What causes cellulite?

I am 25 and I've always been very fit, but now out of nowhere I am suddenly seeing cellulite on my bum! I do squats every day and eat healthy, I quit smoking, I don't drink coffee, I'm not overweight... so how the heck am I getting cellulite?! I don't want to put on a bathing suit ever again! I know cellulite is common for women, but I just don't understand why this is happening to me. Where does cellulite come from? Is there anything I can do to get rid of it, or at least slow it down and stop it from forming more?

3 answers to “What causes cellulite?”

A: Cellulite

By Omeed Memar, MD, PhD - Chicago Dermatologist

Cellulite is the cottage cheese appearance to fatty areas, especially thighs and buttocks. It is more common in women, and is thought to be affected by female hormones. Cellulite is small herniations of superficial fatty tissue, and as the fibrous septa of the skin weaken, then the herniation, i.e.,... more

A: Multifactorial and I am not sure anyone really knows.

By York Jay Yates, MD - Ogden Plastic Surgeon

In actuality, we really don't know what causes cellulite. One theory suggests cellulite arises from swelling within localized fatty areas. This can be accentuated by increases in lymphatic pressure or venous blood pressure. For some, excess fat, loose skin, or a combination of the two additionally... more

A: Two types of cellulite, many causes

By Daniel C. Mills, MD - Orange County Plastic Surgeon

I tell my patients that there are essentially two types of cellulite that we see most frequently. "Cottage cheese" cellulite To simplify them, there seems to be one type that is like cottage cheese. Where you see cells of fat under very thin skin, so it looks like tissue paper over... more