Causes Of Cellulite: Understanding Your Skin

It helps to understand the cause of cellulite if you want to find a way to get rid of it. The more you know about how the different organs and tissues in your body work, the easier it is to make changes in your appearance. So before we discuss how to get rid of it, let’s take a look at the cause of cellulite first.

Cellulite is the dimpled skin you see, generally on the abdomens, hips and thighs of women – and some men, too. It usually doesn’t make an appearance until the person reaches their 20s or 30s, but it can even effect young children, too.

In most cases, the presence of cellulite is attributed to genetics – if your mother has it, you probably will, too. But if no one else in your family has it, that doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to be cellulite free.

Cellulite is a layer of fat close to the surface of your skin. And the reason it has that dimpled appearance is because of the connective tissues of your skin. It’s often referred to as ‘cottage cheese’ which gives a completely wrong impression of what cellulite actually is.

Picture a grid of connective tissue right under your skin. And then directly under that is a layer of fat – the fat that causes cellulite.

As you gain weight or retain fluids, that layer of fat puffs up and pushes against that grid. And the grid of connective tissues it was gives that layer of fat it’s dimpled appearance. Kind of like trying to push a pat of butter through cheese cloth. The side of the butter that’s pressed against the cheesecloth will have a dimpled appearance.

Everyone has this layer of connective tissues under their skin. So it stands to reason that anyone can also develop cellulite. Especially those who overeat, or eat a lot of junk food.

Once you’ve developed this thin layer of fat that is the cause of cellulite, it’s difficult to lose. It’s not the same as the deeper layer of fat that can be reduced or eliminated through diet and exercise, or even liposuction. That’s why most people say that once you have cellulite you’ll never be able to get rid of it.

It is possible to reduce the appearance of cellulite though. By eating a nutritionally balanced diet, low in sugars and fats, and following an aerobic/weight resistance exercise program, you’ll be able to shrink that layer of fat and make those dimples almost completely invisible.