Effective Ways To Get Rid Of Cellulite Naturally & Effectively

You’ve probably seen those adverts talking about how celluliteⁱ  Persistent subcutaneous fat that leads to skin dimpling, which is often found on the hips and thighs of women. is your worst enemy. But what exactly is cellulite? And more importantly, how do you get rid of cellulite? Cellulite develops when the fat deposits under the skin push against the connective tissues of the skin, giving it a dimpled and uneven appearance. Cellulite is commonly seen on the thighs, buttocks, hips, and abdomen, and it can make you conscious and hide your beauty behind long pants and tops. Thankfully, there are some effective ways to get rid of cellulite.

In this article, we discuss treatment options and a few simple exercises to get rid of cellulite naturally and effectively. Scroll down to take a look!

What Is Cellulite?

Cellulite is the dimpled skin that commonly occurs near your thighs. It is formed when there is a deposition of fat under your skin. This fatty tissue pushes against the connective tissue of your skin, giving it a dimpled appearance.

Cellulite is commonly known as cottage-cheese skin, orange-peel skin, and hail damage. Studies show that it is a problem present in 80-90% of post-pubertyⁱ  The post-pubescent phase that immediately follows puberty. It usually starts after 14-16 years of age. women (1). It is not as commonly observed in men, owing to the varying distribution of muscles and fat in their bodies.

Cellulite usually occurs on your thighs and buttocks, but it can be seen in other areas as well.

What Causes Cellulite On The Thighs?

The thigh area naturally contains more fatty tissue, allowing cellulite to develop more easily. Other factors that cause cellulite in this region (or any region) include:

• Age of the person
• Estrogen levels in your body
• A family history of cellulite
• Weight gain
• Collagen loss
• Thinning of the epidermis

Apart from these causes, certain lifestyle issues can also worsen cellulite. Learn more in the next section.

Lifestyle Factors Influencing Cellulite Appearance

There are certain common lifestyle factors that can influence cellulite appearance, such as (2):

• Diet Choices: Eating foods high in fats, salt, and preservatives could lead to metabolic issues like hyperinsulinemia that may increase fat buildup and worsen cellulite.
• Sedentary Lifestyle: Lack of physical activity weakens muscles and blood vessels, leading to poor circulation. This may cause oxygen loss in fat tissue, making cellulite appear worse.
• Alcohol Consumption: Drinking alcohol encourages fat storage and dehydrates the body, leading to more noticeable cellulite.
• Smoking: Smoking increases free radicals and narrows blood vessels, which impairs blood flow. This may lead to poor circulation in the skin, accelerating cellulite formation.

But how do you tell if you have body cellulite? Scroll down to learn the symptoms and the common places where they occur.

Symptoms Of Cellulite

• The symptoms of cellulite include:
• The appearance of lumps or dimples on the skin
• Slight skin discoloration in the area surrounding the lumps
• The skin may become tender and sensitive in that area
• Rumpled and bumpy skin
• The skin has an orange peel-like texture

It occurs typically on the thighs, hips, breasts, upper arm, lower abdomen, and buttocks. It is usually classified into four grades. They are:

Grade 0: No cellulite
Grade 1: Slight dimples that occur when you sit.
Grade 2: Moderate dimples that are noticeable when you stand or sit.
Grade 3: Severe dimples while standing or sitting, with prominent raised and depressed areas.

We will now look at the home remedies that may help reduce your body cellulite.

How To Get Rid Of Cellulite

1. Massage

Massages help relax both the body and mind. Massaging the areas in your body with cellulite can cause significant smoothing of the skin (3). It may also cause a reduction in cellulite as it facilitates lymphatic drainage.

The type of massage cream used to massage the problem areas makes the process more effective. It is important to repeat this procedure several times to help firm up the skin and reduce cellulite.

Katie, a beauty and fitness vlogger, shares her routine for reducing the appearance of cellulite in one of her videos: “I essentially start on my lower body, and I brush up toward the heart because all of the ducts, like, flow toward the heart, so you want to move that circulation toward the heart (i).” She continues, “It helps smooth the skin because you have, like, the actual brushes exfoliating you, so it’ll help plump everything up to reduce that appearance, and improve circulation.”

2. Bioactive Collagen Peptides

Bioactive collagen peptides are dietary supplements. These supplements, when taken with your food, have shown to help reduce cellulite.

Some studies show that the collagen peptide supplements may have a stimulatory effect on dermal cellular metabolism. This means that it can reduce the amount of cellulite and restore the dermal structure of your skin (4). However, more research is required to establish that bioactive collagen peptides can reduce cellulite.

