The actual cause of cellulite occurs internally with the weakening of the skin cells and connective tissue. As the skin loses its essential water and weakens, buoyant fat cells trapped just below the skin are able to push into the dermis, the middle layer of skin, and show through the surface.

You may have cellulite and not even know it. Cellulite is a process that starts deep in the dermal layer of your skin. At stage one, cellulite damage is not yet visible.

Blood vessels begin to break down allowing water to leak into tissue
Excess fluid accumulates causing deterioration of the collagen and elastin that give
skin its structure
Sub-dermal fat cells clump together and begin to migrate upwards

At stage two, the surface effects of cellulite are minimal, but when pinched, an “orange peel” texture is apparent.

Vascular breakdown accelerates
Accumulation of fluid and deterioration of structure are more pronounced
Fat cells migrate into the dermis more freely

By this stage, orange peel skin texture is apparent even without pinching.

Skin may have a rough, bumpy feel
Damaged blood vessels cannot deliver nutrients needed for healthy skin
metabolism and repair
Fibrous bands of septa bind fat cells into hard nodules

In the final stage of cellulite development, lumps and dimples are always visible and damage occurs at all layers of the skin.

Nodules and fluid retention lead to pain and tenderness
Nodules are larger, more common and harder
Fluid retention is severe

To repair cellulite and stretch marks, we need to focus on repairing the dermis, not on burning fat. By simply adding key skin hydrating, cell-fortifying nutrients to our diets we can rebuild, rehydrate and revitalize our skin, forcing stubborn fat cells back invisibly below the surface and keeping them there.

Repairing Cellulite Damage