13 Surefire Cures for Cellulite

Cellulite is one of life’s more unpleasant facts. It stops most women from wearing bikinis, miniskirts, and short shorts. And this problem has plagued them for decades. In fact, it seems there’s hardly a woman out there who hasn’t struggled to get smooth legs and thighs. Over 90% of women suffer from unsightly cellulite.

Though its name makes cellulite sound like a medical condition, it’s nothing more than normal fat beneath the skin. The fat appears bumpy because it pushes against connective tissue, causing the skin above it to pucker. And contrary to popular belief, having cellulite doesn’t mean you’re overweight. Even thin people can have it. (If you are overweight, however, losing weight may reduce cellulite.)

What are the dreaded risk factors for getting cellulite? It depends first on your sex: cellulite is more common among women than men. Then, genetics play a part. If other women in your family have cellulite, there’s a good chance you will too. Cellulite also tends to be more noticeable on lighter skin, so if you’ve got lighter skin, you should apply a self-tanner to make the bumps and dimples on your thighs less noticeable. And then there are all those other factors that influence cellulite, including poor diet, fad dieting, sluggish metabolism, lack of exercise, hormone changes, dehydration, total body fat, and skin thickness.

Waging Battle Against Cellulite

So how do you combat cellulite? It’s simple, really. Begin by heeding these eight simple tips:

1. Eat a healthy diet. A healthy diet plays an important role in preventing cellulite. Eat plenty of fiber and whole grain foods, such as bran and oat cereals—they help to remove waste and toxins from the intestinal tract. You should also drink plenty of water. If you increase your daily intake of water, your body will begin to shed its excess fat—including fat stored as cellulite. The water will also help strengthen the collagen in your skin, helping to reduce any lumpiness.
2. Exercise regularly. Cellulite is fat, and excess weight can contribute to it. That’s why it’s important to engage in physical exercise like walking, jogging, and swimming several times a week. Keep in mind that cardio alone doesn’t decrease cellulite. Strength training is highly recommended as a complement to any exercise regimen. Two to three times a week, work muscles in the areas where dimpling occurs. This means doing lunges in all directions as well as butt-and-thigh-toning squats.
3. Try massage. Take a few minutes every day to firmly massage trouble spots. Try it in the shower or when you apply lotion. Massage improves blood flow and gets rid of excess fluid, which may make dimples less noticeable for a while.
4. Quit smoking. Lighting up affects the blood supply to your skin, making it thinner and more likely to sag. This makes the cellulite on your arms, thighs, and bottom more visible. Talk to your doctor about the stop-smoking method that’s best for you.
5. Exfoliate. Like massage, exfoliation can reduce the appearance of cellulite by improving circulation, which can help loosen up excess fluid. Body scrubs also exfoliate skin, making it appear healthier and more radiant. You can make your own body scrub by combining peppermint essential oil, coconut oil, and brown sugar.
6. Try an anti-cellulite cream. Creams with plant extracts can make your skin look better. Products with caffeine can quickly tighten the skin. A lot of anti-cellulite creams mainly work by temporarily narrowing blood vessels, forcing excess fluid from the skin. Look for a cream containing retinol; it can improve your skin’s look and texture. You need to use it for at least six months. A product with 0.3% retinol is best; it will thicken your skin’s outer layer to help cover the bumpy areas.
7. Use a self-tanner. If you have fair skin, a self-tanner may help. Dimpled areas are less noticeable on darker skin. Start with a gentle body scrub, then apply a self-tanning lotion to the areas afflicted with cellulite. Then spritz your entire body with a tanning spray. Don’t be tempted to get a real tan – it’ll damage your skin and make cellulite look worse.
8. Wear compression tights. Wearing support stockings can make your cellulite look smoother if you wear them often. However, it may take a year or two to see results. Compression tights help prevent cellulite from storing fluid. You can also wear slimming workout gear that hides the appearance of cellulite. Most slimming workout clothes provide an instant slimming effect, and some of them are even infused with retinol, vitamin E, and caffeine that help to tighten and hydrate skin, leaving your legs looking less lumpy after you take them off.
9. Indulge in a body wrap. You can get a body wrap to tighten and smooth your skin for a short period. The effects last about a day and costs vary. Body wraps reduce the appearance of cellulite by improving circulation and drawing out excess body fluids. The result? Loss of inches, and smoother-looking skin. A body shaper or an Ace bandage wrapped around your cellulite zones might give you spa results for less money.
10. Lipomassage. Sounds strange, but lipomassage uses a rolling suction device to gather your skin and massage it. This causes fat cells to break up beneath the surface of the skin and dissolve. Research has suggested that lipomassage can trigger the release of fat and stimulate production of collagen and elastin, helping to create smoother, tighter and healthier skin. Several treatments are required, and the benefits are likely to go away unless you have it done repeatedly.
11. Avoid alcohol. Alcohol consumption can make your body look bloated and puffy. What’s more, alcohol is stored as fat in your cells. Alcohol also increases your appetite, tires the liver, reduces energy levels, and causes water retention and poor circulation. When combined with sugars, as in beer and cocktails, these effects are magnified.
12. Limit sugar and salt intake. You should avoid consuming too much sugar, which gets stored in fat cells and causes them to expand. And limit salt intake too, since sodium causes fluid retention, making cellulite appear even worse. Consume no more than six teaspoons of sugar each day, and stay away from foods containing more than 200 mg of sodium.
13. Check for hormonal imbalances. Although many women don’t realize it, there is a connection between cellulite and your hormones. Some experts believe that estrogen tends to aggravate and worsen cellulite since it encourages the body to build up and store fat, especially in the stomach, thighs, hips and butt. Cellulite can also get worse during pregnancy because of acute weight gain and fluid retention. And during and after menopause, many women see more cellulite. This is because the quality and texture of skin changes and it becomes thin, making cellulite more apparent. If you think you might have a hormonal imbalance, you should contact your doctor for testing and a treatment plan.

Need a little help with cellulite? Come to LaserAway. We’re proud to offer the most medical spa service options of any national skincare provider. We hire only the most highly trained staff experienced and certified in administering laser and other dermatological procedures. What’s more, we use only innovative techniques and cutting-edge laser technology. We aim to make your medical spa experience comfortable, enjoyable and satisfying. Schedule a free, no obligation consultation today by emailing LaserAway.net or calling the staff at LaserAway at (888) 965-2737. LaserAway looks forward to helping you fight the battle of the bulge.