Caution: Take dietary supplements only when prescribed by your doctor.

3. Self-Tanners

The appearance of cellulite can be significantly reduced by the use of self-tanners. These are cost-effective and are known to make cellulite less visible (especially in darker skin tones) (5).

To obtain the best results, first, use an exfoliant on the problem areas. Then, apply the self-tanning product.

4. Ground Coffee

Coffee contains caffeine. Studies show that caffeine has a stimulating effect on lipolysis, thereby possibly helping reduce cellulite (6).

You Will Need

• 2-3 tablespoons of coffee grounds
• Carrier oil

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the coffee grounds with the carrier oil.
2. Apply this paste to the problem areas of your skin. Massage in a circular motion.
3. Wash off with warm water after 10 minutes.

How Often You Should Do This

You can repeat this process at least 3 times a week.

5. Aloe Vera

Aloe vera is a rich source of bioactive compounds that can treat skin problems. Aloe vera extracts can help in collagen synthesis (7). This helps in tightening the skin and may reduce cellulite.

You Will Need

2-3 tablespoons of aloe vera gel

What You Have To Do

1. Take some aloe vera gel and gently massage it over the problem area.
2. Massage in circular motions (this also facilitates better absorption).

How Often You Should Do This

You can repeat this process at least 3 times a week.

6. Grapefruit Oil

Grapefruit oil is known to have bioactive compounds that can inhibit adipogenesisⁱ  The development of fat cells called adipocytes from stem cells. These cells get deposited on various parts of the body. (8). This means that you can use this oil on areas with cellulite and may see a decrease in the excess fat in these regions.

You Will Need

• 2-3 drops of grapefruit oil
• 1-2 drops of carrier oil

What You Have To Do

1. Dab 2-3 drops of grapefruit oil mixed with a carrier oil on a cotton ball.
2. Gently massage this over the problem areas.
3. Leave it on for about an hour and wash off.

How Often Should You Do This

Repeat 3-4 times a week.

7. Rosemary Oil

Rosemary oil contains carnosol and carnosic acid (9). These compounds show an inhibitory effect towards adipogenesis, hence reducing cellulite.

You Will Need

• 2-3 drops of rosemary oil
• 1-2 drops of carrier oil

What You Have To Do

1. Mix two to three drops of rosemary oil with one to two drops of carrier oil.
2. Dab a few drops of the mixture on a cotton ball.
3. Gently massage this over the problem areas.
4. Leave it on for about an hour and wash off.

How Often Should You Do This

Repeat 3-4 times a week.

8. Green Tea

Green tea contains catechins. These compounds show a decrease in fat content in the body and also boost metabolism levels (10). This, in turn, may help reduce cellulite in your body (11).

You Will Need

Green tea bag

What You Have To Do

1. Steep a tea bag in a cup of boiling water.
2. Consume the tea while it is warm.

How Often Should You Do This

You can consume at least 2 cups of green tea a day.

9. Cinnamon

Cinnamon contains cinnamaldehyde and a host of other polyphenols (12). These compounds exhibit an inhibitory effect towards lipogenesisⁱ  A metabolic process that converts fatty acids and glycerols into fats and forms an important step in ATP (energy) formation. and help lower weight, thereby possibly reducing cellulite.

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon of cinnamon powder
• 2-3 tablespoons of honey
• I liter of boiled water

What You Have To Do

1. Add a tablespoon of cinnamon powder to the boiled water.
2. Keep it aside for 30 minutes.
3. Add the honey and mix well.
4. Consume the mixture while it is warm.

How Often Should You Do This

You should consume at least 2 cups of this decoction in a day.

10. Turmeric

Turmeric is a rich source of a bioactive compound called curcumin. Curcumin helps in reducing the fat content in your body, thus decreasing the appearance of cellulite (13).

You Will Need

• 1 tablespoon of turmeric powder
• 1 tablespoon of honey

What You Have To Do

1. Mix the two ingredients well to get a thick paste.
2. Ingest this paste at least twice a day.

How Often Should You Do This

You should consume this paste twice a day for a few weeks.

Did You Know?

It is believed that gotu kola can also effectively reduce cellulite. Try a herbal compress with this herb thrice a week to manage cellulite.

Treatment Options

You can choose from several medical options to reduce cellulite. These are:

• Acoustic Wave Therapy

This is a treatment option that involves a few sessions of using sound waves to get rid of cellulite.

• Laser Treatment

This treatment involves the use of a laser to break up the excess fat tissues, thereby reducing cellulite.

