Ah, the beach. A place that feels like a little piece of heaven on earth. Who could forget about all those beach activities – running around, playing in the sand, and swimming in the ocean? It all sounds amazing if you are ready to take on the fun. Are you?

The thing that we want to point out is that it is common for women not to feel “beach-ready” or to feel insecure while wearing swimsuits. They tend to put a lot of pressure on going to the beach and showing their bodies. There are multiple reasons for that, one of them being cellulite. But guess what? Cellulite affects over 90% of women – even the slim and fit ones. These dimples and formation in the skin can affect both men and women. Yes – you assumed right – it is more common to find it in females, due to the difference in fat tissue and muscle distribution, but men can have it too. That being said, we have to point out that only 10% of men suffer from this skin condition. Lucky them!

Before we get to one of the most effective ways to get rid of cellulite (cupping), let’s find out more about this orange-like layer on the skin.

 

What is cellulite?

According to Medicinenet.com, cellulite is a dimpled formation in the skin which is most commonly found on thighs, hips, and buttocks. It is usually referred to as “cottage cheese” or even orange skin since its dimples and lumps resemble these two types of food.

So, what causes cellulite? Well, unfortunately, we don’t have good news. The exact cause is unknown, but several factors can contribute to cellulite creation. These factors are: hormonal, genetic and dietary-related.

Hormonal factors are related to estrogen, insulin, and age-related thyroid hormones. As a woman’s body gets older, it slowly stops producing estrogen. Lower levels of estrogen lead to other problems, such as tissues not being able to absorb enough oxygen, which then leads to lower production of collagen. In short: Less estrogen means less circulation, which leads to poor collagen production.

Genetic factors are related to your metabolism, ethnicity, and distribution of fat. You can’t change these factors. However, the good news is that you can change fat distribution by choosing to live a healthier lifestyle, and keeping an eye on your diet.

Although we mentioned in the beginning that even fit and slender women can have cellulite, you have to be aware that women who have excess fat are more prone to cellulite forming. That being said, if you want to prevent cellulite from spreading around your hips and thighs, it might be a good idea to include more fiber and protein in your diet, and lower the levels of fat and carbohydrate intake.

 

Is there a way to prevent cellulite from appearing?

Of course, there is! But it is not going to be easy! A healthy lifestyle, which includes proper diet and maintaining a certain weight, as well as exercise and staying hydrated, will save you from getting cellulite. Unfortunately, keep in mind that these lifestyle choices can only slow down the process of getting it. Most women, at some point in their lives, will get cellulite.

If you are interested in finding out more about lifestyle changes you should make in order to care for your skin, be sure to read our article on cellulite myths and truths.

 

How can you make it go away?

By now, you might be wondering how you can lower cellulite visibility and be “beach-ready” in no time. Well, several treatments can reduce the appearance of cellulite, like laser treatment, acoustic wave therapy, endermologie, and much more. All the stated treatments serve as therapy on legs (or any other affected area of your body) but work differently on the skin. However, all of these treatments have one thing in commonーthey tend to be pretty expensive. For instance, laser treatment can cost up to $5,000. That is why we chose to write about using an anti-cellulite cup since it is a more DIY, low-budget option.

As you can see from the text above, the Ecellulitis team is rooting for a good ole home massage that includes cellulite suction. But, before we get into all the details on how to do cupping at home and why this is our first choice, here’s some information about two of the mentioned treatments we would like to share with you.

These are very popular, and can help you to reduce the appearance of cellulite:

 

Laser therapy

As we have mentioned in one of the previous paragraphs, the biggest con when deciding to do a laser therapy is cost. However, laser therapy or Cellulaze, as it is often called, is one of the most effective ways of reducing cellulite.

How does it work? Well, it is pretty simple. Once the laser heats up and touches the skin, the skin feels the high temperature. That is how laser melts all the lumpy spots on the skin. If you are already getting excited, prepare to be a bit disappointed. The thing about the laser is that you have to be persistent to see the results. That being said, you have to take into account that, depending on the region that should be treated, the price of laser therapy can vary.

