Have you ever heard that just a quick massage session can help diminish the appearance of cellulite? Massages can break apart the fat pockets that cause cellulite and in turn diminish its appearance. I have been asked about this many times by spa members & I can personally say that I have seen the difference in myself and other massage users! So, regular massages do not only help to ease tight muscles, they can also improve lymphatic drainage and blood circulation throughout your body. By removing toxins and boosting blood flow, massages help to temporarily improve the skin's appearance and make cellulite less noticeable.

Let’s start with the uncomfortable topic of cellulite in general. Cellulite is common, especially in women. Having cellulite doesn’t mean you’re overweight, unfit, or in any way unhealthy. Cellulite is a term used to describe an area of the body where skin has a dimpled appearance. According to research, 80 to 90 percent of adult women have some cellulite, and it’s generally seen on the hips, buttocks, and thighs. Cellulite may be more pronounced in people who are overweight or obese, but it occurs in very lean people, too.

Your skin, fat, muscles, and other tissues are in layers. Cellulite is thought to arise when the fibrous bands of connective tissue that anchor the skin to muscles break down, allowing fat cells to push up into the skin layer. This creates the uneven, bumpy texture that gives cellulite its cottage cheese-like appearance.

Everyone has fat cells. While we’re all susceptible to cellulite, some people are more prone to it than others. Some factors that increase a person’s likelihood for cellulite include:

• Gender. Men have connective tissue that lie in a crisscross pattern, and those intersecting bands are good at holding fat cells down. Women, on the other hand, have vertical bands of connective tissue that are more likely to allow fat cells to bulge toward the surface of the skin.

• Age. As we get older, skin becomes less elastic and connective tissue bands naturally weaken.

• Hormones. Hormones — particularly the hormone estrogen — appear to play a role in the formation of fat cells and cellulite. This may be another reason why women have more cellulite than men. It may also help explain why cellulite seems to first begin after puberty and sometimes worsens during pregnancy.

• Genetics. Genes can dictate the distribution of fat cells, skin elasticity, and other factors that influence cellulite.

• Diet. According to research, a high-fat, high-salt, high-preservative diet may bring about metabolic disorders that can accelerate cellulite.

• Lifestyle. Certain lifestyle factors, such as not getting enough exercise and drinking too much alcohol, can affect circulation, inflammation, and the way fat cells are formed and distributed throughout the body.

Cellulite is completely normal. For most people, it’s not a medical concern but may be concerning in appearance. Massage not only helps with the appearance of your cellulite, it can have other health benefits too. It can help you feel more relaxed, reduce tightness and soreness in your muscles, and decrease body pain. So, massages don’t just make you feel better, but they help you look better too!

Making time for a quick massage can result in improved appearance of cellulite by draining excess body fluid, redistributing fat cells, improving circulation, and plumping up skin.

At SOL SPA, The World’s First 24 Hour Day Spa, our members can enjoy a full body massage in our state of the art, zero G massage chairs! Whether your reason is to just relax, tone down your anxiety, detox, destress, diminish cellulite, or any of the other countless benefits for a massage, SOL SPA has you covered, anytime, day or night.

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Written By: Paige Stuart, VP of Spa Operations