Listen up, lady friends—I have some news to deliver about cellulite, and you probably won't like what I have to say. Contrary to the cellulite-obliterating claims made by marketers of workout regimens and beauty products alike, those areas of dimpled skin aren't under our control. No amount of squats or miles of running (or applications of firming cream, for that matter) is going to completely rid of the bumps. Put plain and simple, your cellulite isn't going anywhere. Now you may be wondering, how exactly does one get cellulite, why can't we rid of it, and is there anything at all we can do to manage it?
Let's start with the basics: connective fibers keep our skin attached to our muscles, and lurking between those fibers are deposits of fat. As these fibers weaken and become less elastic, the fat deposits cause the skin to protrude outward, creating that uneven surface known as cellulite. A common analogy used to explain this skin condition refers to a quilted mattress: the dimpled areas that keep the mattress top attached to the springs resemble our connective fibers, and the fluff that puffs up in-between acts as deposits of fat.
Women are largely prone to cellulite while men aren't due to the way female connective tissue is structured—women's connective tissues go in a vertical direction (making for pockets of fat) whereas men's bands are crisscrossed (allowing fat to spread outward and inward instead of upward). Aging, hormones, genetics, and poor circulation are additional factors that may contribute to cellulite.
As DermTV's Dr. Neil Schultz makes clear, the formation of cellulite is not caused by body fat, but from the way the body's tissues are structured (making thin people just as susceptible to cellulite as anyone else). Carrying excess fat, though, plays a large role in its visibility. Since inflexible fibers won't expand as fat accumulates, an increase in body fat will cause bumps to protrude further.
While we can't abolish cellulite, there are ways to improve its appearance. Such methods include staying hydrated (via water and water-based fruits and veggies) to promote circulation and plump the skin (and thus create a more even surface), eating a healthy diet and partaking in regular, heart-pumping exercise to reduce excess body fat, and by incorporating strength-training into your fitness regimen to build muscle, which will help tighten and smooth the skin.
All of those creams and treatments on the market promising to rid of cellulite may provide temporary improvement, but in my opinion, they're not worth the price tag or time. Unfortunate as it may be, we might as well get over it and move on with our lives; there's no sense in dwelling over something we can't prevent. I'm not saying that I enjoy seeing the cellulite on my legs while out shopping for shorts and bikinis (and I can only assume that the other women making up the 85% of those effected don't either), but there's not much that can be done about it. I've pulled out my little white flag and I'm slowly waving it in the air. I know I haven't been kind to you in the past, dear cellulite, but I'm ready to turn over a new leaf. We don't have to love each other, but it's about time we live in harmony.
Truce!
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