Cellulite: Everyone has it, and most of us are on the quest to eradicate the dimples that appear on our thighs, butts, and bellies. Although nearly 90% of women experience cellulite sometime during their lifetime, misinformation about it is just as common as the condition.
The thing about cellulite is that even the experts don't always agree on treatments and causes, making it even more difficult to separate the myths from the facts. To help demystify the subject, we asked two New York City dermatologists specializing in cellulite, plus the Good Housekeeping Institute Beauty Lab's scientists, to give us their opinions about what causes it and if it's possible to get rid of cellulite.
What Is Cellulite?
First of all, it's not excess fat. According to Robyn Gmyrek, MD, founder of Columbia University's Cosmetic Skin and Laser Center, that dimpled appearance you see is the result of fat cells pushing up against the skin over the fibrous connective tissue bands. "Research has found that cellulite is most often located on the butt and the side and back of the thighs of the majority of females post-puberty," says GH Beauty Lab Chemist Danusia Wnek.
Jeannette Graf, MD, assistant clinical professor of dermatology at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York, agrees, saying cellulite has nothing to do with weight. "People diet and diet and diet and they still have cellulite," she says.
What Causes Cellulite?
Here's where things get tricky. According to Gmyrek and Wnek, no one really knows why cellulite develops, but our experts weighed in on the often-blamed causes.
Genetics
Dr. Gmyrek says it's unclear whether genetics play a factor, although she says there does seem to be a link between the two."You may have the genetic predisposition, but the expression of the genes can be modified by your lifestyle choices," she explains.
Dr. Graf, however, believes that some people are born with a higher chance of developing cellulite. "Cellulite is a genetic thing," she says. "We start to see it when we're in our 20s."
Lymphatics
What does the lymphatic system do? Basically, it serves as drainage that helps the body get rid of waste — kind of like a sewer system, according to Graf. She believes lymph nodes can become bloated by unhealthy habits, like a bad diet and lack of exercise, which can increase the appearance of cellulite.
Aging
People often think that getting older causes cellulite, but both doctors agree it's not necessarily age that's the problem — it's more that the effects of mature skin make cellulite more noticeable. "The incidence doesn't seem to increase with age, however, it may look worse because as the skin ages, it loses elasticity and will sag more," explains Gmyrek.
Toxins and Diet
Contrary to what many cellulite creams claim, Graf doesn't believe toxins cause cellulite. However, she firmly believes diet plays a role. "What I would say is the diet you have and the diet you eat can worsen cellulite if it's not a healthy one," she says. She also thinks inflammatory foods like dairy and soda can worsen the condition.
So ... Can You Really Get Rid of Cellulite?
In short, the answer is no — there is no cure, according to doctors. "There's no permanent fix, no matter how invasive, or expensive, a procedure is," states Gmyrek. The dermatologist says that while individual dimples may disappear, if you're predisposed to cellulite, your body will just make more.
But it's not all bad news. There are plenty of things you can do to minimize cellulite with and without the help of expensive medical treatments.
At Home
People often think they can exercise away the dimples, but that's far from the truth. Even the most dedicated gym-goers still sport dimpled butts and thighs, says Gmyrek. However, regular cardio and strength-training will tone muscle and decrease the appearance of cellulite. Gmyrek also points to data that suggests highly stressful lifestyles increase adrenaline and noradrenaline hormones, which have been associated with producing cellulite.
Products That Can Minimize the Appearance of Cellulite
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For Graf, it always seems to come back to lymphatics, and she advises doing your own deep tissue massage or using a body scrub to stimulate these vessels and increase blood flow. Whipping up a scrub using seaweed, algae and olive oil (or using a pre-made version) will stimulate your lymphatic drainage. Of course, this isn't a one-time fix and needs to be done regularly to see a change.
She also praises the benefits of eating a diet full of leafy greens and vegetables that eliminates processed foods, alcohol, and sugar. While most store-bought creams won't provide the results you're looking for, Gmyrek says to look for caffeine and retinol-based topicals as they could stimulate the production of collagen and elastin, making your skin look temporarily tighter.
At the Doctor's Office
Some think liposuction is the answer, but the procedure can actually make cellulite worse. Because you're simply removing fat, it could make the skin look even more wrinkled. The doctors point to treatments such as VelaShape and Cellfina for the most optimal results.
VelaShape is a short-term treatment that uses infrared laser, radio-frequency and vacuum suction to pull in the skin and thicken the tissue, making cellulite less visible. As the results will fade after you stop treatments, this option is only recommended for special occasions like a beach honeymoon or preparation for bikini season.
Cellfina is the best option for longer-term, dimple-free skin and can last for two or more years, the longest FDA clearance for a cellulite treatment. It works by changing the underlying structure that causes cellulite by breaking the fibrous tissue bands pulling on the skin. The groundbreaking treatment won a Good Housekeeping Beauty Breakthrough Award, with women in the clinical study reported 96% satisfaction after two years and no evidence of cellulite returning. Pain was reported to be moderate, consistent with other cosmetic procedures, Beauty Lab data analysis found.
If you're considering a treatment for yourself, talk to a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon to learn more and make an informed decision.
The Bottom Line
Even though there's no simple solution or miracle product for smoother skin right now, that doesn't mean you can't feel more confident in your body, cellulite or not. "It's amazing that truly every medical condition can be improved by decreasing stress, eating well, and exercising regularly," Gmyrek observes.
The main takeaway is that living a healthy, balanced lifestyle will always make you look and feel better. Making cellulite less noticeable is just an added bonus. But for a fast temporary fix when you're exposing skin, try applying a product like blurs imperfections, like Jergens' Flawless Effects Body Moisturizer, a GH Beauty Award winner.
April (she/her) is the beauty director at Good Housekeeping, Prevention and Woman's Day, where she oversees all beauty content. She has over 15 years of experience under her belt, starting her career as an assistant beauty editor at GH in 2007, and working in the beauty departments of SELF and Fitness magazines.
