Cellulite, orange peel skin, dimples — to you, these three terms mean exactly the same thing and describe your sworn enemy! The one that adorns your thighs, buttocks and legs with unsightly bumps and dips. Yet there is a difference between cellulite and orange peel skin. A few (technical) explanations are in order!
The different types of cellulite
Before drawing the distinction between cellulite and orange peel skin, it is important to understand what superficial lipodystrophy actually is — and above all, to identify its different types.
1- How does cellulite form?
La Cellulite, which affects the vast majority of women, is the result of an abnormal accumulation of fat, water and toxins in the deeper layers of the skin.
The adipocytes (fat cells in the hypodermis) store or release fat depending on the body’s energy needs. When calorie intake consistently exceeds energy expenditure, the body naturally builds up reserves. If this continues over time, adipocytes enlarge, become misshapen and may even multiply. This hypertrophy compresses the surrounding tissue and ultimately causes the skin to deform. It can be accompanied by water retention (fluid infiltrating the tissues) and fibrosis (hardening of the skin’s elastic fibres).
2- Each type of cellulite has its own cause
These three phenomena are present to varying degrees depending on the type of cellulite involved. Specifically:
- Adipose cellulite, soft, painless and more or less visible, is primarily caused by an excess of fat stored in subcutaneous fat cells;
- Aqueous cellulite, painless and visible, characterised by a puffy and congested appearance, is mainly due to sluggish veno-lymphatic circulation leading to a build-up of water and waste in the tissues;
- Fibrous cellulite, hard, deeply embedded, highly visible and tender to the touch, is directly linked to fibrosis.
3- The different stages of cellulite
To fully understand cellulite and how it differs from orange peel skin, it is also worth looking at its different stages of progression:
- Stage one, or mild cellulite, is characterised by the absence of dimpling or any visible change in skin appearance, whether lying down, standing or when pinched;
- Stage two, or light cellulite, shows only a very slight change in the appearance of the skin, and only when the skin is pinched;
- Stage three, or moderate cellulite, describes the point at which cellulite is visible to the naked eye, without any need to pinch the skin;
- The final stage, or severe cellulite, corresponds to a clearly dimpled skin texture, regardless of body position and without any manipulation.
How to tell the difference between cellulite and orange peel skin?
Now that you know all about the different types of cellulite, let’s get into the terminology. Cellulite refers to the overall phenomenon combining adipocyte hypertrophy, water and toxin retention and, in some cases, fibrosis. Orange peel skin, on the other hand, refers specifically to the bumpy texture the skin takes on when cellulite has reached a moderate or advanced stage.
It is therefore possible to have cellulite without displaying orange peel skin: this is the case for someone with mild cellulite, or a woman with purely aqueous cellulite (whose skin will tend to look puffy rather than dimpled). The reverse, however, is not true: orange peel skin always means cellulite is present!
What about dimples? They refer more specifically to localised fatty deposits that create the characteristic “orange peel” texture, made up of dips and bumps. The word originally comes from “capiton”, referring to the padded compartments of an upholstered piece of furniture — like an armchair or a mattress.
How to get rid of cellulite and orange peel skin?
It is worth knowing that cellulite is a perfectly normal phenomenon — women are naturally predisposed to it. This is down to our biology as women, “programmed” to store fat in preparation for a potential pregnancy and, as a result, subject to a fluctuating hormonal cycle.
That said, there are ways to minimise its impact and noticeably improve the appearance of your skin. But it takes consistent effort! To get there, it is essential to:
- Adopt a healthy diet, cutting out processed foods, saturated fats, excess salt and sugary foods, and favouring wholesome, natural ingredients and home-cooked meals;
- Maintain daily physical activity and a regular exercise routine;
- Stay well hydrated with water or draining drinks (such as our Day Drainers and Night Drainers);
- Avoid harmful substances such as alcohol and tobacco;
- Support your veno-lymphatic circulation by avoiding heat sources, tight clothing and prolonged static positions;
- Consult your doctor if you experience significant hormonal fluctuations with associated symptoms (unexplained weight gain or loss, acne, hot flushes, reduced libido, pronounced water retention…).
- Our Anti-Cellulite Cupping Cup, the classic tool that perfectly replicates the palpate-roll technique;
- The Orange Peel Massager which, thanks to its nodules, stimulates the drainage of excess fat and water;
- The Electric Cupping Cup, combining palpate-roll action with heat (highly recommended for adipose or fibrous cellulite).
These accessories should be used on skin that has been pre-oiled — try our Anti-Cellulite Oil, whose lightweight texture is perfect for massage!
