What is the difference between cellulite and orange peel skin?

Cellulite, orange peel skin, dimples: to you, these three terms mean exactly the same thing and describe your number one enemy! The one that adorns your thighs, buttocks and legs with unsightly bumps and dips. Yet cellulite and orange peel skin aren’t quite the same thing. To clear things up, here’s how cellulite forms, its different types and stages, what sets it apart from orange peel skin and dimples, and the everyday habits that help you look after your skin.

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?

Cellulite, which affects the vast majority of women, is the result of an abnormal accumulation of fat and water in the lower layers of the skin.

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 situation continues, adipocytes swell, 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 (water infiltrating the tissues) and fibrosis (stiffening 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 mainly caused by an excess of fat in the subcutaneous fat cells;
• aqueous cellulite, painless and visible, characterised by a puffy and congested appearance, is often linked to sluggish circulation, with water building up in the tissues;
• fibrous cellulite, hard, deeply embedded, very visible and painful, is directly caused by fibrosis.

3- The different stages of cellulite

To fully understand cellulite and how it differs from orange peel skin, it is also important to look at its different stages of progression:

• the first stage, or mild cellulite, is characterised by the absence of dimples or any visible change in the skin’s appearance, whether lying down, standing or when pinched;
• the second stage, or light cellulite, is distinguished by a very slight change in the appearance of the skin, but only when pinched;
• the third stage, or moderate cellulite, describes the point at which cellulite is visible to the naked eye, without needing 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 do you 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 describes the overall phenomenon combining adipocyte hypertrophy, water retention and, in some cases, fibrosis. Orange peel skin, on the other hand, refers to the bumpy texture the skin takes on when cellulite has reached a moderate or advanced stage.

You can therefore have cellulite without having 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 “orange peel” effect on the skin, made up of dips and bumps. The image is borrowed from upholstery: think of the compartmentalised, quilted padding of an armchair or a mattress.

How to look after your skin when you have cellulite and orange peel skin

It is worth knowing that cellulite is a perfectly normal phenomenon, since women are predisposed to it. Blame it on our female biology, “programmed” to store fat in anticipation of a potential pregnancy and, as a result, subject to a fluctuating hormonal cycle.

That said, there are ways to limit the damage and take care of your skin. But the effort must be consistent! To do so, it is essential to:

• adopt a healthy diet, cutting out processed foods, saturated fats, excess salt and sugary foods, and favouring whole, natural ingredients and home-cooked meals;
• maintain daily physical activity and a regular exercise routine;
• drink plenty of water or unsweetened drinks;
• avoid harmful substances such as alcohol and tobacco;
• look after your legs by avoiding heat sources, tight clothing and standing or sitting still for long periods;
• see your GP if you experience intense hormonal fluctuations with associated symptoms (unexplained weight gain or loss, acne, hot flushes, decreased libido, significant water retention…).

Alongside this healthy lifestyle, it is highly recommended to incorporate daily anti-cellulite massages. Manual massage at home (especially for aqueous cellulite) and the pinch-and-roll technique are skincare habits worth adding to your beauty routine. And to help you, you can count on our massage accessories:

• our classic Anti-Cellulite Cupping Massager, which lets you replicate the pinch-and-roll technique;
• the Orange Peel Massager, fitted with nodules, for massaging these areas;
• the Electric Anti-Cellulite Cupping Massager, which uses suction inspired by the professional pinch-and-roll technique.

These accessories should be used on skin that has been pre-oiled – try our Anti-Cellulite Oil, whose lightweight texture is ideal for massage!

What about orange peel skin on the thighs?

Along with the buttocks and legs, orange peel skin can also appear on the thighs. The tips above apply here too: a balanced diet, regular physical activity and good hydration, to which you can add daily pinch-and-roll style massages.

To massage your thighs with an accessory, start by applying a massage oil, as the accessories are designed to be used on pre-oiled skin.

Frequently asked questions

Can you have cellulite without having orange peel skin?

Yes. In the early stages, cellulite isn’t necessarily visible to the naked eye, and purely aqueous cellulite tends to make the skin look puffy rather than dimpled. The reverse isn’t true, though: orange peel skin always means cellulite is present, at a moderate or advanced stage.

What’s the difference between dimples and orange peel skin?

Dimples refer to the localised fatty deposits beneath the skin, while orange peel skin is the pattern of dips and bumps they create on the surface. The French term for dimples, “capitons”, actually comes from the compartmentalised padding found in armchairs and mattresses.

Why do women get orange peel skin more often?

The female body is “programmed” to store fat in anticipation of a potential pregnancy and is subject to a fluctuating hormonal cycle, hence this predisposition. If you experience intense hormonal fluctuations alongside other symptoms, ask your GP for advice.

Related articles

• Orange Peel Skin: Lifestyle and Daily Skincare
• Orange peel skin: how to reduce its appearance
• Stretch marks and cellulite: what’s the difference?
• Severe cellulite: causes and risk factors

Useful categories: All About Cellulite.