Cellulite in Pregnancy – Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
Medically Reviewed By
Dr. Rashmi Sriram
(Dermatologist)
This health content has been medically reviewed by qualified experts and follows the FirstCry Parenting editorial policy to ensure accuracy and reliability.
Cellulite and pregnancy often go hand in hand because hormonal changes, healthy weight gain, and increased fat storage during pregnancy can make dimpled skin more noticeable. In fact, an estimated 80-90% of post-pubertal women develop cellulite at some point, making it a normal cosmetic concern rather than a medical condition (1). If you’ve noticed cellulite when pregnant, there’s usually no cause for concern, as these changes are a natural part of your body’s adaptation to support your growing baby. In this article, you’ll learn what causes cellulite during pregnancy, whether it goes away after childbirth, safe treatment options, and practical tips to help minimise its appearance.
What Is Cellulite?
If you stand in front of a mirror, you will notice that certain portions of your body will have fat deposits around them. The major body parts where pockets of fat deposition are bum, hips, thighs, tummy, upper arms, and knees. These fat deposits are termed cellulite. These deposits can sometimes stretch and break down, causing these regions to become dimpled (2). It’s important to remember that more cellulite during pregnancy is normal; some women may gain weight and cellulite, while others may not.
Is it Normal to Have Cellulite During Pregnancy?
Yes, cellulite during pregnancy is completely normal. Hormonal changes, healthy weight gain, increased fat storage, and fluid retention can make cellulite more noticeable, especially on the thighs, hips, and buttocks. It is a common cosmetic change that does not harm you or your baby.
What Causes Cellulite in Pregnancy?
The reasons for increased cellulite while pregnant tend to vary and may include anything from poor lifestyle choices to numerous internal body factors (3).
1. Lifestyle
Performing basic exercises during pregnancy is essential to keep your health in check and for the health of your baby too. Staying away from junk foods and managing your cravings is also necessary at this stage. However, failure to do all of these can cause cellulite to form in your body.
2. Water Retention
During pregnancy, a woman’s body has a higher tendency of storing an excessive volume of bodily fluids. This leads to water retention in various regions of the body. These indirectly work towards creating cellulite pockets, which can become visible later on.
3. Effects of Hormones
Hormones play an important role in cellulite development. Estrogen, insulin, noradrenaline, thyroid hormones and prolactin are part of the cellulite production process (4).
4. Increase in Weight
A healthy weight gain is expected in pregnant women with time. However, excessive weight gain during pregnancy increases the chances of cellulite formation in later years.
5. Age
The elasticity of the skin reduces with age, which increases the chance of cellulite.
6. Genetic Factors
Cellulite during pregnancy could be related to genetic variations that affect collagen production and skin elasticity. These genetic factors may make some individuals more prone to cellulite development during pregnancy. However, it’s essential to emphasise that cellulite’s exact causes are still not fully understood and can vary significantly from person to person (4).
Medical Treatment for Cellulite
Taking care of cellulite and pregnancy is possible by using specific medical treatments. These tend to reduce cellulite quickly, and you can get your pre-pregnancy body back sooner. However, these treatments are not recommended for pregnant women, and it’s best to stay away from them.
Cellulite Treatments That Pregnant Women Should Avoid
A bunch of cellulite treatment methods are considered harmful for the baby as well as the mother and can have long-term effects as well.
1. Oral Intake of Medicines
One of the potent ways to remove cellulite is to burn it by taking certain stimulants. This is how most oral medications for cellulite work, by making use of caffeine and other substances that help reduce the cellulite. However, taking these medicines during pregnancy are not recommended.
2. Laser or Thermal Treatment Techniques
Some of the most popular treatment techniques to reduce cellulite involve making use of laser beams or other methods that increase the temperature of the body region to get rid of cellulite (5). These might be quite effective, but risky during pregnancy.
How to Get Rid of Cellulite Naturally When Pregnant?
There are a bunch of natural ways to take care of cellulite. These are safer than any other treatment techniques and pose minimal risk to the pregnancy. These measures can be tried at home to get rid of cellulite during pregnancy:
- One of the best ways to take care of cellulite manifested in the body is by exercising regularly. It is the healthiest and the safest way to take care of it. However, it is usually recommended that pregnant women not perform strenuous exercise.
- Following a healthy diet can also take care of cellulite during pregnancy.
- One natural remedy to help reduce cellulite during pregnancy is dry brushing. Dry brushing involves gently brushing the skin with a soft-bristle brush upward towards the heart. This practice is believed to help stimulate lymphatic drainage, exfoliate the skin, and improve blood circulation, potentially reducing the appearance of cellulite over time.
Tips
Here are some tips that you can follow to avoid cellulite:
- The presence of omega-3 fatty acids in the body helps bind cellulite effectively. Include omega-3 fatty acids in your diet. You can include flax seeds in your meals.
- Befriend carbohydrates during pregnancy. Eat as required; don’t overdo it.
