Cellulite

Cellulite is caused by a build-up of fat underneath the skin which some women are more prone to than others.

The probability of you developing cellulite and how noticeable it is depends on your genes, the amount of body fat you have and your age.

How thick your skin is can also affect how apparent your cellulite is.

It’s important to note that cellulite isn’t always a marker of being overweight - people of all body types and weights can develop cellulite.

Although it’s almost impossible to remove cellulite completely without undergoing surgery, there are methods you can adopt at home to make it less noticeable.

Eating healthily, drinking plenty of water, exercising and applying a firming cream daily can all help to reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Cellulite is usually soft, but sometimes it can be hard or oedematous (swollen).

Hard and lumpy cellulite is common in women who frequently exercise, whereas soft cellulite is common in inactive women who have lost weight.

Swollen cellulite is common in women who are overweight.

Stretch marks and cellulite are two different conditions that affect the appearance of your skin.

Stretch marks are long, thin lines that can be red or purple in colour, and white once they’ve faded.

They develop on areas such as the hips and abdomen (they can appear in other places, too) where there has been weight gain or loss and the skin has been stretched.

Whereas cellulite appears in dents and dimples usually around the thighs and buttocks, caused by a buildup of fat underneath the skin.