Cellulite vs stretch marks: differences and similarities

Cellulite and stretch marks on legs: are they connected?

LipoTherapeia® Plus: Discover our advanced skin tightening, phototherapy and cellulite treatments in London, based on the best technologies in the world and on more than two decades of experience and 20,000+ sessions

• Similarities and differences between cellulite and stretch marks

• Stretch marks, cellulite, dermis and hypodermis

• Cellulite, stretch marks, estrogen and menstrual cycle

• Early treatment and prevention are preferred for both cellulite and stretch marks

• How rapid expansion, stretch and consequent contraction of connective tissue results in cellulite and/or stretch marks

• Stretch marks, cellulite, collagen and elastin

• How to treat cellulite and stretch marks

• Radiofrequency and ultrasound for cellulite and stretch marks

• Laser treatment for stretch marks and cellulite

• Natural cream actives against both cellulite and stretch marks

• Real cellulite / stretch mark creams

• Have a skin tightening/cellulite treatment in London with the experts

• Advanced, infrared / blue / red light therapy treatments in London at LipoTherapeia

• The Cellulite School™: Get advanced training in cellulite reduction and skin tightening

Similarities and differences between cellulite and stretch marks

As many women instinctively know, cellulite and stretch marks are intimately connected.

There are many similarities, described below, and one major difference: stretch marks only involve connective tissue while cellulite involves adipose tissue, connective tissue and blood/lymphatic vessels.

Because of cellulite affecting three types of tissues, it is much more complicated than stretch marks.

Stretch marks, cellulite, dermis and hypodermis

Both stretch marks and cellulite are relatively deep structures:

• Stretch marks occur in the dermis

• Cellulite occurs deeper still, in the hypodermis

In both cases, silly epidermal approaches such as dry brushing, exfoliation and chemical peels do absolutely nothing (despite what silly consumer magazines, blogs and tiktok videos claim).

Microneedling may help stretch marks a bit - if it is quite deep - but it does nothing for cellulite.

Cellulite, stretch marks, estrogen and menstrual cycle

For starters, both problems typically occur in women of reproductive age, implying a connection with estrogen and the menstrual cycle, which together affect and often undermine collagen and elastin metabolism.

Early treatment and prevention are preferred for both cellulite and stretch marks

Both stretch marks and cellulite are notorious to treat and are reduced more easily when treatment starts early.

In the case of stretch marks, red/purple stretch marks (striae rubrae) have more chances to be reduced in size and to fade away when treated early.

White stretch marks (stria albae) are very difficult to treat, as they represent established skin tissue damage.

In the case of cellulite, treating it at the earliest stages (cellulite Stage 1), or better still preventing it while it is at the pre-cellulite stage, is much more effective than waiting until it becomes hard, puffy and painful, years or decades later.

How rapid expansion, stretch and consequent contraction of connective tissue results in cellulite and/or stretch marks

Both stretch marks and cellulite occur after connective tissue expansion.

In the case of stretch marks we have rapid skin expansion due to weight gain or due to sudden growth in teenagers.

In the case of cellulite we have rapid fat globule expansion which stretches:

• The connective tissue sheath that is wrapped around fat globules (periadipose fascia)

• The connective tissue strands (retinaculae cutis) that anchor the surface of the skin to the fascia underneath (also know erroneously as septae)

So in both cases, stretch marks and cellulite, we have sudden tissue stretching, which eventually leads to reactive shortening of connective tissue by specialised cells, the myofibroblasts.

In fact, one researcher has said that cellulite is, to some extent at least, a vertical stretch mark issue.

Of course, hypodermal fat tissue accumulation is the elephant in the room, when it comes to cellulite and cellulite is not just a stretch mark / connective tissue problem.

Stretch marks, cellulite, collagen and elastin

In both stretch marks and cellulite, we have a disturbance in fibroblast collagen and elastin synthesis and breakdown, so both aesthetic conditions respond well to a stimulation of fibroblast function and to collagen remodelling efforts.

Again, in both cases, and for different reasons, more than plain fibroblast stimulation is needed, but it remains a good starting point for treatment.

In both cases, collagen remodelling is also important. Collagen remodelling refers to breaking down excessive/misoriented scar tissue collagen, which is also characterised by lack of elastin fibres, and replacing it with fresh functional collagen, rich in elastin.

This is easier said than done, in most cases, but it can gradually happen with deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency and deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation, as well as several natural molecules which are known to do exactly that (more on that below).

How to treat cellulite and stretch marks

Of course, in addition to treatments and creams, cellulite also requires diet and exercise in order to “empty” the enlarged superficial fat cells.

