Nature has rewarded a woman with a beautiful body along with the responsibility to take care of it regularly. Changes in hormonal levels, characteristic of absolutely all women at different stages of life, and weight changes for various reasons often lead to the appearance of cellulite and stretch marks. In the modern world, these unsightly cosmetic defects have become a source of enrichment for cosmetics manufacturers and a cause of distress for millions of girls and women. The article discusses the main ways to remove stretch marks and cellulite without significant damage to your wallet.
Where do stretch marks and cellulite come from?
The connective tissues of the female body are more elastic than those of the male sex. The accumulated contents of fat cells thicken, forming clusters that press on the upper layers of the dermis, forming tubercles, popularly called “orange peel”. The effect created by fat cells is also that, as a result, blood vessels are pinched, nutrition and lymph flow deteriorate, and intercellular fluid and toxins accumulate.
Most often, cellulite occurs on the thighs, buttocks, and abdomen. Less often - on the arms, calves and other parts of the body. Among the main factors provoking changes in subcutaneous fat are the following:
- Poor nutrition. Excess carbohydrates and refined foods are stored as fat on the hips and abdomen;
- Low physical activity. Lack of active movement impairs blood circulation. In addition, lymph flow and the removal of toxic substances largely depend on the activity of muscle contractions;
- Changes in hormonal levels. Most often, the first signs of cellulite appear in adolescence during puberty. Later they intensify during pregnancy and after childbirth, during menopause;
- Severe air pollution in the area where you live, making it difficult to cleanse the body through the pores, because they are clogged.
Stretch marks, like cellulite, occur during a period of hormonal changes and associated changes in body weight. A direct participant in this process is the hormone cortisol. It has a damaging effect on collagen, which is responsible for the good condition of connective tissue. With increased cortisol levels, stretched skin renews itself extremely slowly and wounds heal poorly. Apart from pregnancy, the level of this hormone increases whenever we experience extreme stress.
Types of gluteal stretch marks
What types of stretch marks can appear on the butt?
- Thread-like - shallow stretch marks that occur mainly on the legs, arms and, quite rarely, on the buttocks.
- Cicatricial - pink and fairly deep scarred stripes, localized on the butt and abdomen.
- Horizontal - occur due to external reasons: intense loads, injuries, obesity, etc. As a rule, they have a bluish tint and appear on the legs, particularly on the inner thighs, and buttocks.
- Vertical - formed against the background of endocrine disruptions and metabolic processes in all problem areas: on the butt, legs, arms, chest and abdomen.
Stretch marks can be completely removed only if they are fresh enough. The older the cosmetic defect, the more difficult it is to get rid of it.
Remedies against cellulite and stretch marks
Since the condition of our skin largely depends on nutrition, the first thing we need to pay attention to is providing the body with the vitamins and minerals it vitally needs:
- Vitamin A – ensures growth and restoration of the skin, makes it firm and elastic. To ensure the supply of vitamins, you need to eat carrots, fish oil, liver, broccoli, salad;
- Vitamin E is responsible for tissue renewal, youth and beauty of the skin. This antioxidant is useful for use both internally and externally. Contained in unrefined vegetable oils, carrots, eggs, cabbage, potatoes, seeds and nuts, cherries, sea buckthorn;
- Vitamin C – ascorbic acid is useful for the skin because it ensures tissue restoration after damage and is involved in the synthesis of collagen. Include berries, fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet;
- Zinc – is involved in the synthesis of collagen, a sufficient amount of which will protect against the appearance of stretch marks. To get zinc, you should regularly eat liver, pine nuts, legumes, beef, lamb, peanuts, and buckwheat.
Possible consequences of the procedure
It is important to emphasize that all possible consequences are the result of a frivolous approach to one’s own health and the rules of the procedure. Sometimes after the procedure the following unpleasant consequences may occur:
- increased swelling due to impaired lymphatic drainage in the body;
- disruptions in the blood supply to organs;
- development of varicose veins;
- pain in the legs and lower back;
- the appearance of spider veins and bruises;
- deterioration of cardiovascular activity;
- sudden changes in pressure;
- worsening stage of cellulite, thickening of fatty adhesions;
- the appearance of stretch marks.
Video: Dr. Kovalkov on how to fight cellulite
Cosmetics for removing stretch marks and cellulite
Pharmacy displays and cosmetics stores are filled with a large number of creams, gels and masks against cellulite and stretch marks. Many of them, when used correctly and consistently, actually reduce skin blemishes. To decide on the choice of product, you need to pay attention to the label. The following components are especially active in the fight against bumps and stretch marks on the skin:
- Green tea extract – has a strong drainage effect, increases blood circulation in tissues;
- Caffeine is active in the breakdown of fat deposits and increases blood circulation;
- Horse chestnut – helps remove excess fluid and toxins;
- Seaweed – helps improve fat metabolism and remove toxins from the body;
- Arnica – has a beneficial effect on the condition of blood vessels, and also eliminates inflammation and tones;
- Black pepper – accelerates metabolic processes, warms up, increases blood circulation.
