cellulite can give your skin an orange peel look. Researchers are not 100 percent sure what causes cellulite, but it appears to start due to the effects of female hormone. In fact, nearly 98% of women develop at least a small amount of cellulite after reaching puberty.

Your body starts to change its shape due to additional fats being stored in the hips and thighs. These fats are important during pregnancy and after childbirth, but in the mean time, they may become unsightly.

The odd dimpling effect is caused by poor circulation of the lymph fluids as they gradually pass through the tissue and then start to accumulate in it. The fat cells then become compressed and start to harden into lumps. Over time, these lumps become visible through the skin.

Some experts believe that certain lifestyle factors, such as lack of exercise and taking in high levels of alcohol and coffee, increase the likelihood of developing cellulite. Bearing this in mind, the best way to treat cellulite is to live a healthy lifestyle and avoid getting it altogether.

Of course, avoiding getting cellulite isn't necessarily all that easy. For some women, developing cellulite is simply the result of genetics, a part of the aging process, or due to pregnancy. Furthermore, many of us already have it and just want to know how to get rid of it.

One way to get rid of cellulite is through exercise. Sitting for long periods of time decreases your body's circulation. In fact, the most stubborn cellulite deposits are often located right in the area where the leg meets the chair while sitting, most likely because this is the area where the circulation is being cut off.

A sluggish circulatory system makes it more difficult for the blood and the lymphatic system to send oxygen around the system and to remove toxins. Therefore, regular exercise that is brisk, yet gentle, is one way to treat cellulite. Swimming and walking are great ways to do this.

Cellulite can also be treated with skin brushing and massage. These forms of treatment help to clear and cleanse the lymphatic system by speeding up circulation. This, in turn, gets rid of cellulite that has been building up for a long time in the body cells. A wooden brush with a long handle is needed for skin brushing.

To perform skin brushing successfully, the brushing should be done in an upward direction with firm sweeping strokes. The process should begin at the soles of the feet and gradually move upward on the body. Special attention should be paid to areas that are prone to cellulite. In these areas, the brush strokes should follow a small, circular pattern. Over brushing, however, can irritate the skin and cause reddening.

Weight loss and drinking plenty of water can also help in treating cellulite. In addition, weight gain will only cause cellulite to worsen. On the other hand, weight loss in a person who is overweight can help decrease the appearance of cellulite.

In addition to these methods, there are several creams and lotions available on the market that claim to aid in the reduction of cellulite. Some of these creams can be costly and have little proven effect on the reduction of cellulite.

A more invasive means of treating cellulite is the use of surgery. Cellulite treatment surgeries, such as liposuction, are available which are capable of removing inches of collected fatty tissue from various parts of the body, including the abdomen, legs, arms, back, neck, and face.

Liposuction does not change the structure of the skin. Therefore, it does not eliminate cellulite forever. In addition, as with any surgery, liposuction has risks. Also, it will not result in the "perfect" body - and it's not cheap, either. Therefore, it is important to become well educated about cellulite treatment surgeries before plunging into this form of cellulite treatment.

The dreaded cellulite is considered very unattractive and you won't be happy to discover a new deposit on your body. Therefore, the best line of defense is prevention - drink plenty of water and exercise regularly to keep your circulation flowing.

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