Discover why a sudden increase in cellulite might occur. Learn about factors like hormones, genetics, and lifestyle that may contribute to cellulite’s appearance. Explore potential treatments and why prevention isn’t guaranteed.

Cellulite doesn’t care how much you weigh or how much fat you have — anyone with any body type can get it.

cellulite causes

So if you suddenly discovered some newcheekdimples — and no, not on your face — what the heck is the cause of your cellulite?

Cellulite happens whenfat deposits(typically on yourbuttor thighs) push through underlying fibrous tissue that connects your skin to muscle. But the reason your skin creates these little dips and grooves is a bit more complex.

What causes cellulite?

While the pros aren’t exactly sure what causes cellulite,researchsuggests it might be caused by several factors:

What’s cellulite, anyway?

Cellulite kinda looks like craters on the moon, a dappled orange peel, or cottage cheese — it really just depends on your POV.

It happens when the distribution of fat under the skin is visible as a result of collagen fibers between skin and muscle separating the underlying fat into little pockets.

Cellulite can become more visible with age or as your skin loses elasticity. It typically forms on the:

Celluliteis more visible in women, and an estimated80 to 90 percentof women will experience it. (Props to those embracing unedited pics and showing us the#truth.)

Despite what society might make you think, celluliteIS NOTharmful. It’s a normal part of having a body.

So what causes cellulite?

Though the pros don’t know for sure what causes cellulite, it seems to happen due to an interaction between the connective tissue in the skin’s inner layer (aka the dermis) and the layer of fat just beneath it.

Some of the following factors might also increase your chances of having cellulite or of cellulite being more noticeable on your body.

Your biological sex

Maybe men aren’t really from Mars and women from Venus, but their fat and skin formation definitely tends to differ.

In females, the fat cells and connective tissue aretypically arranged vertically, which may be why females are much more likely to get cellulite. In males, the fat cells and connective tissue tend to have a crisscross structure.

So, while malescanget cellulite, it’s more common in females.

According to a2014 research review, some hormones also likely play a role in cellulite formation. Estrogen, progesterone, growth hormone, melatonin, dehydroepiandrosterone, androgens, and insulin all contribute.

Though scientists still don’t know exactly how these hormones impact cellulite production, one theory is that as estrogen decreases in people approaching menopause, blood flow to the underlying tissue also decreases.

Less circulation could mean the area gets less oxygen, resulting in decreasedcollagenproduction. Fat cells also tend to become larger as estrogen levels decrease.

Someresearch from 2018also notes that weight gain and hormonal changes (such as an increase in estrogen) may speed up the development of cellulite or make it more noticeable during pregnancy.

But this is all just speculation — the science on cellulite isn’t conclusive yet.

Weight gain, diet, and inactivity

Despite Insta influencer wellness claims, there’s absolutely no science that says cellulite is caused by “toxins” from your food choices. However, maintaining anutritious dietand an active lifestylemightreduce the risk of developing cellulite brought on by weight gain.

If you don’t move your body, alack of musclein particular may cause cellulite to become more apparent. But even if you follow every wellness tip out there, you still might have cellulite. It’s simply natural.

Genetics and ethnicity

You can prob thank your parents for everything from your tongue-curling abilities to the cellulite on your thighs.

Certain genes may be play a role in cellulite development, including ones that impact:

Studiesshow that cellulite is more common inCaucasianfolks, that Latin American women typically get cellulite on their hips and thighs, and that European women tend not to get it on their abdomen.

Lifestyle choices that constrict blood flow

Since reduced blood flow can increase cellulite formation, lifestyle choices that contribute to constricted blood flow may increase your risk of cellulite.

Smokingcigarettes might impact cellulite because itreduces blood flowand weakenscollagenformation. This may cause cellulite to form more easily and become more visible.

This one is a little iffy, but wearing tight clothing or underwear that constricts blood flow might increase your chances of developing cellulite too.

No need to burn youryoga pants, though — unless you’re extremely uncomfortable, you’re probably fine.

So can you even prevent cellulite?

Even if you think you’re a perfect specimen of health and wellness, you still might get cellulite.

While it’s possible that exercise andeating healthfullycould help prevent it or minimize its appearance, sometimes your genetics give you what you got.

Is there a cellulite cure? Let’s talk treatments

Lots of therapies may claim to remove cellulite, but none have been scientifically proven.

Basically, there’s no way we can say for sure that removing cellulite is even possible. That being said, here’s what people have tried so far.

At-home topical creams

Some medicated creams have been proposed as a cellulite treatment due to their ability to act on fatty tissues:

Heads-up:If you use an over-the-counter cellulite cream, check the ingredient list foraminophylline, a medication used for asthma that’s sometimes included in these creams. Some people are allergic to this medication, and using it on large surface areas can cause internal reactions like increased heart rate and anxiety.

Medical treatments

Some medical treatments might temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite. Here’s what might work:

You may also see other treatments offered, such as radiofrequency, ionithermie cellulite reduction treatments, and endermologie. For now, these appear to have few, if any, proven benefits.

Avoid these cellulite treatments

TheAAD advises againstthese treatments for cellulite:

Alternative remedies

Since removing cellulite would likely requireextensive tissue remodeling, the jury’s still out on most remedies.

Still, some methods may help make cellulite less visible without requiring you to spend big bucks (and worse-case scenario is they just don’t work).

Despite a lack of decent supporting evidence, some people swear bycellulite remedieslike:

The cause of cellulite remains somewhat mysterious, but it may have to do with the way skin stretches over fat. Genes, hormones, age, and lifestyle factors may play a role in its development.

There’s no solid science to back up a method of preventing or removing cellulite. However, some early research suggests certain medical treatments might temporarily reduce its appearance. More research is needed before we’ll know for sure.