.
Medical Solutions for Cellulite
There’s currently no medication that can be prescribed for cellulite. The only medical remedy for cellulite seems to be through practical means or an injection. For instance, those who’d like to find out how to get rid of cellulite in a day will be pleased to learn that the FDA has approved an injection called collagenase clostridium histolyticum-aaes (CCH). In a monumental study, 259 participants tried CCH, and the results indicated it was safe and effective.
Additionally, the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) maintains that products like creams can be somewhat effective cellulite remedies if used consistently. AAD also confirms that daily use of caffeine can reduce the intensity of cellulite because of its dehydrating effect. Since it takes a while for results to become apparent, this recommendation is not for those who want to know how to get rid of cellulite overnight.
Certain creams can positively affect cellulite, but typically, creams alone aren’t enough. That being said, creams with 0.3% retinol reduce visible cellulite and thicken the skin. According to the AAD, lifestyle changes are the most effective remedy for cellulite. Commit up to six months to any method you choose to get the best results.
Cellulite Removal
While cellulite doesn’t pose any significant health risks, it can cause self-image issues. Anything that assists you in getting stronger muscles and tighter skin will have a positive impact on cellulite and make it less visible. A skinny appearance doesn’t translate into zero risk for developing cellulite, but it can make it less likely and less visible. For skinny individuals, losing a few pounds will positively affect cellulite.
Finally, although many seek recommendations on how to get rid of cellulite in 2 weeks or overnight, professional removal is probably the only way to achieve this currently.
How to Prevent Cellulite
There’s no effective way to completely prevent cellulite because some causative factors, such as age, are uncontrollable. However, you can reduce your chances of developing cellulite by leading a healthier lifestyle full of activity and exercise. Some advanced medical remedies for cellulite include laser therapy, typically administered by a dermatologist.
Conclusion
Prescription medication isn’t an option when it comes to removing cellulite. If you seek recommendations on how to get rid of cellulite, it all comes down to a healthy diet and the right exercise, as they’re the most effective and proven means.
FAQs
Can you get rid of cellulite once you have it?
Yes. You can achieve this by following a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and avoiding anything that causes cellulite—such as alcohol and other empty calories. While cellulite occurring on your legs and other areas is likely to resolve in no time, if it’s a result of age, it may not completely disappear without some advanced medical therapy, which may not be a long-term solution.
What is the fastest way to get rid of cellulite?
The fastest way to get rid of cellulite is to maintain a healthy diet that increases muscle mass. Engaging in regular exercise, making the most of massage and massage oil, and drinking enough water are other steps, alongside the mentioned dietary changes.
Does drinking water help cellulite?
Yes. Dehydration is a major cause of poor circulation and problems with the lymphatic system. As such, drinking plenty of water helps maintain a healthy circulatory and lymphatic system.
What foods cause cellulite?
Foods that cause cellulite include processed foods like chips, soda, cheese, etc. In a nutshell, any food that leads to weight gain is bad for your cellulite, and you should avoid it if you are trying to figure out how to get rid of cellulite.