Home methods for eliminating cellulite and stretch marks
Salon methods for eliminating skin defects are very effective, but not everyone can afford it. Fortunately, there are simple and inexpensive ways to help your skin look great at home:
- Aloe juice is a proven remedy for skin regeneration, relieves irritation, removes inflammation, and improves metabolic processes. To prepare the medicinal composition, you need to take half a glass of plant juice and mix it with the same amount of good quality olive oil. Add 5 drops of vitamin A and 10 drops of vitamin E, mix vigorously and pour into a glass bottle.
Exercises for cellulite on the front thigh
The training program aimed at eliminating the orange peel on the front of the thigh includes several exercises that will take 20-25 minutes to complete. Such training can be done at home 3-4 times a week, giving the muscles a day of rest.
If you regularly visit the gym, performing exercises on machines, this will work out all the quadriceps bundles even more effectively and reduce fat deposits on the hips. And an active lifestyle in general helps you burn more calories.
Lying leg raise
Lie on the floor, arms along your body, lower back pressed tightly to the surface and does not create a bend. Lift with one leg, without bending your knee, while pulling your toe towards you.
Attention! Do the exercises at a slow pace, lifting your leg in three stages and fixing your body in this position for 2-3 seconds.
Lower your leg also gradually, stopping at different distances from the floor. When warmth and even a burning sensation spreads through the muscles of the front of the thighs, move on to the second leg. To work the outer thigh, perform side raises.
Extension in the simulator
Exercise technique:
- Sit on the machine, lean your lower back on the back. Place your feet behind the roller and hold the side handles with your hands.
- Extend your legs at the knee joint, lifting the weight roller as you exhale. At the top point, the leg is straightened parallel to the floor and fixed for two seconds.
- Smoothly lower your legs as you inhale. The lowest point of fixation when the knee joint is bent at 90 degrees.
Approaches to elevated support
This exercise works not only the quadriceps femoris, but also the gluteal muscles. To perform this you will need something elevated; at home it could be a stable stool, a wooden box, or a pouf with a hard surface.
- Stand facing an elevated support and place one foot on a box (stool or bench).
- Move your center of gravity to the heel of your supported leg, take a deep breath, and stretch your arms forward.
- As you exhale, step up onto a hill, while the second leg is pulled up to the first, but does not stand on the plane of support, but hangs in the air. At the same time, the arms are pulled towards the body. Keep your back straight.
- Repeat the exercises 15-20 times, 3 sets on each leg.
Bulgarian lunges
To perform this exercise, you will need a chair or other elevated platform to support your leg. For beginners, it is better to lunge without weights and only pick up dumbbells after gaining experience.
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- Stand with your back to a bench or chair.
- Take a big step with one foot.
- Throw the leg that remains behind the body onto an elevation so that it comes into contact with the surface of the bench with the top side of the foot.
- To maintain balance, hold your hands in front of you, holding your elbows with your palms.
- Do squats without extending your supporting leg and without letting your knee go beyond your toes. When performing squats correctly, the thigh at the bottom point is parallel to the floor, and the bend angle at the knee joint is 90 degrees.
- When lifting the body, do not straighten the supporting leg at the knee; it should always be half bent.
Watch video instructions on how to perform Bulgarian lunges.
Squats with dumbbells
Squats are one of the main thigh exercises in a cellulite elimination program. When performed correctly, the load falls on the anterior muscles of the thigh, while the posterior and gluteal muscles are also involved. Focus on your heels and the outside of your feet. When the center of gravity shifts to the toes, balance is lost, and the maximum load falls on the knee joints.
The total weight of dumbbells should not exceed 8 kg; if you do not have such equipment, use plastic bottles filled with water or sand as weights.
Technique:
- Place your feet shoulder-width apart and place dumbbells on the floor opposite your toes. For better support, the feet are turned 45 degrees.
- Do the first squat without dumbbells, while moving your pelvis back. It is important to ensure that your knees do not go beyond your toes, as this will not make the exercise effective.
- As you inhale, perform a squat. Take dumbbells in your hands, they should be lowered down and located along the body in the form of weights. There is no need to strain your arm muscles, swing or move them to the sides.
- As you exhale, lift your body to the starting position, knees bent, pull your pelvis towards your lower back. Hands with dumbbells are located along the body.
- Repeat 10-15 squats or the number that you are capable of with weak physical fitness. Over time, you can increase the load by doing 2-3 sets of exercises with breaks per minute.
The depth of the squat determines which muscles will be used. The lower you squat, the more your buttocks swing, and a shallow squat mainly works the anterior fascicles of the thigh muscles.
Watch a video with effective exercises for losing weight and eliminating cellulite on the thighs.
Prevention
Physical exercise is a good prevention. They activate blood circulation, which promotes skin renewal and fat burning. Daily workouts should last at least half an hour. It is useful to alternate between different sports: running, swimming, exercise, cycling.
To prevent the appearance of stretch marks, it is recommended to rub olive oil, grape seed oil, and cocoa butter into the skin daily, which help maintain skin firmness and elasticity. The result will be more noticeable if you combine oil application with massage. In this case, massage movements should be made in the direction of lymph movement - from bottom to top, when stroking the abdomen - clockwise.
All these methods, combined with proper nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, will help keep your skin in excellent condition.