How long do the results last? Well, according to Aad.org, results can last a year or even more. So, should you try it? It’s up to youーit all depends on how much money you are willing to invest, and how fast you want the results.

Carboxytherapy

This is another non-surgical treatment, which includes injecting carbon dioxide into the cellulite-affected area to reduce its appearance. Why carbon dioxide, you may ask? Well, because it is supposed to stimulate the production of collagen and speed up circulation. Not to be confused with carbon monoxide, a deadly gas.

The main question is: Does it work? It does, thanks to it tricking your body into “thinking” it needs more oxygen than it really does. Remember that your body needs oxygen to function properly, and that, as a product of cellular metabolism, it creates carbon dioxide as a waste. So, when your body recognizes there is a significant amount of carbon dioxide somewhere in the body, it automatically produces more oxygen. Clever, isn’t it?

In the end, is it effective? It is, but just like in the case of laser therapy, it requires multiple sessions to see the results. Although the price can go between $100 and $150, there are a few cons. These cons include discomfort or even pain experienced during the procedure. Bruising, swelling, and redness during treatment are also common. So, it is up to you to decide. Sometimes, you have to accept the fact that beauty hurts.

Now that we have listed two of the most popular cellulite reduction treatments, we can positively say we are ready to introduce you to a home treatment that is pain-free and doesn’t require that much time-using anti-cellulite cup. But before we do that, let’s look at the different types of cellulite so you can have a better idea of how much effort you will need to put in to get rid of it.

 

Four types of cellulite

To determine which type of cellulite you have, you can use the Nürnberg-Müller scale, created in 1972. All you have to do is to look in the mirror at the affected area and pinch it. This is why it is also known as a pinch test.
Before talking about stage three cellulite, it is important to differentiate it from cellulitis. Cellulite is not hard to spot, and it can be mostly found on your legs.

Here are the four basic types:

 

Cellulite type #0

You know that it’s there because it is made out of fat; and you know that if you don’t pay enough attention, sooner or later, it will appear. But at this present stage, you can’t see it, and it won’t appear when you pinch your skin.

 

Cellulite type #1

Type one cellulite is only visible when you pinch your skin. You can’t see it when you stand up or lie down.

 

Cellulite type #2

Type two cellulite is visible when you stand, but disappears when you lay down.

 

Cellulite type #3

There are visible dimples on the skin, regardless of whether you sit or stand.

It wasn’t that hard, was it?

Treating cellulite shouldn’t be that hard either! That is why, as we mentioned, we decided that the focus of this article should be at-home cellulite suction, or more popularly called, cupping. It is finally the time to present you this fun and fast way of getting rid of “cottage cheese” on your legs.

 

What is cupping for cellulite?

Cupping is one of the cheapest methods you can perform on yourself to reduce cellulite appearance. You might have heard the term lymph drainage. Well, that’s what cellulite cups doーthey stimulate blood circulation and release fats and toxins.

Let’s talk more about lymph drainage.

In case you didn’t know, your lymphatic system is credited with the task of eliminating the body’s toxins and waste. It uses most of the muscles to perform this type of magic. In some cases, those toxins can build up, creating lymph nodes, eventually leading to a disease called lymphedema. We are not going to get into too many details about this condition, except to mention that there is a lymphatic drainage massage you can perform on yourself, to stop this from happening. Cupping has some similarities to this type of massage.

 

What are the benefits of cupping?

Although cupping doesn’t help with losing weight, it can help to reduce the appearance of cellulite and tighten the affected area. Repeated frequently, it can remove the orange-like texture on the skin, leaving the skin looking more youthful and tightened.

 

Does cupping work for cellulite?

It sure does. Otherwise, we would not be writing about it! There is a pilot study that proves its effectiveness. This study concludes that when dry moving cupping therapy was applied 10 times per 5 weeks on each leg, there were visible results in cellulite reduction. Also, there was a correlation between age and a stage of cellulite.

