Cellulite is totally natural and normal – so let's talk about it (2024)

Cellulite – the orange peel ripple that we find on our bums and thighs – is a harmless and natural condition that affects and estimated 90% of women. While there have been efforts to embrace cellulite by body positivity campaigners and reframe it within society, independent research carried out by Ginger Comms on behalf of Cellfina® found that, sadly, it is still the biggest body 'hang up' for women in the UK.

And we totally get it, cellulite has been edited out of photos of women for years and years, first within the pages of magazines and now across social media, and so we haven't yet come to terms with it as a completely normal part of our bodies.

If you type into Google ‘cellulite’ there will be thousands of results detailing the symptoms, treatments and best preventions for it like it’s some kind of ingrown toenail. And, yet, the irony of it all is that cellulite is a psychological part of the female human body. And it's something that is unique to women, as male cell structures are more like a criss-cross shape meaning that their fat cells don’t really push through towards the skin. Whereas in women, it is a more linear structure so our fat cells can push through, making a slightly dimpled effect.

Cellulite is categorically part of being a woman – regardless of our shape or size, despite what the ignorant body-shaming comments left underneath female celebrities beach photos might suggest.

The problem is, lots of companies make an awful lot of money out of selling us an ‘antidote’ to this normal part of our bodies, and the products – and advice – sold to us, are often at great expense, capitalising on our insecurities.

But we've had enough of wading through the rhetoric around cellulite, being made to feel bad about ourselves and having information used against us, so we've taken matters into our own hands and asked the professionals to outline what cellulite is, what causes it, what helps and what doesn't.

And hey, if you don't want to do anything about it, then you really don't need to because it's your body, your rules, right?

What is cellulite?

Whether you're a marathon runner or exercise-averse, cellulite can appear on women of all fitness levels and body shapes.

"Cellulite is caused by tiny connective tissue filaments (called fibrous septae) that anchor the skin to the underlying tissue and have fat in between", explains plastic surgeon Dr Nick Rhodes. "These filaments can pull down on the skin’s underside and create dimples (cellulite)."

"Whilst connective tissue can be weakened by hormones, lack of exercise and muscle tone and poor circulation, it is not due to obesity or toxins, it’s just normal fat in the body."

Will exercise reduce cellulite?

One of the biggest misconceptions about cellulite is that cardio is the answer to reducing it. But the truth is, if you want to create more tone within the skin, you need a combination of workout styles, particularly muscle-building movements.

"Building muscle through exercising will help lymphs (a fluid that carries waste and toxins away from cells to be expelled from the body) flow more freely through fatty areas, speeding up your natural detoxing system", says Dr Rhodes.

Are there any other treatments proven to get rid of cellulite?

The short answer is no. When it comes to creams and lotions that promote themselves as 'cellulite smoothing', Dr Rhodes says these are unlikely to work, as they aim to 'remove toxins from the body', but cellulite isn't caused by toxins. Often, "manufacturers advertise claims that they offer the best cellulite creams and gels but do they really have the studies and results to back their claims," asks Dr Edwin Anthony, Cosmetic Surgeon.

"In reality without some kind of minor procedure there is no way to improve or get rid of cellulite," claims Dr Edwin, who instead recommends CelluTite by InMode, a minor procedure performed under local anaesthetic which involves tiny holes made with a needle prick. A radiofrequency handpiece is used with a small specialised tip to break the connective tissue strands and release the fat to produce an even skin contour. "The radiofrequency also tightens the skin which further helps with improving the cellulite," says Dr Edwin. That said, even though it may diminish the appearance of cellulite temporarily, our bodies will continue to make more afterward.

Meanwhile, Miranda Kerr swears by dry body brushing for cellulite. This may work if you're less predisposed to cellulite, but again, daily brushing won't make it disappear permanently.

If you can't be bothered doing either, just leave it. Cellulite is normal, natural and not in the least bit harmful, so we might as well rock out with our dimples out.