Orange Peel Skin - What Helps Against Cellulite

Cellulite, colloquially also known as orange peel skin, mainly affects women.

Dermopanniculosis deformans, to use its medical name, is by no means a rare phenomenon: according to experts, around 80 to 90 percent of all women are affected. And to put it bluntly: cellulite is not a disease, but a skin appearance of the connective tissue and subcutaneous skin layers. In the end, it is purely a cosmetic issue. So you can live with it quite normally and accept it, or choose not to. Ever since cellulite was identified, this issue has been a goldmine for the entire cosmetics industry – as there are still countless creams, ointments, tinctures, and treatments that all promise improvement or even a cure to varying degrees.

Since women have a different connective tissue structure than men, orange peel skin mainly affects women. And although it is a widespread problem, there are surprisingly few clinical studies and definitive treatments for cellulite. This is mainly because it is not solely due to the structure of the connective tissue, but rather many other factors play a role as well.

How does orange peel skin develop?

Cellulite develops primarily on the thighs and buttocks of women. The skin structure with its slight bumps and dimples is reminiscent of the texture of an orange peel, which is why it is commonly called orange peel skin. Simply put, cellulite is caused by an increased accumulation of fat cells in the fat deposits. The lower layers of skin, and particularly the connective tissue fibers, are arranged differently in women than in men. In men, the connective tissue structures run mostly parallel and crisscrossed to the top layer of skin. In addition, it is generally thicker than in women. By contrast, the connective tissue partitions in women are mostly arranged vertically and are also thinner, so they generally do not provide the skin with as much stability as in men. Due to this anatomical arrangement, fat tissue in women can penetrate much more easily to the upper skin layers and bulge visibly outward: this makes cellulite visible. It is therefore a myth that only overweight women deal with orange peel skin – women of normal weight and slender women also struggle with problem skin.

It should be noted that there is not just a single factor that promotes cellulite, but rather a whole range of factors:

• Hormones, especially the hormone estrogen, play a role
• The unique structure of female skin
• The blood supply to the vessels in this subcutaneous layer
• Genetic predisposition
• Being overweight promotes the development of cellulite
• A lack of exercise weakens the connective tissue
• Smoking weakens the connective tissue
• Consuming high amounts of alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine hinders cellular metabolism, causing cell nourishment to suffer
• Stress
• Pregnancy (many women only develop cellulite after pregnancy)

Once you realize this, it should be clear that a "miracle cream" alone isn't going to get rid of orange peel skin.

So, what actually helps against orange peel skin?

There are several factors involved in the development of cellulite that you can influence: being overweight or a lack of exercise. Likewise, we can minimize stress factors or take a critical look at our diet.

Any activity that gets your metabolism going helps promote better lymphatic drainage and stimulates blood circulation. From a cosmetic perspective, scrubs, contrast showers, or gentle, stimulating skin massages with a brush can help stimulate blood flow. Special creams can also strengthen and firm the top layer of skin to a degree, assisting in skin tightening. But remember: orange peel skin is an issue in the lower skin layers, not the upper ones. And creams mainly deliver their active ingredients to the upper layer of skin. Therefore, they cannot be the sole solution of choice. Furthermore, you should be very careful when choosing cosmetic cellulite creams. Most promise a lot but deliver little. If necessary, consult your dermatologist about which options they recommend for professional treatment.

Exercise and physical activity help build muscle, leaving less room for additional fat deposits. Therefore, physical activity is excellent for strengthening muscles, boosting metabolism, and giving cellulite less of a chance.

A healthy diet with plenty of vegetables, fruit, water, and little unhealthy fat also supports the reduction of cellulite.

Which types of sports are suitable for fighting cellulite?

It is naturally logical that sports that strengthen and tone connective tissue are well suited in the fight against cellulite. A combination of endurance sports and strength training has proven to be the most effective.

Because where muscles build up, less room remains for fatty tissue.

Here are a few exercise and sport suggestions that can help combat orange peel skin:

• Strength training: With regular training, for example barbell deadlifts, your body gets toned, builds muscle, and leaves less room for fat cells. And don't worry about overly bulky thighs: a lot of time and training will have to pass before that happens, a whole lot of time. For now, it is more than enough for your body to break down fat cells and have muscles take their place. Focus on exercises that have a toning effect especially on the glutes and thighs: deep lunges with kettlebells or plates, wall balls with a medicine ball, squats, the bridge, or wall sits all focus on the gluteal and thigh muscles.
• Swimming: Strengthens the entire body and stimulates circulation. And we aren't talking about splashing around here, but doing brisk laps in rather cool water.
• Endurance sports such as jogging, cycling, indoor cycling, walking, or even step aerobics or aqua jogging: these place particular demands on the muscles in the buttocks and legs.
• Yoga also has a body-shaping effect due to its alternation between tension and relaxation.

Unfortunately, nothing can be done about a genetic predisposition – but you can do a lot against cellulite through targeted sports exercises and activities, a healthy diet, and an overall healthy lifestyle. However, it may never completely disappear.

Nevertheless, all of the above factors help to at least actively strengthen the muscles and connective tissue and thus actively counteract orange peel skin.