 

Is cupping going to leave a mark?

Well, it usually does – when you are going to a professional to get a cupping treatment. However, doing cupping at home shouldn’t cause any bruising or muscle/tissue pain, since you are using a plastic cup and adjusting it to your comfort.

 

How to do cupping on yourself?

To properly do cupping on yourself, you will need a plastic, vacuum cup which you will use a few times per day to perform this massage. Before you can begin using an anti-cellulite cup, we advise you to determine what type of cellulite you have, so you can effectively treat it.

Now that you have determined the type of cellulite to treat, you need to do these massage techniques on each leg for five minutes.

If you’re doing it on your own, it would be best to do it standing up. You can put your leg on a table or a chair and add a bit of massage oil. If you can find the one that affects cellulite, it would be great. Just ask your pharmacist and he/she will recommend something.

 

Vacuum cups

So the secret weapons are vacuum cups. You go to your local store and find some silicone cups that look like this:

You can also find them online (they are quite cheap, about 10-15 US Dollars).

So, after applying the massage oil, you press the cup against your skin to create the vacuum and then you gently move it as if you were shaving your skin.

As said above, you need to do this for five minutes on each leg. After that, your skin will look red (that is good) and then you can apply more oil or cellulite cream. But the massage doesn’t stop there. After 10 minutes, as your skin calms down, you will be able to take a better look at your skin and see where the big lumps are. Cellulite cupping treatment is good to get rid of small lumps of cellulite, but for bigger ones, you need the pinch and pull technique.

The pinch and pull technique for cellulite is basically what it says it is. You see where the big lumps are; you pinch it, then you pull it. Then, you can determine the amount of pressure you need and then apply it.

It would be best to avoid this technique in the inner thigh, as the skin is soft. But if you feel that your skin can take the pressure, feel free.

After two minutes of the pinch and pull technique on each leg, you’re done. Apply the same soothing oil, and you can lie down and watch your favorite TV series or read a book.

So, how many times a week should you do this cellulite suction? At least two times per week. Just two times a week. Find 15 minutes each day to do these massages, and you will see results pretty fast.

 

Tips and tricks on how to hide cellulite

If you feel cupping for cellulite is too much work and not your “cup of tea” we have some final tips that can help you to hide it instantly:

• According to WebMD, cellulite shows less on darker skin. So, next time you want to wear a short skirt or a bikini, be sure to opt for a self-tanner. It will hide all your flaws and make you look visually slimmer.
• Shower with cold and then hot water. This might sound crazy, but changing the temperature of water you shower with can stimulate circulation, and reduce cellulite in the long term.
• If it is not too much trouble, try doing 10-15 squats a day. You will eventually see that your thighs are tightening which will result in cellulite reduction.
• Stay hydrated by drinking at least 8 cups of water a day. Try to stay away from soda and sugary beverages. We are not going to mention making dietary changes since this is the obvious way to get rid of cellulite.
• Use body shaping or anti-cellulite creams. Those creams can work (moderately) only with the combination of exercising every day and eating healthy.

However, it is better to do something rather than do nothing. Give them a try and see how your body reacts to them.

 

Conclusion

Cellulite is nothing to be ashamed of. Most women you will see at the beach probably have it, and show it with pride because there is nothing wrong with being a woman and having a few fat cells on your hips and thighs.

However, if you still feel insecure about it, know that there is a way you can make it go away at home – by using vacuum cups.

We hope we have provided you with a few tips on how you can perform the cellulite suction method at home.

Here are some texts you can read on nutrition and hydrated skin that will help you improve your overall appearance.

If you have any questions, feel free to leave them in the comments below. Also, if you have tried cupping at home, don’t hesitate to leave a comment about your experience. We would love to hear it!

 
Last article update: 2/14/2020

 
Images credit: depositphotos.com and pixabay.com