Tips to treat cellulite at home

Women get more cellulite than men,  due to the different fat, muscle, and connective tissue distribution. Almost 90% of women have it at some point in their life and it can be developed after puberty due to the change in hormones.  Contrary to what most people think, cellulite  happens to women of all shapes and sizes and there are multiple ways to properly do some cellulite reduction.

How is cellulite formed?

Our body has fibrous connective bands that tie up our skin to the underlying muscle. Fat cells and toxins can accumulate and lie between them. So as the accumulation of fat cells and toxins increases, they push the connective bands down, causing an uneven surface or dimpling (cellulite) appearance on the surface of the skin. This is something we tend to see on tights, hips, buttocks, arms or belly.

How to eliminate cellulite

What are the causes of cellulite?

There  are different factors that could influence the appearance of cellulite such as:

• Ageing, when the skin loses elasticity (collagen).
• Weight gain or weight fluctuation can make cellulite more noticeable.
• Genetics might play the biggest role in whether you develop cellulite or not. 
• Lifestyle inactivity increases your chances of having cellulite.
• Pregnancy
• High oestrogen levels.
• Thinning skin in the epidermis (outer layer), which can cause deeper fatty tissues to become more prominent.
• Increased inflammation or poor circulation in the body

 How bad is my cellulite?

 The appearance of your cellulite can be graded. There are three grades of cellulite appearance:

• Grade 1 or mild: You have smooth skin while lying down and standing up.
• Grade 2 or moderate: You have smooth skin while lying down, but some dimpling appears while standing.
• Grade 3 or severe: Dimpling appears while you are standing and lying down.

How can I reduce my cellulite at home?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a magic formula to get rid of cellulite. There are treatments you can do or products you can use to help improve cellulite appearance. The changes don’t happen overnight.

Therefore, you need to be consistent and consistency  is the key to see results. If you use products you need to massage the affected area for at least 5 mins or until the skin starts looking pink, to activate the circulation and to allow the product to be absorbed.

The massages should be performed with firm, strong and fast movements and it needs to be done daily for the first two weeks.  If you find the techniques tiring you can look for a professional anti- cellulite massage to help you with the problem. Also, you need to combine the massages with exercise, diet and changes in lifestyle.

Exercise: 

For better outcomes, you should combine aerobic exercise and strength training. These will help you burn body fat and gain muscle tone. In a muscular body the skin looks and feels smoother and firmer.

Change your lifestyle:

 Healthy habits and a balanced diet will lead you to better health, maintaining your weight and reducing cellulite. 

• Increase your fiber intake
• Reduce processed and high-sugar foods, they lead to the accumulation of toxins and fat in your body.
• Increased water intake, dehydration can make cellulite more noticeable. (8 glasses per day is ok)
• Avoid drinking and smoking, the accumulation of toxins increases cellulite.

Dry brushing. It helps you to exfoliate dead cells from the surface of the skin and enhances lymphatic drainage and circulation.

Things  you have to consider: 

• Use a natural-bristle brush. 
• Dry-brush your body daily for at least 3 minutes.
• Apply enough pressure to stimulate circulation, but not so much to irritate the skin. 
• Do  circular movements in the direction towards the heart. 

Next week we will give you more tips to reduce cellulite at home.

Anti-cellulite massages and lymphatic drainage are great to reduce the appearance of cellulite. We will be waiting for you after lockdown to help you with our tailor made treatments to treat your conditions. For more information, please contact us. We are happy to help. You can find us in Mill Hill Broadway and Islington.