If you’re one of those women who doesn’t have much cellulite, but have noticed that it always seems to settle on the back of your thighs, this article is for you! To learn all about this type of cellulite and discover effective ways to reduce it, read on.
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Why does cellulite develop on the back of the thighs?
1- Cellulite basics
cellulite affects around 90% of women. It is a completely natural phenomenon resulting from women’s predisposition to store fat. That’s right: women, genetically designed to bear children, naturally have a high number of adipocytes, subcutaneous cells responsible for storing fat reserves in preparation for a possible pregnancy. These adipocytes are mainly located in the buttocks, hips and thighs.
Cellulite, or superficial lipodystrophy, is caused by a combination of physiological factors:
- Adipocyte hypertrophy, which alters the structure of connective tissue. The effects are visible to the naked eye on the surface of the skin: it becomes uneven (the famous “orange peel” appearance).
- An excess of metabolic waste and interstitial fluids in the tissues, which creates a swollen appearance. This buildup is mainly due to sluggish venous and lymphatic circulation: porous blood vessels that allow water to leak out, and a lymphatic system that no longer performs its “cleansing” role properly.
- Sometimes, in the case of long-term cellulite, a disruption of the subcutaneous elastic network can occur, leading to fibrosis.
It can have several causes : a genetic predisposition, hormonal fluctuations, vascular dysfunction (in the case of watery cellulite), poor eating habits (in the case of fatty cellulite), an unbalanced lifestyle…
2- Why the back of the thighs?
But back to the point: you’d like to know why cellulite is particularly concentrated on the back of your thighs… Here are a few answers to your question:
- As mentioned earlier, adipocytes are concentrated in certain areas of the female body, including the thighs.
- Women who have not gone through menopause naturally tend to store fat in the lower body, due to hormonal activity. As a result, they are more likely to develop cellulite on the thighs, hips, buttocks and even the knees.
- Our sedentary lifestyles also play a role. These days, prolonged sitting (8 hours a day, sometimes more) is the daily reality for most women. But this specific posture tends to worsen poor blood and lymphatic circulation. As a result, circulation is not as efficient: water retention and the buildup of toxins in the tissues become particularly concentrated on the back of the thighs.
What can you do to reduce cellulite on the back of the thighs?
Here are a few essential lifestyle and dietary measures to help restore shape to your thighs and a smoother appearance.
1- Massage, again and again!
Stimulating fat release and microcirculation remains one of the most reliable ways to reduce cellulite on the back of the thighs. But be careful: to be effective, anti-cellulite massages must not be done just any old way! And the most effective technique is still the palpate-roll. However, it’s difficult to do by hand, especially as a self-massage. Thankfully, there are massage tools that are very easy to use. We’re of course thinking of the suction cup, whether classic or electric.
- The Anti-Cellulite Cup classic version, made of soft, skin-friendly silicone, remains an essential accessory. It is used on skin coated with massage oil (like ours !), for a perfect recreation of the palpate-roll technique on the thighs. Suction cup massage generally delivers very quick visible improvements on cellulite behind the thighs: from the first week, 85% of women notice a visible reduction in the appearance of orange peel skin.
- The Electric Cup combines two effects: the traditional anti-cellulite palpate-roll action and a warming function, which helps encourage fat release (by softening subcutaneous fat for more effective elimination). But that’s not all: the cup is equipped with small nodules that stimulate microcirculation for a draining effect. It is used on previously oiled skin and is suitable for all types of cellulite.
2- Healthy eating habits
It’s proven: a rich or unbalanced diet has a major impact on skin quality. Too much salt, and water retention follows. Too much sugar, hello fat storage! Not enough vitamins, and you get slack skin marked by dimpling. To reduce cellulite behind the thighs, adopting healthy eating habits is essential. But what exactly does a balanced diet look like?
- It should be varied and made up mainly of whole foods, prepared at home. Seasonal fruits and vegetables, lean meat, fish, eggs, low-GI complex carbohydrates (whole grains, legumes, root vegetables).
- Consumption of ready-made foods should be kept in check. Very often, processed foods (even innocent-looking boxed soup) contain too much salt, sugar, saturated fats and other undesirable additives. These are the same ingredients that contribute to the formation of cellulite.
- Snacking, sweets, soft drinks and alcohol should be limited. Because yes, sugar is the number one contributor to excess weight and cellulite.
- Your intake of salt should be controlled, as it strongly promotes water retention. It can therefore be replaced with spices and herbs.
- Lastly, hydration should be generous and mainly water-based. Herbal teas, tea and draining drinks are all welcome.
3- Fat-targeting and draining actives
Cosmetics have made real progress when it comes to addressing cellulite. Today, anti-cellulite creams and oils contain active ingredients that help reduce subcutaneous fat storage and/or promote toxin drainage. Of course, natural formulas are always preferable! And for real effectiveness, these body treatments need to be applied regularly, with plenty of vigorous massage. In that regard, we’re naturally thinking of this incredible duo:
- Anti-Cellulite Scrub – a grain-based scrub that respects the epidermis and is enriched with lipolytic caffeine, helping to drain cellulite while preparing the skin for further treatments.
- Cryo Anti-Cellulite Cream – a cream that can be used on all areas affected by cellulite (including the back of the thighs!) with a highly effective formula for dimples (coffee and green coffee to target fat storage, menthol for an invigorating boost to microcirculation).
4- Physical activity against orange peel skin
Cellulite hates exercise! And while it isn’t enough on its own to erase dimpling behind the thighs, when combined with other methods (massage, diet and skincare), it has every chance of delivering good results. But again, not all sports are equal: the most effective are still those that:
- Lead to significant calorie expenditure: so-called cardio sports, such as running and cycling, or interval sports, such as HIIT.
- Stimulate venous and lymphatic circulation: brisk walking, which boosts venous return, or water sports (swimming, aqua aerobics, aquabiking), with water promoting microcirculation through a massaging effect.
- Be careful with high-impact sports such as tennis, boxing or athletics, especially if you are particularly prone to sluggish venous and lymphatic circulation (and therefore watery cellulite). These activities, full of jolts and sudden directional changes, tend to put extra strain on venous health… and can therefore encourage cellulite rather than reduce it.
As you’ve understood, it is absolutely possible to improve the appearance of your skin and reduce cellulite to get smoother-looking thighs. But be warned: tackling dimpling is an everyday commitment. If you stop your daily efforts, you’ll quickly notice the return of that familiar cellulite…
To see visible improvements in the cellulite behind your thighs in as little as 7 days, we recommend the complete pack with all the essential products to say bye-bye to cellulite!
Read also: My express anti-cellulite thigh routine: 10 minutes for a body that looks its best!