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Cellulite on Arms: Why You Have it and How to Get Rid of It
What is cellulite?
Cellulite is a skin condition that consists of fatty tissues underneath the skin that push up on the skin’s surface. As a result, you may be left with the dimpled-looking areas of skin that cellulite is known for.
However, the fatty tissues that cause cellulite often come with misconceptions. Cellulite itself can happen to anyone of any age, weight, and gender.
While cellulite is most common around the thighs, stomach, and buttocks, it can happen anywhere. This includes your arms.
What causes cellulite on your arms?
Cellulite can develop on any area of the body. But it tends to happen more often in areas that already have higher levels of natural fatty tissues, such as the backs of the thighs.
In the case of arms, fatty tissues that occur around the upper arms can eventually develop cellulite.
There’s no one single cause of cellulite in the arms, but the more deep fatty tissues you have in the area, the more at risk you might be of developing these skin dimples.
Other risk factors for cellulite include:
- gender, as females are more prone to getting cellulite than males
- high estrogen levels
- increased levels of fatty tissues from weight fluctuations
- a loss of collagen, especially as you age
- thinning skin in the epidermis (outer layer), which can cause deeper fatty tissues to become more prominent
- family history of cellulite
- increased inflammation or poor circulation in the body
Tips for getting rid of cellulite on your arms
Now that you know the causes of arm cellulite, you may be eager to get rid of it.
While you can’t necessarily eliminate cellulite for good, there are things you can do to minimize its appearance. These include changes to your lifestyle, as well as possible remedies and dermatology treatments.
Get moving
Exercise is one of the key ways you can get rid of the appearance of cellulite. As you shrink fat cells and build more muscle, cellulite dimples will shrink in size.
Arm exercises, such as presses and bicep curls, can help build muscle. But spot exercises won’t get rid of arm fat.
Instead of doing spot exercises, aerobic exercise tends to be the most effective in getting rid of cellulite in all areas of the body.
Not only will you burn fat and gain strength, but regular exercise also helps build skin elasticity, as well as your overall flexibility.
Try to mix up your routine with the following exercises:
- rowing
- walking
- running
- dancing
- swimming
- bike riding
- elliptical machine
If you’re new to exercising, start off slow and build up your speed and timing gradually. Your doctor can also offer tips to help you get started in a safe way.
Lose weight, if you need to
Since body fat is one contributor to arm cellulite, losing weight may help if you’re considered overweight. Once you lose excess body weight, your cellulite dimples will shrink, too.
Talk to your doctor or nutritionist about ways you can gradually lose weight to achieve your ideal body mass and improve all aspects of your body, including cellulite.
Remember that cellulite can happen to anyone of any body mass. So, if you don’t need to lose weight, you shouldn’t attempt to do so just to try and get rid of cellulite.
Trade in caffeine for water
If you can’t make it through the day without a little (or a lot of) caffeine, you’re not alone.
While a cup of coffee in the morning won’t hurt your skin, too much caffeine can eventually dehydrate your body. Dehydrated skin can make skin imperfections like cellulite appear more prominent.
Instead of getting your third cup of coffee of the day, consider drinking more water throughout the day. Water hydrates your skin, which can reduce the appearance of cellulite.
On top of that, water also helps get rid of some of the items in the body that can lead to fat accumulation, including toxins.
Home remedies to reduce cellulite’s appearance
Certain home remedies also have the potential of reducing the appearance of cellulite.
- getting a professional massage to improve skin elasticity and lymphatic drainage
- using at-home massage creams (shop for massage cream)
- using sunless self- tanner lotions or sprays (shop for self-tanner)
- avoiding tanning in the sun or at a salon
- wearing sunscreen every day (shop for sunscreen)
- eating more fruits and vegetables, which contain antioxidants and water that are good for your body and your skin
Consider dermatological treatments
It can take several weeks or months for home remedies and lifestyle changes to have an effect on your cellulite. But if those pesky dimples are still there after you’ve tried these changes, it may be time to see your dermatologist for help.
Your dermatologist may recommend acoustic wave therapy, laser therapy, dermabrasion, or peels that can help reduce the appearance of cellulite. The catch is that you’ll need to repeat these treatments if you want to maintain your results, which can become expensive over time.
The takeaway
Cellulite itself isn’t preventable, especially as you age. However, there are known risk factors that you can help manage to avoid getting cellulite, including in the arm area.
If you already have cellulite in the arms, lifestyle changes can help. Losing weight and eating a healthy diet are some of the best methods of cellulite reduction.
If you’re still experiencing arm cellulite despite lifestyle changes, you may consider seeing a dermatologist for help. They might recommend professional- grade treatments for stubborn cases of cellulite.