• Subcision

This is an invasive treatment that requires the doctor to insert a needle into your skin to break up the connective tissue that causes cellulite.

• Precise Tissue Release

This is a vacuum-assisted procedure that involves cutting the connective bands using a series of small blades. This procedure may last for over a year.

In addition, using cellulite creams containing retinol, radiofrequency, liposuction procedure, body contouring, and skin tightening techniques may help reduce cellulite. Consult your doctor and understand the benefits and risks of each procedure before opting for one.

Did You Know?

Ice therapy tightens the tissues, lifts saggy skin, and effectively improves cellulite.

Exercises To Get Rid Of Cellulite

• Squats

Start this exercise by standing straight with your feet slightly apart. Keeping the rest of your body relaxed, raise your arms in front of you. Now, squat (your posture should resemble a half-sitting pose). Hold this pose for 2 minutes. You can do 10 reps to begin with, and slowly increase to 2-3 sets of 10 reps each.

• Jumping Squats

This is a variation of the previous exercise. Assume the starting position for a squat. Keep your hands to the sides, and jump and land in the squat position. Hold this pose for 30 seconds. You can do 10 reps initially and then slowly increase it by doing 2 sets of 10 reps each.

You should incorporate these exercises into your routine if you are trying to treat cellulitis without antibiotics. However, there are more ways to treat cellulitis without antibiotics, which you should definitely know to have a positive outcome.

Infographic: 5 Natural Ways To Get Rid Of Cellulite

It is best to maintain a regular exercise routine and follow a healthy diet to reduce cellulite. As mentioned above, massaging your skin with certain ingredients may reduce it too. Refer to the infographic below to read through the non-invasive techniques that help eliminate cellulite.

Illustration: StyleCraze Design Team

Frequently Asked Questions

What foods cause cellulite?

Processed and refined foods in your diet such as meats, dairy products, cheese, fast food items, etc. can cause you to gain weight, simultaneously leading to cellulite.

Does cellulite worsen with age?

As women age, they face an imbalance in hormone levels. This can aggravate the appearance of cellulite as the body produces lesser amounts of estrogen.

Does dry brushing help cellulite?

Dry brushing can help facilitate the circulation of blood and lymphatic drainage. This can help reduce cellulite.

Can cupping reduce cellulite?

Cupping increases the circulation of blood and other fluids and prevents fluid buildup. This can help reduce the cellulite content of your skin.

Can cellulite on legs go away?

Yes, regular strength training exercises that target thighs and glutes may reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Will cellulite go away if I lose weight?

It depends on factors like the severity of cellulite, body mass index (BMI), and weight reduction. If you are overweight, weight loss may reduce cellulite to a certain extent (14). However, it will not disappear.

Does drinking water help cellulite?

Some experts say that drinking water reduces the appearance of cellulite, as it prevents dehydration and flushes out toxins from the body. Hence, drink plenty of water to provide your body with much-needed hydration to fight against cellulite. However, more research is needed in this regard.

Does walking help cellulite?

Walking can help burn calories, improve blood circulation, reduce fat, helping in reducing the appearance of cellulite.

Can low protein cause cellulite?

It may contribute to cellulite to some extent. Low protein levels affect the collagen levels in the body, which may affect skin elasticity and firmness, leading to cellulite. Also, low levels of protein hormones like adiponectin may cause vasodilation and impede microcirculation, leading to cellulite (2).

Illustration: Effective Ways To Get Rid Of Cellulite Naturally & Effectively

Image: Stable Diffusion/StyleCraze Design Team

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Dr. Zeel GandhiBAMS

 

Dr. Zeel Gandhi is an Ayurvedic doctor with 7 years of experience and an expert at providing holistic solutions for health problems encompassing Internal medicine, Panchakarma, Yoga, Ayurvedic Nutrition, and formulations.

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Shaheen NaserHealth & Wellness Writer

 

Shaheen holds a postgraduate degree in Human Genetics and Molecular Biology from Bharathiar University. She is a Geneticist with proficiency in Biotechnology, Immunology, Medical Genetics, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Genetic Counseling.

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Anjali SayeeAssociate Editor

Anjali is an associate editor at StyleCraze. She specializes in hairstyles and hair and skin care and has written over 200 articles in these domains. She has 7 years of experience, and her philosophy about hair and skin care is simple: if you love and care for it, it will be healthy.

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Swathi ESenior Beauty & Lifestyle Writer

Swathi has a postgraduate degree in English literature from The English And Foreign Languages University, Hyderabad, and over three years of experience in writing on beauty, health, and lifestyle. She also has a diploma in English journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Kottayam, and is a certified skincare coach.

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