How to deal with the orange peels
Let’s talk about cellulite—that dimpled, lumpy, “orange peel” look. It does look unsightly, especially if it covers a large area that sometimes makes it uncomfortable for some of us to wear clothes we like, such as a bikini or a skirt. Maybe you’ve tried topical creams and lotions, coffee scrubs and dry brushing—all to no avail. But don’t lose hope. Here are ways to help minimize the appearance of cellulite so you can carry yourself with more confidence!
We already know what cellulite looks like, but why do we have it? Cellulite happens when subcutaneous fat accumulates and protrudes or bulges through the skin’s connective tissue. A lot of factors can cause them such as hormones, unhealthy habits, weight fluctuations, pregnancy, age, and genetics. It is usually found on the thighs, buttocks, abdomen, and breasts. As high as 90 percent of women have it, making cellulite all too common for most of us. Men may have it too, but less often than women because their skin structure is different. A good thing to know is that cellulite is not a cause for concern. While there is no treatment to actually make cellulite go away for good, there are several treatments to improve its appearance for a while.
• Lasers are a popular cellulite treatment. A small and thin laser is inserted to destroy tissue and encourage collagen production.
• Subcision is when a needle is inserted to break the tissue and help lessen the dimpled, lumpy look.
• Body-contour treatments like cryolipolysis involves freezing fat to eliminate it.
• Massage. A study by Tunay et. al (2009), where a randomized control study of 60 individuals were treated with mechanical massage (using machines for circulation), manual lymphatic drainage (that promotes lymphatic stimulation), and connective tissue manipulation (involves stretching tissue and helps with collagen as well) that yielded favorable results, such as fat reduction.
Are there ways to prevent it or not to make it worse? Because there are a lot of factors that affect cellulite, there is no sure way to prevent them. You can, however, do the following that may help keep them from getting worse.
• Regular exercise. Strength training helps build muscle and reduce fat appearance.
• Healthy diet and lifestyle. Quitting smoking, sleeping well, and opting to eat healthy food help improve your skin and your health too.
Are there ways to prevent it or not to make it worse? Because there are a lot of factors that affect cellulite, there is no sure way to prevent them. You can, however, keep them from getting worse.
Of course, more studies are needed to support the effectivity of the treatments above, but it is certainly hopeful to know that there are ways to lessen or improve its appearance. If you are bothered by it, talk to your dermatologist so they can give proper advice. Nowadays, a lot of people are more accepting of their cellulite and proud of their bodies, and knowing that it is common and nobody is perfect may help you love yourself more, cellulite, flaws, and all!
SOURCE:
Tunay, Volga & Akbayrak, Türkan & Bakar, Yesim & Kayihan, Hulya & Ergun, Nevin. (2009). Effects of mechanical massage, manual lymphatic drainage and connective tissue manipulation techniques on fat mass in women with cellulite. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology : JEADV. 24. 138-42. 10.1111/j.1468-3083.2009.03355.x.