- Water retention is another problem that can make cellulite worse. Eating lots of vegetables, berries, and seafood can reduce the chances of that occurring cellulite.
- Eat healthy foods and start exercising.
How Can You Prevent Cellulite?
If you’re wondering how to prevent cellulite during pregnancy, there are several easy ways that you can try to stay fit and healthy (6).
1. Reduce Salt Intake
Avoid adding salt to your food since it is acidic and dehydrates your body, making cellulite removal difficult.
2. Drink Water
Staying hydrated flushes toxins from the skin and keeps cellulite formation to a minimum.
3. Exercise
Light cardio exercises, like walking and low-impact aerobics, can tone your body. The sweat produced while exercising will flush out the toxins from your body and cleanse your skin. Exercising also tones the muscle tissues and reduces the cellulite.
4. Weight Control
It is a must to keep your weight in check whether you are pregnant or not.
5. Eat Healthy Foods
Eat healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables. Eating healthy foods will flush out toxins from your body, which leads to cellulite formation.
6. Avoid Fatty Foods
Junk food, meat, bakery products, cheese, etc., can increase cellulite content in your body. Avoid them as much as you can.
Reducing Cellulite Post-Pregnancy
Once you recover from your delivery, you can start with cellulite treatment after a couple of weeks. Avoid topical creams since your baby would be breastfeeding. Follow a strict diet and exercise regularly to reduce cellulite. The cellulite post-pregnancy can negatively impact your self-confidence, but if you switch to a healthy lifestyle, cellulite formation will reduce over time. You must also remember that cellulite during pregnancy is normal and quite common, and you must consult a dermatologist before taking steps to deal with the cellulite formation in your body.
Here are some practical ways to address post-pregnancy cellulite:
- Maintain a balanced diet of fruits, vegetables, and lean proteins to support skin health and reduce fat accumulation.
- Proper hydration is essential for skin elasticity, which can help reduce the appearance of cellulite.
- Incorporate cardiovascular and strength training exercises to tone muscles and burn excess fat.
- Continue dry brushing to stimulate circulation and lymphatic drainage, reducing cellulite.
- Professional or self-massage with cellulite-reducing creams or oils can improve skin texture.
- To target cellulite, look for creams or serums containing ingredients like caffeine, retinol, or collagen.
- Consider wearing compression garments to improve blood flow and reduce swelling.
- Some spa treatments like seaweed or clay body wraps may temporarily improve the appearance of cellulite.
- Avoid smoking and excessive alcohol consumption, as these habits can worsen cellulite.
- Gradual post-pregnancy weight loss can reduce the strain on connective tissues.
- If desired, consult a dermatologist or cosmetic surgeon in severe cases for non-invasive or surgical treatments like laser therapy or liposuction.
When to Consult a Doctor?
Cellulite itself is harmless and usually doesn’t require medical treatment. However, you should consult your doctor if you notice:
- Sudden, painful swelling or redness in one leg
- Warm, tender, or inflamed skin
- Severe pain or rapidly worsening skin changes
- Fever along with skin redness or swelling
- Any lump, rash, or skin changes that concern you
FAQs
1. Can you have anti-cellulite massage in pregnancy?
It’s generally safe to have anti-cellulite massages during pregnancy, but it’s essential to consult with your healthcare provider first. They can advise you on the best approach and ensure that the massage technique is gentle and suitable for your specific pregnancy condition.
2. Does pregnancy cellulite go away?
Postpartum cellulite does not typically disappear entirely after pregnancy. However, the appearance of cellulite may diminish as your body returns to its pre-pregnancy state, especially if you adopt a healthy lifestyle, including diet and exercise. Some women may find that the cellulite becomes less noticeable over time.
3. Is cellulite on legs and thighs during pregnancy normal?
Cellulite on legs and thighs during pregnancy is very common because these areas naturally store more fat. Hormonal changes and fluid retention can make the dimpled appearance more noticeable.
4. Can exercise help with pregnancy cellulite?
Pregnancy-safe exercises, such as walking, swimming, and gentle strength training, can improve blood circulation, support healthy weight management, and help maintain skin tone, which may reduce the appearance of cellulite.
Please note that individual experiences with cellulite can vary, and it’s essential to prioritise your health and well-being during and after pregnancy. Discussing your concerns about cellulite or any other post-pregnancy issues with your healthcare provider is advisable for personalised guidance.
Also Read:
Skin Changes in Pregnancy
Skin Darkening while Pregnant
Changes in Face during Pregnancy
Was This Article Helpful?
Parenting is a huge responsibility, for you as a caregiver, but also for us as a parenting content platform. We understand that and take our responsibility of creating credible content seriously. FirstCry Parenting articles are written and published only after extensive research using factually sound references to deliver quality content that is accurate, validated by experts, and completely reliable. To understand how we go about creating content that is credible, read our editorial policy here.
- Author
- Expert Reviewer
