Simple home remedies for cellulite

Simple home remedies for cellulite

Wouldn't it be nice if there was a magical solution to get rid of cellulite? Considering that 80 to 90 percent of women consider dimples and uneven skin to be a major beauty concern, it's no wonder we all want home remedies to remove cellulite. Unfortunately, these solutions are not so easy to find.

Here's what happens when cellulite appears: "About half of our body fat is deposited beneath our skin, in front of our muscle layer," explains Wayne Westcott, Ph.D., professor of exercise science and director of fitness research at Quincy College. "As women age, they lose about 5 pounds of muscle per decade. And if you sit at a desk all day, you'll lose muscle if you don't use it. As that layer of muscle shrinks, you don't have an equally solid foundation beneath the increasing layers of fat, and they tend to wobble and become crumbly or cottage cheese-like."

Beyond that, however, science hasn't uncovered much information about what exactly causes cellulite or how you can get rid of it. (Still, these three sneaky food ingredients probably won't help cellulite.) We know there's no definitive, science-backed cure for cellulite, which also means the answer isn't found in fancy creams or expensive cosmetic surgery. So if you want to try natural home remedies for cellulite (and stretch marks), experiment with options that are a little cheaper.

1. Healthy diet and exercise

Women who did 20 minutes of aerobic exercise and 20 minutes of strength training two or three days a week, coupled with a healthy diet, gained an average of 1.3 pounds of muscle, lost an average of 4.6 pounds of fat, and reported seeing less cellulite, says Westcott, who conducted the study at the South Shore YMCA in Quincy, MA. "What we found is that if you build muscle while losing fat, this should help the overlying skin look smoother," he says. (Did you know you can get these mental health benefits from exercise?)

2. Foam rolling

While you're probably already foam rolling to recover from your workout, there's a bonus: It might be one of the best home remedies for cellulite on your legs. "Massage works to soften the fibrous bands of connective tissue that cause the dimpled appearance of cellulite," says Dendy Engelman, MD, a dermatologist in New York City. A study in the journal Dermatology Research and Practice found that patients who received 10 sessions of lymphatic massage (a similar technique) showed significant tissue softening. This is likely because improving blood circulation through massage could prevent the breakdown of collagen and elastin, which would impact the appearance of cellulite. However, there is a catch: the study participants had to do four hours of lymphatic massage every day - so not exactly a time-saving solution.

3. Dry brushing

Gwyneth Paltrow may have made this beauty technique more mainstream, but Dr. Engelman says there may be some merit to this practice. "Exfoliating can help smooth the appearance [of cellulite] by increasing blood flow to the area and reducing inflammation," she says. Using a natural bristle brush, start at your feet and work your way up your body, brushing upward toward your heart in firm strokes.

4. Apple cider vinegar

There are many claims that natural home remedies for cellulite can be found in the kitchen. One ingredient: apple cider vinegar. “[It] has an abundance of probiotics and amino acids and helps the body create its own natural HCL (good stomach acid) stores, which [are good for] digestion and detoxification,” says Nikki Ostrower, nutritionist and founder of NAO Wellness. Detoxification is important because toxins—or anything that harms the body—play a huge role in the health of the fascia, the connective tissue that runs through every nook and cranny of the body beneath the skin, explains Ashley Black, author of The Cellulite Myth. "Fat stores the toxins that are most difficult to break down," she says, which then distorts the shape of the fascia, potentially leading to cellulite appearance.

"Toxins also contribute to the breakdown of collagen and elastin, which keep skin smooth and toned," says Stefanie Mendez, RD, co-founder of Matriarch, a fitness and nutrition service for women. "Collagen is stored in the fascia and elastin is in the blood, so if the distorted fascia restricts blood flow, the two can't work together," says Black. "Collagen provides strength and elastin works like a rubber band, so it's important that both work efficiently to maintain smooth skin." (Check out what happened when a woman did an apple cider vinegar cleanse.)

5. Algae

Whether you eat it or soak it in a seaweed bath, Ostrower says the ingredient is a powerful detoxification aid that can help fight cellulite. “It's like a magnet in your body that attaches toxins and pulls them out,” she says. "It's also high in iodine, which is wonderful for your thyroid and therefore your hormonal health." There is some evidence that hormones may play a role in causing cellulite, so keeping your thyroid healthy may be useful.

6. Caffeine

Your morning kickstart is another potential home remedy for cellulite. "Green tea is full of anti-inflammatory catechins, which can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system to use more energy and break down more fat," and that could prevent fatty tissue from clumping under the skin, Mendez says. Additionally, some scientific evidence shows that caffeine may have a small effect on cellulite when applied topically, but the results are temporary.

7. Cayenne pepper

“Cayenne pepper heats up the temperature in your body and is wonderful at boosting your metabolism and digestive fire,” says Ostrower. “It’s designed to prevent more cellulite from appearing.” There's not enough definitive science to back this claim, but if you're willing to try it, sprinkle some of the spicy stuff into your smoothie.

8. Coconut oil

Coconut oil is another superfood with alleged cellulite powers. Ostrower says that mixing coconut oil with juniper essential oil and massaging it into the skin could improve the appearance of cellulite. How? Coconut oil is super moisturizing—which helps your skin look more supple—and "the juniper oil helps warm tissue and eliminate toxins," she explains. "It also has the ability to slow the growth of the tissue that pushes against fat. Massaging it into the skin helps dissolve these fatty deposits."

9. Water

Of all the home remedies for cellulite removal, this one is perhaps the simplest: drink more water! Water helps improve blood circulation and reduce inflammation, both of which can help with the appearance of cellulite. “Increased water intake helps the appearance of cellulite because it gives the appearance of smoother skin,” says Dr. Engelman. "When the skin and soft tissues are dehydrated, this can make the skin appear more wavy - think of an uneven, dry sponge compared to one that has been filled with water." Aim to drink at least eight 8-ounce glasses per day, and try these tricks for drinking more H2O during the day.

A friendly reminder

As much as we would all love a few home remedies to quickly remove cellulite, the fact is that all of these ideas are big old maybes when it comes to actually getting rid of skin dimples. At the moment, science says there are no treatments proven to reduce cellulite. The best thing to do is eat healthy, go to the gym, and drink plenty of fluids - all will help you feel better overall, no matter how drastic the change in your skin is. And when it comes to cellulite, don't stress too much: the reality is that it's more common than not.