What is Cellulite? How do we get rid of it? 

What it looks like under the skin.

Underneath your skin, you have layers, just like an onion. In your thighs, the first layer underneath the skin is the dermis layer (where the nerve ending, sweat glands and hair follicles lay) which is followed by 3 layers of fascia and muscle before reaching the bone. These lay horizontally covering the bone. Then running verticallyfrom the bone up towards the skin we have connective or inter-structural fascia and nerveswhich is the blue squiggly lines in the diagram

What is fascia?

Fascia is biological tissue holding the body together much like a plastic shopping bag holds your groceries together. It covers and goes through layers of muscles and organs. Now imagine the plastic grocery bag inside another bag, and then inside another bag. There is something in each bag and together it is one big bag full of groceries. In our bodies these ‘bags’ are made out of fascia, containing muscles and organs. The fascia provides a hydrated surface in-between the muscles and organs so they do not rub and create friction.

What is fascia made up of and what does it do?

Fascia is comprised of water, glycosaminoglycan (carbohydrates or sugar) and collagen. In comparison to other tissues within the body, such as bones and cartilage, fascia is a lot more flexible and its main role is to be strong enough to keep everything together whilst being elastic enough to stretch without breaking, and staying well hydrated and smooth for the muscles to move freely.

So, how does fascia turn into cellulite?

There is more than one answer to this question and here is why; Healthy fascia can be described as smooth, un-knotted, hydrated hair. Imagine the tissue of fascia running side by side without crossing overand moving with ease. Whereas un-healthy fascia can come in three different types.

1. It is true when people say that getting cellulite is in your genetics, although having naturally tight or tangled fascia does not mean you can’t correct it, as I will show you it is quite easy to do so over time.
   
2. Another cause of cellulite is fascial adhesions, these are little tears in the fascia from either over work or over stretching. As it tries to repair itself, the fibres get tangled, crossed over and knotted which creates an unsmooth surface to the skin. This is how some of the fittest people can still get cellulite.
   
3. This is when the inter-structural fascia that runs vertically (seen in diagram earlier) from the bone through the muscles towards the skin becomes tight. Once tight, the fascia begins to pull the skin down and creates small dimples which forces the layer of fat under the skin to push out around the dimples.
   

You are increasing your chances of getting this type of cellulite if you do not exercise, stretch or get massages regularly and especially if you are someone who drives for long hours, works in an office job and/or only perform repetitive minimal movement with your body.

However, there main three types of cellulite are not the only way to get it. There are many more factors at play here, including hormonal changes, allergies and many more.

Now we know what cellulite is and how it comes about… Let’s discuss how to get rid of it.

Regardless of what type of cellulite you have or how it came about, one size fits all when it comes to the healing process. Massage and foam rolling are the best techniques as it breaks down the tight fascia or fascial adhesions allowing it to recover properly and become smooth, rehydrated and oxygenated as it increases the blood flow and circulation. Also maintaining a healthy intake of water each day increases the hydration of the fascia. Below are images of a few places I like to foam roll to release fascia. For more suggestions check out my Instagram page ‘brodiekelly’.

It is proven that Grapefruit oil can also assist with the reduction of cellulite. This oil contains large amounts of Bromelain which is an Enzyme assisting with the breakdown of cellulite.