If you’re concerned about some orange peel on your posterior, don’t be too alarmed – almost 90 per cent of us suffer from the same affliction.

Cellulite is often a curse of womanhood, affecting virtually no men but impacting on the majority of women. Cellulite exists where fat cells found underneath the top layer of the skin have squeezed between bands of connective tissue, or collagen, attaching your muscle to your skin. While the structure of women's connective tissue is vertical, men's collagen is angled, which means that fat cells don't push through and pucker as much.

Cellulite is in fact genetic, one of those things you really don't want to say ‘I got it from my Mama’ about, but even if it does run in your family, there are ways to reduce its appearance.

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Sweat it out…

As cellulite is fat, carrying excess weight on the body can be a contributing factor. It’s important to keep active for many reasons, and avoiding cellulite is a bonus one too. Resistance training will also result in an increase in lean muscle tissue that creates a smooth, firm appearance, and is the best treatment for decreasing cellulite. As well as this, exercise gets your blood circulating and detoxes the blood.

 

Flush it out….

Water helps strengthen the collagen in your skin, helping to reduce the lumpy look, while increased water intake will also help you flush out toxins in the body.

 

You are what you eat…

A healthy diet is key here. Make sure you eat plenty of fibre and whole grain foods, which help to remove waste and toxins from the intestinal tract, as well as fruits and vegetables.

 

What a drain…

Your lymphatic system works to rid your body of waste via the bloodstream, and a lymph system that isn’t draining correctly can result in cellulite. Your digestive tract has a huge impact on your lymphatic system and immune system, and it’s very important to keep your intestines happy and healthy. Echinacea and Goldenseal herbal teas are a great way to help support the lymph system.

 

Scrub it up…

Invest in an exfoliator and pay special attention to your area of concern. Always brush in the direction of your heart for maximum results. This will break up the fatty deposits in your skin.

 

Call in the experts…

If you’ve put in the hard work but you’re still seeing those stubborn puckered patches, try a non-surgical treatment like VelaShape. VelaShape is the most advanced non-surgical technology that effectively and safely, contours, shapes and slims the body by reducing cellulite and firming problem areas such as the thighs, bum, stomach and even the upper arms. A pain-free roller and suction device works by melting the body’s fat using an infra-red device, shrinking fat cells and fat chambers. The result is a smoothing of the skin’s surface and a noticeable reduction in cellulite as well as actual circumferential reduction.