What exactly is cellulite, and what truly works against it? As a leading cosmetic dermatology researcher, Jetske Ultee shares evidence-based insights on our top three questions about this common skin concern.
"As many as eight to nine out of ten women experience cellulite, making it a normal phenomenon rather than a medical condition. Yet it's understandably frustrating—and unfair that men are rarely affected. While theories abound, cellulite likely stems from a mix of factors: increased subcutaneous fat, thinning of the deeper skin layers, and weaker, irregular connective tissue. The visible dimples and bumps occur when fat clumps push through the looser, thinner connective tissue in the deeper dermis."
Read also: ‘The difference between cellulite and cellulite‘
"Ingredients like caffeine, aminophylline, and retinoids can burn fat or firm connective tissue in lab tests. In theory, creams could target cellulite—but real-world results are underwhelming. Concentrations in over-the-counter products rarely match those in studies, and cellulite affects such deep skin layers that active ingredients struggle to penetrate. Don't pin your hopes on (infrared) saunas, thermal baths, flotation pools, or massages alone."
"Options range from microneedling and targeted massages to herbal remedies and shockwave therapy—but evidence varies, and results aren't always reliable. A newer approach involves loosening or severing connective tissue bands using blades or lasers. That's outside my expertise, so I can't speak to its effectiveness from personal experience."
Source: Santé April 2019 | Text: Fleur Baxmeier
