Taken from the French word for “little cell” back in 1968, cellulite is the name for those dimples that aren’t on our face. Orange peel skin or cottage cheese, that dimply skin on our thighs, buttocks, upper arms, abdomen, or where ever else you may have it is something that most of us have come to despise, whether we’re overweight, underweight or at a healthy weight.

Although a startling array of solutions are touted by cosmetics manufacturers, all hoping to cash in on one of the most commonly complained about problems amongst women, the treatment of cellulite does not come in the form of a cream, lotion, or pill. At best, products designed to smooth away dimpled skin achieve only temporary results that frequently disappoint.

So what’s the solution? Science has yet to figure that out. But you can address the problem in the same way you would for fat, as they are essentially the same thing.

Cellulite vs Fat
Technically speaking, cellulite and fat are not mutually exclusive things. Cellulite is subcutaneous fat (the fat under the skin but not around the internal organs, which is known as visceral fat). It is fatty tissue that is the texture of cottage cheese, combined with trapped toxins and fluids. This combination bulges through a weakened network of fibres that surround it, and it is the visible bulging that creates the trademark appearance of cellulite.

Good news for men; cellulite is most apparent in women since the fairer sex generally has thinner skin which makes the bulging more visible. With age, however, it can affect both men and women since one of the signs of aging is thinning of the skin.

Many medical professionals believe that the way to get rid of cellulite, or at least prevent or reduce it, is to lower the amount of fat on your body. You’ll need to reduce your overall body fat, since unfortunately, you can’t spot reduce. Your body just doesn’t work that way. The body gets rid of fat methodically and it’s problem areas like your butt and abdomen that are last affected by all of the exercise and dieting you do (which is, basically, why they’re problem areas).

Healthy skin tone can also help. Because weakened skin fibres allow fat to bulge through, focusing on keeping your skin in tip top shape can help prevent or eliminate cellulite.