A sauna session leaves your skin feeling fresher and can reduce cellulite
Infrared saunas boost blood circulation in the skin, which is essential for a beautiful complexion. An inner glow is created as stored impurities are flushed out at a deep level, improving the skin’s firmness and elasticity. Cellulite is a jelly-like substance consisting of fat, water and waste products that has become trapped in pockets beneath the skin.
The heavy sweating that occurs during an infrared sauna session helps to flush these accumulations out of the body.
About troublesome cellulite
When we talk about cellulite, we mean a dimpled, so-called ‘orange peel’ skin that is found mainly on the thighs, calves, hips, certain areas of the back and sometimes on the stomach and the inner arms.
What doctors refer to as cellulite is inflammation of the skin’s connective and fatty tissue caused by bacteria. This text will focus on the first type of cellulite: dimples in the skin that many people, and particularly women, suffer from. Our skin consists of three layers. The top layer, the epidermis, is very thin and water-repellent. The next layer, the dermis, is thicker and consists of a network of connective tissue that gives the skin strength and elasticity. In the deepest layer, the subcutaneous tissue, there are primarily fat cells and blood vessels. This is where fat, fluids, sugars, proteins and chemical substances are stored and metabolised.
Even slim people suffer from cellulite, although it is more common among those who are overweight. Weight gain causes fat cells to expand and begin to press on the blood vessels, which affects blood circulation. The blood vessels weaken and the lymphatic vessels’ ability to remove waste products deteriorates.
Reduced blood flow leads to fluid retention in the tissues and contributes to toxins and waste products not being transported out of the body but becoming trapped within it. These accumulations, together with the pressure from swollen fat cells, create dimples in the skin that are a hallmark of cellulite.
If the skin is thin or the pressure from the fatty tissue is high, the unevenness becomes more pronounced. Women normally have thinner skin than men and therefore have more cellulite.
There are 3 types of cellulite
Dermatologists and experts usually say that there are three grades of cellulite.
Grade 1 means that the dimples are only visible when the skin is pinched, and this is a sign that water has accumulated in the tissue. In stage 2, the orange-peel skin is visible when standing, which is due to water, fat and waste products clumping together in the tissue and circulation beginning to deteriorate. In stage 3, the cellulite is visible even when lying down, meaning that the waste products have begun to form a jelly-like mass that gradually takes on an increasingly firm consistency.
Cellulite is easily recognisable by the dimples that form where there is fatty tissue. Other signs include poor blood circulation, which makes the skin saggy, pale and dry. The skin may also be sensitive to pressure, and you may notice that the affected areas feel cooler than the rest of the body.
Why do some people get it?
Research has shown that it is primarily due to poor blood circulation, an unhealthy diet, genetics, and hormonal imbalances. For many women, cellulite begins to form as early as puberty, when hormones kick in, and then worsens during pregnancy. Many also find that the contraceptive pill contributes to its increase.
As we get older, the skin loses some of its elasticity, which in turn can lead to more dimples. Other causes may include poor blood and lymph circulation or other conditions that affect blood flow in the body. The main cause is still considered to be a poor diet and a lack of exercise. Many of us have sedentary jobs, which leads to the formation of more and more cellulite.
Can you reduce those unsightly dimples?
Most creams and ointments that promise to combat cellulite sit on the surface, and as the formation of cellulite is governed by the structure of the subcutaneous tissue, they have little effect.
The best way to reduce cellulite is to exercise and eat healthily. The more you use your muscles and do cardio training, the firmer the skin tissue becomes and the more fat is burned. You don’t need to find time to go to the gym; you could simply use the stairs instead of the lift, get off the bus a few stops earlier, or go for a half-hour walk and finish with an infrared sauna.
Exercise can help
Moderate and regular exercise reduces cellulite more effectively than an intense workout every now and then. And whilst burning fat, it is also important to review your diet and metabolism. Too much fat, salt or sugar can also contribute to orange peel skin. Boosting your metabolism with infrared light should be part of the battle against cellulite. A 30-minute session in an infrared sauna has been shown to have a positive effect, as it increases blood circulation in the skin.
It should also be noted that a healthy diet rich in fruit and vegetables, which provides the body with essential nutrients and vitamins, improves metabolism. It is also important to drink enough water to aid in the elimination of waste products. Massage and dry brushing are also beneficial for maintaining blood circulation in the skin.
Nicotine, on the other hand, is a villain that makes the skin less elastic and supple and causes dimples to become larger. To achieve the best results, it is important to tackle cellulite from as many angles as possible.