Cellulite can be managed easily at home! Read on to find out how you can use cinnamon for cellulite.
What Is Cellulite?
Cellulite is a common, harmless skin condition in which the skin appears uneven, lumpy, or dimpled like orange peel. It mostly affects the skin on your hips, thighs, abdomen, breasts, and buttocks. Fibrous connective tissue tether your outer skin to the underlying muscle and a layer of fat lies in
between both. As fat cells accumulate they push up against your skin while the connective cords pull it down. This creates an uneven surface or dimpling. Cellulite can be graded from 1 to 3 ranging from mild to severe.
It affects more women than men due to the difference in fat, muscle, and connective tissue distribution. 80 to 90 % of women have it and people of all body types can get it. Though it is easy to diagnose and is treatable with simple home remedies, it can be a chronic condition.
Causes of Cellulite
Causes are a build-up of fat underneath the skin, genetic predisposition, age, thickness of your skin, hormones, and/or poor diet. Besides, a sedentary lifestyle, toxin accumulation in the body, weight gain, inactivity, and pregnancy can also cause cellulite. Estrogen, insulin, noradrenaline, thyroid hormone all affect the production of cellulite.
Eating too much fat and carbohydrates, a sedentary lifestyle, tight blood flow constricting undergarments can all cause cellulite. Cellulite becomes more visible when you get older when the skin becomes thinner and loses elasticity.
Cinnamon for Cellulite
Cinnamon comes from the bark of the Cinnamomum tree. It is used as a spice for its flavor and medicinal properties. It is popular as a home remedy to treat cellulite. In a study conducted by dermatologists from the University of Grenoble, Cinnamon oil was found to reduce the fat layer.
Cinnamon is rich in antioxidants, it improves blood circulation by increasing body temperature, reinforces connective tissue, helps eliminate toxins from the body, helps burn calories, and aids weight loss.
Consume cinnamon daily in coffee, as cinnamon tea, in cereals, or smoothies. You can add a sliced apple, a tablespoon of cinnamon with some lemon juice in a glass of water and let it steep for 15 minutes. Drink it afterward and prefer not to add any sweeteners. Use a mixture of cinnamon and baby oil to massage the affected skin, leave on for a few minutes and wash off.
These are all the ways you can start consuming cinnamon for cellulite treatment at home. As cinnamon can cause allergic reactions in some people, use minute quantities to test before using it.
Home Remedies for Cellulite
1. Exercise
Exercise, specifically aerobic exercise and strength training helps to burn fat thus reducing the appearance of cellulite. Exercise also helps tone and define muscles and make your body look firm.
2. Dry Brush
Dry brushing is a technique that promotes blood flow and lymph drainage, removes dead skin cells, and stimulates new cell growth. You can use a plant loofah or body brush to brush dry skin for 5 minutes using upward strokes, or circular motions just before your bath. Wearing compression stockings to increase blood flow might as well help to reduce cellulite.
3. Coffee Grounds
Coffee grounds can be used to exfoliate and tighten your skin. Use it with coconut oil, olive oil or sugar. Rub over affected areas and leave for 10 minutes before rinsing off. It reduces lumpiness, improves blood circulation and promotes lymph flow.
4. Apple Cider Vinegar
Drink 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar diluted in a glass of water 3 times a day to aid weight loss. Equal parts of vinegar with water applied to the skin is also effective in reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Other Treatments
Medical treatments for cellulite include laser, radio-frequency and retinol cream. The effect of topical treatments is not long-lasting and you must apply it daily. Creams moisturize and tighten skin while reducing the appearance of cellulite. A common ingredient in these creams is caffeine, which increases blood flow to the area and works as a diuretic. This can reduce water content of the fat and make it appear better.
Retinol creams help thicken the outer skin, reducing the appearance of cellulite but you must apply it for over six months. They can cause side effects like skin redness, peeling, dryness and photosensitivity. All treatments must be accompanied by a healthy diet to see results. Do a patch test before using over the counter creams.
Non-invasive treatments include Cryolypolysis, Ultrasound, Cellfina and carboxitherapy. Other treatments include microdermabrasion, endermologie, acoustic wave therapy and vacuum assisted precise tissue release. All these require several sessions to see noticeable results.
Precautions
Eat a balanced healthy diet, exercise regularly, reduce intake of sugar and processed foods. Similarly, increase fiber intake and keep your weight in check to prevent the appearance of cellulite. Stay hydrated to prevent dry skin, eliminate wastes from your body and avoid smoking and drinking.