The good, the bad and the ugly about cellulite

It is thought by many that cellulite is nothing but plain and simple fat. Some remark that it is a composition of excess water and trapped toxins under the skin.

But the reality is that it is something that affects the skin’s appearance in parts where there are underlying fat deposits which gives a lumpy and dimpled appearance to the skin.


Fat by itself is not solely responsible for the cellulite. Fat can be beautiful. In fact, the beautiful and smooth cheeks of the young are because of facial fat. Patients are charged a huge amount of money by their surgeons to inject the fat into the bodies and faces of their patients.

They can even be used to improve cellulite appearance. Cellulite is different from normal fat in the structure of connective tissue and the overlying tissue which gives the area ripples or smooth appearance.

Getting cellulite

Even a thin woman can be affected by cellulites, as fat is not the sole reason for it, but it may exacerbate the whole condition.

Fibrous connective tissue which lies underneath the skin makes the muscle and skin adhere together. This tissue lies in a diagonal and cross-hatched arrangement, which is patterned smoothly and continuously in men. However, in women, the connective tissue runs vertically.

This results in the tethering of the skin and the underlying tissue by these fibrous bands at certain places, which creates fat chambers pushing up on the skin and the pulling downward of the skin. This different tissue arrangement and thick skin of men results in low cellulite in men.

The bad

In our youth, the suppleness and elasticity of the connective tissue results in giving and stretching of the skin which makes everything look smooth.

But with puberty, hormones have a bad effect on the tissue, which makes it less elastic and stiffer. The fat cells expand in some areas at that time as well, which results in pushing out of the skin.

With the stiffening and contracting of our connective tissue bands with age, the skin is pulled down even further. The fat stores (which are increasing) start pushing it outward into adjacent regions. The combination of these two phenomenon results in a landscape of bulges and dimples.

With growing age and gravity taking its toll, the cellulite appearance worsens further. Yo-yo dieting or continuous cycles of weight loss and weight gain compromise the elasticity of the skin, thus making the cellulite more distinct.

The good

The cellulite appearance (if not eliminated) can be improved through a healthy lifestyle. This refers to following a sensible exercise program and diet, not smoking and staying hydrated.

Proper exercise and diet can help in the decrease of the fat layer under the skin, which makes the cellulite less noticeable.

Proper diet helps in keeping the connective tissue and skin healthier, suppler and stronger. Proper hydration and eating right can prevent water retention exacerbating cellulite.

Exercise helps cellulite as well by lowering the body fat levels and improving the muscle tone and circulation in the cellulite-prone region, keeping the connective tissue and skin healthier. Excess fluid retention and waste is also eliminated.

The ugly


Despite sticking to the most stringent exercise and diet program may prove to be ineffective in the face of cellulite. The location, severity and presence of cellulite are determined by heredity and hormones.
Some procedures and treatments can improve the cellulite appearance but cellulite has no cure as such.

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