Cellulite and Stretch Mark 101

By Davina C.

As staycations remain an ongoing part of life even as we head out of summer, for 95% of women the joy of putting on that newly purchased colourful piece of swimwear or lounging in casual shorts comes with the dread of the 'C' word - Cellulite. Yes, 95% of women suffer from cellulite and despite many myths it also affects skinny shaped women - genetics, poor diet, inactivity and hormonal changes are all causes. Despite the fact that cellulite is basically fat, cellulite is more than a fat issue. It is a fat and fibre issue - the collagen in our skin is at the root of cellulite, so lowering your body fat isn’t enough.

Our in house leading nutritionist Ella Owen comments: 'A diet rich in vitamin C can also contribute to healthy skin and collagen production. Adequate water intake will help to flush out impurities and rehydrate the skin. 

The most abundant protein in the body, Collagen is used as a building block for all connective tissues including our skin. Collagen is needed to maintain the strength and youthful texture of our skin. The appearance of cellulite is lessened when our skin is strong.'

Leading US dermatologist, Asma Ahmed, is quoted as saying, 'cellulite is caused by fibrous bands that run from skin to muscle through the fat, and when they pull downward on the skin, the fat pushes upward, and this creates an orange peel appearance with dimpled skin, which is what we know as cellulite.'

Apart from regular cellulite, mothers might notice scarring and stretch marks that haven't disappeared even years after giving birth - this is due to literal tearing deep beneath the skin so there is no tried and tested, failsafe cure.

However the good news is all women and mothers of whatever age, shapes and sizes are in this together and although there are no miraculous cures, there are plenty of ways to improve skin condition from the comfort of your home, so you can fully enjoy that sunshine holiday or weekend getaway. And the most important thing is to get over body 'fear' because confidence and self worth are far more attractive than any skin perfection.

For cellulite:

NeoCell Collagen +C pomegranate liquid

Multi-award winning Neocell has been the go-to trusted collagen brand globally since 1998. NeoCell Collagen +C Pomegranate Liquid combines clinically tested collagen peptides with Vitamin C, and a proprietary blend of pomegranate, cranberry and elder fruit juice concentrates, green tea leaf extract and ionic minerals. Scientifically formulated for optimal absorption, this delicious pomegranate liquid offers 4 grams of hydrolyzed collagen types 1 & 3 in a drinkable fruit juice concentrate blend that you can take on its own or mix with water or juice.

Organic Traditions Virgin Coconut Oil

One of the most effective and versatile of natural remedies - coconut oil can be used in smoothies, salad dressing, baking but also is one of the most effective skin treatments available - including for reducing the signs of stretch marks and cellulite.  This Virgin Coconut Oil by Organic Traditions is cold pressed, unrefined, 100% raw, organic and gluten free - use twice daily for the best effects.

For scars and stretch marks:

Jason Vitamin E Cream

A botanically rich daily skin creme, which naturally delivers deep long lasting moisturization and effectively helps revitalise dehydrated skin. Soothing Vitamin E infused with extracts of wheat germ, avocado oil, seed oil, grapefruit oil - use twice daily to notice softening of skin scarring and stretch mark.

A clinical study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food linked regular ingestion of bioactive collagen peptides, over a period of 6 months, to a clear improvement of the skin appearance in women suffering from moderate cellulite.*

*Journal of Medicinal Food 2015 18:12, 1340-1348. Michael Schunck, Vivian Zague, Steffen Oesser, and Ehrhardt Proksch. Dietary Supplementation with Specific Collagen Peptides Has a Body Mass Index-Dependent Beneficial Effect on Cellulite Morphology.  

The claims are based on clinical research, are not aimed to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Food supplements should be used within the framework of a healthy lifestyle and not used as substitutes of a varied and balanced diet.