8 Things Dermatologists Wish Women Knew About Cellulite

Dimpling on the skin, like on the thighs, is common in women, but before you try an unfounded cellulite treatment, follow these expert tips.

Woman looking at thigh
iStock/Blaj Gabriel

What is cellulite?

Cellulite is the term for lumpy, dimpled flesh on the thighs, hips, buttocks and abdomen. It can also appear on the arms and breasts. โ€œCellulite is enlarged packets of body fat deep beneath the skin pushed against the vertical connective tissue that surrounds fat cells,โ€ says Dendy Engelman, MD, of Manhattan Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in New York City. โ€œWhen the fat cells expand, it limits the space under the skin and puts pressure on the connective tissue. The pressure forces the fat against the top layers and creates the dimpled look.โ€ So, before you try the latest and sometimes unfounded cellulite treatment, our skin experts explain what you need to know. (This is the worst advice dermatologists hearย about skin care.)

Women walking on the beach
iStock/dolgachov

Almost every woman has cellulite

โ€œCellulite is very commonโ€”93% of women have it,โ€ says Dr. Engelman. โ€œThe first thing women with cellulite need to know is that they aren’t alone,โ€ echoes Bruce Katz, MD, medical director of JUVA Skin & Laser Center in New York City. โ€œThe vast majority of women have at least some of these dreaded pockets of fat.โ€

21 Worst Habits for Belly Fat

Patient and doctor talking in office
iStock/monkeybusinessimages

Cellulite is harmless and not a disease

Although we may not like how it looks, cellulite is a completely normal and benign condition. โ€œCellulite is not the disease the media would have us think,โ€ says Tanya Kormeili, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in private practice in Santa Monica. The Cleveland Clinic adds that cellulite doesn’t hurt, and it also doesn’t affect overall physical health. (These are the anti-aging secrets dermatologists won’t tell you.)

The 11 Biggest Myths About Cellulite You Need to Stop Believing

Woman doing exercise
iStock/g-stockstudio

Exercise can help reduce cellulite

โ€œSince cellulite is fat, excess fat can contribute to the appearance of cellulite. Increasing muscle tone and exercising can minimize cellulite,โ€ says Dr. Engelman. Dr. Katz agrees: “Generally, the key to alleviating cellulite is weight loss combined with building muscle. Muscle lies below the pockets of fat that strain against the skin and create cellulite. Smoothing the muscle should lead to smoother skin. Most women carry cellulite in their thighs and buttocks, so workouts emphasizing leg lifts, squats, and lunges tend to be most effective.” Dr. Katz says that in his experience, lifestyle changes alone aren’t enough to reduce cellulite to most women’s satisfaction. Some cellulite treatments are nonsurgical and require very little downtime.

A salmon filet
iStock/Joe Biafore

Diet can also affect cellulite appearance

Having a healthy diet is a positive for your body in general but may also reduce the appearance of cellulite. โ€œAntioxidants and omega-3s can be a woman’s best friend in fighting cellulite because they help break fat cells down and strengthen the skin and connective tissue, respectively,โ€ says Dr. Katz. โ€œI recommend foods like flaxseed, dark berries, and salmon. Many women patients are also overjoyed to learn that they don’t have to cut out chocolate. Natural cocoa is loaded with antioxidants, so dark chocolate is a welcome part of any anti-cellulite diet.” (These are the skin care tips dermatologists follow themselves.)

9 Foods That Fight Celluliteโ€”and 4 That Make It Worse

Woman stretching during a run
iStock/lzf

Cellulite has a genetic component (women of any size can have cellulite)

Women who have cellulite tend to have moms, sisters, and aunts with cellulite no matter what their body size or shape. Dr. Katz says, โ€œOne of the biggest misconceptions about cellulite is that losing body fat alone will reduce its appearance. I have treated cellulite in women who are marathon runners and triathletes who still have cellulite. I treated one woman who did the Ironman triathlon in Hawaii four times and still came in to have her cellulite treated.” Dr. Engelman echoes this by saying, โ€œCellulite is genetic, so while weight can influence the presence of cellulite, even the thinnest women can have it.โ€

Man measuring his waistline
iStock/monkeybusinessimages

Men rarely get cellulite because of their skin structure

Men, on the other hand, are unlikely to have cellulite; according to the Cleveland Clinic, less than 10% of men are affected by it.

That’s because the support tissue in a woman’s body is softer, likely because womenโ€™s bodies have to stretch so much to accommodate a growing baby. Visualize fishnet pantyhoseโ€”this is what womenโ€™s covering of skin looks like versus menโ€™s covering, which is more like a thick, uniform pantyhose holding all the fat in place and not allowing as much herniation. โ€œThis is an anatomical issue with our bodies as women. Not our fault! Biology! As we get older or under the effects of hormones, the fishnet โ€˜holesโ€™ can get even more permeable with more herniation, and hence cellulite forms,โ€ says Dr. Kormeili. “Therefore, creams and fads can’t really correct cellulite unless they could go deep in the skin and repair the fishnet into a thick pair of pantyhose,โ€ she says.

13 Common Health Conditions That Affect Men and Women Differently

Woman giving a leg massage
iStock/Nikola Miljkovic

Be wary about expensive โ€œmiracleโ€ cellulite treatments

Weโ€™ve all seen the super expensive creams and potions that claim to erase celluliteโ€” but are they worth it? โ€œWhile many treatments claim to be able to improve the appearance of cellulite, the long-term effectiveness of these treatments or their true efficacy is still being investigated. So, please, don’t waste your hard-earned money on claims that won’t really yield the results you want,โ€ says Dr. Kormeili. If cellulite is a true concern, itโ€™s best to contact a board-certified dermatologist to discuss your options as there are several treatments that can help but they require a physicianโ€™s intervention. (These are other pricey products dermatologists wish youโ€™d stop using.)

A bottle of cream
iStock/Ivan Bajic

Caffeine may improve skinโ€™s texture

โ€œMost cellulite-fighting creams contain caffeine as their active ingredient, which can be more helpful than youโ€™d imagine when applied religiously,โ€ says Dr. Engelman. โ€œThis is because of the temporary effects caffeine has on the body, which are actually prolonged to daily effects. It shrinks fat cells by dehydrating them.โ€ Dr. Engelman suggests applying these creams with an aggressive massage or a rolling motion to help aid in the penetration and see better results. (This is why cellulite is so hard to get rid of.)

For more wellness updates,ย follow The Healthy onย Facebook,ย Instagram, andย Twitter.ย Keep reading:

Sources