You can spend thousands of dollars on miracle creams, spa treatments, special loofahs, massage rollers and herbal supplements and not make a dent in the cellulite that's made a pronounced dent in you. Cellulite (adiposis edematosa), sometimes called "orange peel" or "cottage cheese" skin, is composed of fatty deposits that hug tight to the surface of your skin, usually on the buttocks and thighs. Cellulite is almost exclusive to women, says the American Academy of Dermatology. Although women of any body size can get cellulite, it's more prominent on those with weight problems. The good news, according to a Science Daily report, is that weight loss in overweight women makes cellulite more scarce.
Step 1
Exercise. Focus on problem areas, such as the thighs, legs and buttocks. Strong muscles and taut skin make cellulite appear less obvious. In an August 2009 CNN report, Professor Howard Brooks, M.D., of Howard University in Washington, D.C., advised funneling the money you spend on expensive "miracle" creams into a good piece of exercise equipment.
Step 2
Eat right. Brooks says that eating a healthy diet makes good sense for anyone trying to lose weight. Medical News Today notes that people who don't eat enough fiber and who consume too much fat, salt and carbohydrates are at risk for getting even more cellulite. Choose foods that are low in fat, such as fruits, vegetables and fiber.
Step 3
Change your underwear. Medical News Today states that cellulite may be attributed to the tight elastic band that cuts across your buttocks, reducing blood flow. Consider wearing a thong, short-style underwear or loosely fitting undergarments instead.
Step 4
Have reasonable expectations of your weight loss program. The Mayo Clinic cautions that the benefits of weight loss to get rid of cellulite are "limited." To read more about why cellulite is difficult to banish, see Resources.
Tips and Warnings
- According to Science Daily, a weight loss study conducted by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons indicates that female participants who lost a larger amount of weight and reduced the percentage of fat in their thighs noticed the greatest improvement in cellulite. These women had higher BMIs and more severe cellulite prior to the study than those who noticed less pronounced results.
- Mayo Clinic experts note that certain lifestyle factors may increase your risk for cellulite, including taking birth control pills, stress and simply being sedentary. Exercise doesn't reduce the appearance of cellulite in everyone; the American Society of Plastic Surgeons study indicates that a few of the participants noticed that losing weight made their cellulite look worse.
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