Hello Friends~
I hope you’re enjoying summer, and wearing whatever you want wherever you are, and whatever you’re doing. But if you’re hesitating to reveal skin, it’s time to become immune to the gazillion ads and articles aimed at women to buy clothing and products to conceal or fix a “problem” that most of us have come to believe is a serious condition…
It’s been the lament for decades among my female friends and my clients looking for a remedy: What exercise, nutrition, supplement, or procedure will get rid of cellulite?
I will admit it, I look at my thighs in photos and choose not to share the ones that show the bumpy skin on my thighs (and now 73 years wrinkly tummy and arms).
Then I remind myself that I’ll remember the fun I had on the beach that day, not the insecurity I felt about my skin.
Women, a reality check.
Cellulite is not a medical condition, a physical flaw, or an affliction. It is a completely normal biological structure where fat deposits push through bands of connective tissue. The concept of cellulite as a cosmetic defect was invented and weaponized by the beauty and spa industries to generate billions of dollars in profit from us.
It affects 80% to 90% of women, and also becomes more visible with age because our skin naturally loses collagen and elasticity, making it thinner and less able to mask the underlying tissue.
The Invention of Cellulite
The word cellulite was originally coined in France at the end of the 19th century.
Its first appearance dates back to 1873 in the French medical dictionary Littré & Robin, where it was simply described as “the inflammation of the cell tissue or laminate tissue.”
It made its “unsightly” way to the United States, and the war on cellulite began.
Cellulite was reframed as a shameful, pathological condition after the US edition of Vogue ran a headline in 1986 declaring it “the new word for fat you couldn’t lose before.” By pathologizing a natural trait shared by the vast majority of women, the industry had successfully created a lucrative market for “cures.”
The evidence of the power of the patriarchy: can you guess why this language was popularized during the women’s liberation movement?
The Billion-Dollar Scam
The market for cellulite treatments is a massive industry, but there’s zero scientific evidence that topical creams, gels, or “toxin-busting” supplements can permanently eliminate or reverse the fundamental structure of your skin or connective tissues.
If you have unlimited time and money, some cosmetic procedures (such as acoustic wave therapy, laser/radiofrequency treatments, and minor surgical procedures like subcision) can temporarily reduce the dimpled appearance. Go for it if you want to.
The Biological Reality
- Why it Dimples: Women’s connective tissue bands, called septae, typically run vertically. This allows fat cells to easily protrude and create a dimpled, “orange peel” appearance. Men usually have a crisscross tissue pattern that holds fat in place more evenly.
- Not About Fitness or Weight: Cellulite is present in highly athletic women, models, and individuals of all body types, dependent on genetics, hormones, and skin elasticity, definitely not how hard or long you work out.
- Temporary Fixes vs. Reality: Ingredients like caffeine and retinol can temporarily tighten and plump the surface of the skin, but the underlying anatomical structure remains completely unchanged.
Redefining Beauty and Aging
We’re fighting a multi-front war. Not only are we dealing with the toxic beauty standards of diet culture and the made-up affliction of cellulite, but women are also made to feel insecure about wearing shorts or sleeveless tops as their skin naturally ages. We are constantly bombarded by “anti-aging” products and procedures designed to make us believe that natural skin and aging are ugly.
Let’s drop the shame.
Strength, vitality, and confidence look and feel great at any shape, size, or age. This week, I challenge you to look past the marketing myths and give your body the credit it deserves.
Put on the shorts, the bikini, the tank top, embrace your power, and have a beautiful summer, because you deserve it.
X Polli
