How cellulite develops, how to prevent it, how to get rid of it: the most important facts – plus effective products. The most important questions about cellulite (tips can be found below).
1. Why do we have cellulite and men do not?
Because our connective tissue is much more stretchy. This is good for pregnancies – but bad for the appearance. Because through the parallel running fibers of connective tissue, bulging fat cells can push through perfectly – these are then the visible and tangible bumps of cellulite.
2. Is cellulite hereditary?
Cellulite less so, but in any case the tendency to a more unstable connective tissue. Take a look at your mother’s thighs – there is an 80 percent probability that your skin will develop cellulite in the future. If you do not take countermeasures in time now.
3. Does age also play a role?
Yes, because in old age the body reduces musculature, but more fatty tissue spreads. Existing cellulite is therefore favored. However, if you did not suffer from dimples when you were young, you will probably not get any or only slight ones later on.
4. Do only chubby women get cellulite?
No, you just have to take a closer look at the beach. Even otherwise quite slim young women have problems with dimples. As already mentioned, this is almost always due to an unstable connective tissue.
5. What role do hormones play?
Fat cells produce the important femininity hormone estrogen – and are therefore fiercely defended by the body. Estrogen-boosted birth control pills such as two- or three-stage pills contain relatively high doses of estrogen and can therefore exacerbate cellulite. Modern micropills, on the other hand, contain only a very low dose of estrogen, while so-called minipills contain none at all.
6. Are there also hormone-based cellulite creams?
Yes, but they are not available over-the-counter and must be prescribed by a hormone specialist. They contain androgens (male hormones) and temporarily remodel the structure of the connective tissue so that it is more stable. They also reduce the effect of estrogen.
7. What are the benefits of salt or algae baths?
Both have been shown to alleviate cellulite dimples, but only with regular use. Algae have a positive effect on fat metabolism. Salt baths are especially effective if you suffer from swelling due to water retention in addition to the dimples.
8. Should you additionally do body peelings?
Absolutely, preferably every day in the shower. Because the peelings not only ensure better microcirculation of the body, but also that old horny scales disappear from the skin. And rosy, softer skin immediately looks smoother, even in problem areas.
9. Can you prevent with massages?
Yes, on the one hand massages stimulate blood circulation and on the other hand ensure that fat burning is activated. If cellulite is also associated with swelling due to water retention, lymphatic drainage by a professional often works wonders.
10. What is more effective: a hand massage or a special roller?
A connective tissue massage or lymphatic drainage by a physiotherapist is particularly effective. If you also want to do something at home, special rollers are perfect because you can’t really go wrong with them. Light plucking massages are also quick to learn, get the blood circulation going properly and thus make life difficult for the fat cells.
11. How effective are alternating showers really?
Very – as long as you don’t expect miracles. The cold-warm stimulus also improves blood circulation, boosts fat metabolism, tightens the skin and removes toxins from the tissue. It is best to take three hot and cold showers in a row, always finishing with cold water.
12. Do you have to do sports?
If the very word “sport” makes you sweat: Just call it exercise. And it doesn’t have to take place in a gym, but can be perfectly integrated into everyday life. Regular walks, taking the stairs instead of the elevator every day, hiking on the weekend or biking to the office are targeted measures against cellulite.
13. Which training is most effective?
A combination of endurance and muscle training, because it reduces fat and builds muscle. Swimming, Nordic walking, aqua training and cycling are ideal. If you have very weak connective tissue, you should avoid jogging on hard asphalt because of the vibration and always wear running shoes with good cushioning.
14. Does yoga also help against cellulite?
Yoga is not only a wonderful method of relaxation, but also tightens the connective tissue. The exercises, called asanas, help to break down fatty tissue, they stimulate blood circulation and lymph flow and strengthen the muscles. If normal Hatha yoga doesn’t seem dynamic enough, try Power Yoga, Yoga Spin, Contact Yoga or Yoga Flow. SenFi is also great. It stands for Sensual Fighting and is a rousing mix of combat exercises, meditation and aerobics in three-four time.
15. How can you tone up your body in everyday life?
The best way is with so-called isometric exercises, a static muscle workout. This even works while sitting, for example at a desk or in the car. For example, tense your butt muscles as often as possible and hold the tension for a few seconds. It’s also good to keep your feet firmly planted on the floor.
16. Is it true that high heels promote the development of cellulite?
If you don’t have a tendency to orange peel skin, you won’t necessarily develop one by wearing high heels. However, if you already have slight cellulite, you should not wear high heels every day, but only on special occasions. They restrict both the lymphatic flow and the blood circulation in the legs – and that promotes dimples.
17. Does losing weight help?
Absolutely, because just as fat cells can increase in size by 200 times their original size due to poor nutrition and appear as thick lumps on the surface of the skin, they also shrink again with a more balanced diet with little fat, sugar and white flour.
18. Can fat cells really be reduced with an anti-cellulite cream?
If you cream every day, but make yourself comfortable on the sofa every evening after work with a family cup of caramel ice cream or a bag of chips, you will at best have well-groomed skin. What these creams can do is to positively support the effects of exercise and a balanced diet.
