5 Remedies for cellulite to reduce the impact of cellulite. Identified by the scientific term edematous fibrosclerotic panniculopathy, this is an inflammatory disorder that causes a female aesthetic problem despised and feared by women.
Contrary to what one might believe, the presence of cellulite does not depend on weight; in fact, both slim and overweight women suffer from it.
Cellulite does not always present itself the same over time; on the contrary, it passes through several stages and can worsen, making it more difficult to cure. There are usually three stages:
- Hard or compact cellulite: the skin appears thickened and the orange peel effect is only noticeable by pinching the skin of the affected area
- Soft or flaccid cellulite: the adipose cells begin to swell and there is an alteration of the figure, with visible orange peel skin and obvious nodules with deep palpation
- Edematous cellulite: is the most severe stage in which scar tissue has incorporated the normal skin structures
5 Remedies for cellulite: Correct lifestyle
- Correct lifestyle
Cellulite is caused by many factors, including hereditary and genetic ones, but a sedentary lifestyle and diet contribute to its formation. It is good to adopt a healthy and balanced lifestyle, controlling two essential factors:
- Physical activity
- A balanced diet
Physical activity:
- To burn excess fat
- Keep your metabolism active
- Tone the muscles.
As far as cellulite is concerned, if physical activity is done incorrectly, it may have no beneficial effects and may in fact worsen the situation.
Running, for example, is not good. Running, in fact, involves numerous repeated impacts with the ground which, in addition to putting the joints at risk, can cause a worsening of the tissues already affected by cellulite.
Another enemy of cellulite is lactic acid. Contrary to what you might think, this muscle toxin actually results in a worsening of tissue oxygenation and, as a result, has adverse effects on the circulation.
Activities with a high cardiac and anaerobic impact (such as running or spinning) are therefore to be avoided.
Instead, aerobic activities like brisk walking or stepping are preferable.
Training regularly for at least 30-40 minutes a day: this helps the peripheral circulation, with a general improvement in cardiovascular and respiratory capacities.
5 Remedies for cellulite: Natural remedies
- Natural remedies: phytotherapy, aromatherapy and essential oils
Plants used for this purpose act on protection of the blood vessels and improvement of the elasticity of their walls, with diuretic and drainage properties.
Functional substances can be taken individually (in the form of tablets, oils, herbal teas or mother tinctures) or in compounds (to take full advantage of the effectiveness of a synergistic action).
The main plants used among the natural remedies against cellulite are:
- Witch hazel leaves and bark, to improve the circulatory system
- Centella (or pennywort) leaves, to strengthen and make the blood vessel walls more elastic
- Pineapple stem, to improve blood and lymphatic circulation
- Melilot (sweet clover), used for venous and lymphatic insufficiency or in the presence of swelling and oedema
- Birch leaves, stimulate diuresis and the elimination of excess fluids
- Pilosella (hawkweed), can be used for cellulite, oedema or swelling in the legs and ankles.
Also essential oils, such as:
- Birch
- Lemon
- Rosemary
Can be used to help reduce orange peel skin, as they have a draining effect on lymphatic stagnation, with a stimulating effect on peripheral circulation and a lipolytic effect on localised fat.
5 Remedies for Cellulite: Massages
- Massages
There are certain massage techniques that can stimulate the circulation and drainage of fluids.
There are two main massage techniques:
- Lymphatic drainage
- Connective tissue massage
A lymphatic drainage massage (haemolymphatic circulation) serves to stimulate the circulatory and lymphatic systems with targeted action on microcirculation, i.e. at a more superficial level and with a “milder” impact. For this reason, it is indicated for compact and soft cellulite, and has significant benefits for reducing water retention.
A lymphatic drainage massage carries the lymph that stagnates in tissues affected by cellulite to lymph nodes that have already been emptied, thereby reducing localised swelling.
A connective tissue massage, on the other hand, is used in cases of more severe cellulite, or in the edematous-fibrous stage of the latter. This massage acts on the connective tissue, below the dermis, where adipose accumulations, or fat deposits, are found. Unlike lymphatic drainage, it uses deep and very decisive manoeuvres and can be somewhat painful. At the same time, by having to act on areas where the cellulite is rooted, it requires more time and a specialist to produce the desired effects.
Alongside these traditional types, there are more innovative massage techniques, such as:
- Infrared massage
- Pressotherapy
Both of these techniques use handheld devices (such as infrared), machines and automated tools to perform the massage on the areas affected by cellulite.
5 Remedies for cellulite: cosmetics and creams
- Anti-cellulite cosmetics (creams, mud baths and scrubs)
Anti-cellulite cosmetics can also help reduce the orange peel skin problem, as long as they are part of a global strategy and not considered as solvers of a chronic inflammatory pathology like cellulitis.
The effectiveness of cosmetics that aim to reduce cellulite derives essentially from:
- The constistency with which they are applied
- The aid of a draining massage in combination with the product
- The combination of multiple active ingredients.
The most effective active ingredients for this purpose are:
- Active ingredients that inhibit the localised accumulation of fat (caffeine, brown algae, etc.)
- Active ingredients that protect blood vessel walls by stimulating and improving blood circulation (blueberry, red vine, ginkgo biloba, etc.)
- Active draining agents, useful for reducing water retention (centella, fucus, marine oak)
5 Remedies for cellulite: healthy feet
- Caring for the health of your feet
Healthy feet support a good circulatory system.
It’s a good habit to:
- Take foot baths in salt water
- Hot and cold baths
- Foot massages.
Your posture and even your shoes are essential for good blood and lymphatic circulation. Walking with an incorrect posture means producing lymphatic stagnation that can give rise to adipose accumulations.