You wouldn’t admit you had cellulite if anyone asked. But your skin doesn’t seem to be as smooth as it used to be. Here and there, you can detect minor changes- your curves and the texture of your skin feel different.
Define the problem: first of all, weigh yourself. Have you put on a few kilos? It might just be a hormonal imbalance, or a little temporary excess weight, but you should keep an eye on it. You might not have put on weight, but your figure is not what it used to be. Don’t let this get you down. 95 per cent of women are affected by cellulite at some time in their lives. But this doesn’t mean you have to sit back and accept it. You can combat it.
Identify your cellulite
Describe your cellulite: minor, significant or major. A careful examination will show you the extent of the problem. Be brave and examine yourself intimately, area by area, under a harsh light.
Close-up
Put one of your legs on the edge of the bath and look at it from the foot to the thighs. Are your ankles a little thick? If you press the skin, do your fingers leave a clearly visible imprint? Can you spot any thread veins along the length of your leg? Are your knees slim or chubby? Standing up, are the insides of your thighs smooth or bumpy? Once you have examined your legs, move on to your stomach, hips and buttocks. Pinch the skin to find the thickened area (cellulite is sometimes invisible, and the skin only dimples under pressure).
Which stage apples to you?
Stage 1
The pinch reveals a little dimpling here and there, but nothing is visible to the naked eye. Waste no time, act fast: you should be able to see results in a few weeks.
Stage 2
Lying down, the skin is smooth, but standing up it takes on an irregular appearance, and you have put on weight. Your figure and the appearance of your skin could be much improved with some sustained effort.
Stage 3
Standing up and lying down your skin is rippled, and you can scarcely bear to look at the bathroom scales. There’s still time to put things right, and there’s plenty you can do, but you may need to seek some help along the way.
Did you know?
Aqueous (or seeping) cellulite is the most common form. Supple to the touch, it is linked with water retention, oedema of the ankles, heavy legs, varicose veins, poor lymph and blood circulation.
Adipose cellulite, soft and painless when pinched, appears on the stomach, hips, thighs and inside the knees. It often appears when a few extra kilos have been gained.
Established cellulite (dimpling present for over five years) is hard, sensitive and downright painful when pinched. It is prominent on the thighs and knees. The cutaneous fibres (elastin and collagen) are affected.
Key facts
Don’t panic, take a look at yourself and try to pinpoint which stage your cellulite has reached.
The opinion of a well-chosen dermatologist, doctor or plastic surgeon may be useful.