19. How often should you use such a cream?
Quite consistently every morning, even better in the morning and evening. There are now also special chrono creams and serums that specifically support the different metabolic processes during the day and at night, such as fat loss during the day or the conversion of sugar into fat while we slumber.
20. When do you see the first results?
Some manufacturers promise a measurable effect after 10 days. By 25 percent reduced water retention and 30 percent less orange peel skin should be possible.
21. How long does the effect last?
If you do a little exercise and change your diet in addition to the creams, the successes are permanent. However, if at some point you completely fall back into your old habits, the cellulite dimples can also return at any time. Therefore: keep at it!
22. Which active ingredients in the creams strengthen the connective tissue.
- Caffeine/Guarana/Viniferin The shooting stars stimulate microcirculation in the tissue and also stimulate fat breakdown in the cells.
- Ruscus (butcher’s broom) Stimulates lymphatic flow to combat congestion in the legs.
- Ginkgo biloba & Ginseng Ginkgo stimulates fat breakdown. Ginseng contains plant androgens that are antagonists of cellulite-promoting estrogens.
- L-Carnitine The skin’s own active ingredient supports the conversion of fatty tissue into energy, which is necessary for cell supply.
- Horse Chestnut Extract/Red Vine Leaf Has a detoxifying effect, strengthens the vessels and helps remove excess water in the tissues.
23. Can cellulite occur in places other than the thighs?
Predestined for it are all parts of the body that have little blood supply and where the particularly voracious alpha fat cells are located. Cellulite can therefore also appear on the buttocks, abdomen, upper arms and even the knee.
24. What influence does nutrition have?
Natural vital substances play a decisive role in the appearance of the skin. Bad are, for example, saturated fats, too much sugar and white flour products. They weaken the tissue. Good, on the other hand, is protein, for example from crustaceans, fish or lean poultry. It stimulates fat burning. Also important: vitamin C. It helps build collagen in the connective tissue.
25. Many people swear by alkaline foods. What’s the truth?
Most nutritionists consider the acid-alkaline diet unproven and reject it. The idea behind it is that acids from foods like sugar, light flour, coffee and sausage deposit in connective tissue and loosen it. But the doctrine also classifies fish, cheese and meat as acidic – and these are really essential for our bodies and should therefore not be missed under any circumstances.
26. Why should we drink a lot?
Drinking helps to keep the metabolism in good spirits. This also benefits fat loss. In addition, water also makes the skin nice and plump from the inside. About 2 liters per day are ideal. Regular peelings quench the fat cellsbut have patience before the contours look firmer, the silhouette firmer. Psychologically important is the immediate effect. All cellulite creams smooth the skin, making it look silkier and thus visually firmer.
27. Can stress promote cellulite?
According to recent studies, stress hormones such as adrenaline and noradrenaline can cause fat cells to swell unnaturally large. Relaxation methods, such as yoga or meditation, can help reduce the production of these neurotransmitters. But for this you also need to practice regularly!
28. Do I need nutritional supplements?
If you eat a reasonably balanced diet, normally not. Only if the doctor determines a deficiency, for example in iron, magnesium or zinc, should this be supplied from the outside. Besides, nature is not so easy to copy. Many secondary phytochemicals are only found in fruits or vegetables, not in pills. For example, strong blue and purple fruits and vegetables such as eggplant, red cabbage, currants or cherries contain so-called anthocyanins, water-soluble plant pigments that have a particularly strong antioxidant effect on the skin and thus also protect the connective tissue cells from losing elasticity.
29. Does too much sun and smoking damage the connective tissue?
Yes, smoking causes the vessels to constrict, which restricts the blood supply to the connective tissue. The consequence: the cells are less well supplied with nutrients, cellulite can thus worsen. UV rays damage the elastin and collagen fibers of the connective tissue, causing them to wear out and making it much easier for fat cells to push through the loose connective tissue.
30. Are there effective professional methods that can improve cellulite?
Beauticians offer treatments such as body wrappings, which use compression to reduce girth. In gyms, hypoxi trainers or power plate also help to reduce fat and build muscle.
31. Does the fat-away injection help against cellulite?
The fat-away injection is only suitable for dissolving small amounts of fat. For example, if you have a small tummy or a double chin, you can expect good results. In contrast, it is of no use for pronounced cellulite.
32. And what about real liposuction?
This is certainly suitable for a better silhouette if, in addition to cellulite, fat distribution disorders such as riding breeches are also present. However, it is important to know that once the fat cells are removed by liposuction, they are gone forever, but sometimes neighboring fat cells tend to swell up more than before. Therefore, the problem can be shifted.
33. What to think about the new thermal lasers?
Devices like the Accent laser use high-frequency energy. At temperatures of 45 degrees, they damage the membrane of the fat cells, causing them to die. The treatment itself is not painful, only the feeling of heat can be a little uncomfortable. Cost: around 800 euros. It is essential that only experienced dermatologists perform this procedure and that they are informed in detail about the possible risks beforehand.