Fat tissue aside, treatment for both stretch marks and cellulite is quite similar, because all the techniques and active molecules used for cellulite will also help with stretch marks too.

White stretch marks are visible and well-established scar tissue, so they will improve at a much slower pace than cellulite.

Red/purple stretch marks can improve much faster than either cellulite and white stretch marks.

Radiofrequency and ultrasound for cellulite and stretch marks

High-power, deep-acting radiofrequency is widely accepted to be the most effective and SAFE technology for skin tightening and collagen/elastin stimulation and thereby for both stretch marks and cellulite.

However, ultrasound is better for tissue remodelling than radiofrequency, so it is also very useful.

Laser treatment for stretch marks and cellulite

Certain laser treatments that penetrate into the dermis can help - partially, not fully - remove stretch marks.

However, all lasers are just too superficial for cellulite, as they cannot penetrate into the hypodermis.

Natural cream actives against both cellulite and stretch marks

The main natural active molecules that can help with tissue remodelling are:

• EGCG from green tea

• Curcumin from turmeric

• The four triterpenes found in centella asiatica: asiatic acid, asiaticoside, madecassic acid, madecassoside

Quite a few other actives are known for their tissue healing/remodelling action but the ones above are the most widely researched.

Cellulite requires a fat reduction component too, so things like forskolin and caffeine are essential too.

In addition, both these ingredients (forskolin and caffeine) can also aid with stretch marks, as they are both known to inhibit the protein TGF-β1, which is the hallmark of scar tissue and myofibroblast proliferation.

All the above actives also boost microcirculation, which is an important component of tissue healing.

So in terms of skincare active ingredients the exact same actives that help with cellulite also help with stretch marks, with small differences.

Real cellulite / stretch mark creams

All these molecules, with the exception of caffeine, are quite expensive, and few manufacturers, if any, include them together in one product, due to cost. And almost none include them in high purity / high concentration form.

Hence the belief by the public that cellulite/stretch mark creams “do not work”. This is generally true, because most products contain almost - and sometimes literally - nothing (yes, NOTHING) in the way of relevant active ingredients in meaningful concentrations. Then they fill the gap with crafty marketing to sell those creams to the ignorant public.

However, a real, high-purity, high-concentration multi-ingredient formulation (plus healthy nutrition and exercise in the case of cellulite) can help reduce/prevent the appearance of both cellulite and stretch marks, especially at the earlier stages.

Treatments, if available they will help accelerate the whole process and offer more satisfactory results.

Of course, no miracles of immediate and/or permanent elimination of either cellulite or stretch marks should be expected (that’s for the gullible and the naive who believe in miracles and magic).

However, a course of 6-12 deep-acting, high-power radiofrequency and high-power ultrasound cavitation treatments, as well as a quality cream used for a period of 3 months or more, can both offer valuable help.

Have a skin tightening/cellulite treatment in London with the experts

At LipoTherapeia we have specialised 100% in skin tightening and cellulite reduction for more than two decades and 20,000+ sessions.

This is all we study and practise every day and have researched and tried hands-on all the important skin tightening equipment and their manufacturers.

As strong, deep acting radiofrequency and deep-acting, high-power ultrasound cavitation are the technologies of choice for skin tightening and cellulite reduction, we have invested in the best RF/ultrasound technologies in the world.

Furthermore, over the last two decades we have developed advanced RF and cavitation treatment protocols in order to make the most of our technologies, for maximum results, naturally and safely.

And for even better, faster results, we now combine our RF/ultrasound treatments with high-power red/infrared light LED treatment.

Our radiofrequency/ultrasound/LED treatments are comfortable, pain-free, downtime-free, injection-free, microneedling-free, 99.5%+ safe and always non-invasive.

And our focus is on honest, realistic, science-based treatment, combined with caring, professional service, with a smile.

We will be pleased to see you, assess your cellulite, skin laxity or fibrosis, listen to your story, discuss your case and offer you the best possible treatment.

Learn more, check prices and book an expert cellulite / skin tightening treatment at our London clinic.

Advanced, infrared / blue / red light therapy treatments in London at LipoTherapeia

At LipoTherapeia we are passionate about phototherapy (also known as photobiomodulation/PBM, red light therapy, infrared light therapy, blue light therapy, LED light therapy etc) and we use the most powerful equipment available today (up to 200mW/cm2), for best results and treatment of large body areas.

We use specialised therapy protocols for skin rejuvenation / anti-ageing, pigmentation / post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH), moderate/severe acne, skin redness, sensitive/inflamed/irritated skin, wound healing, sports injuries / musculoskeletal pain and overall wellness / well-being.

Our LED phototherapy sessions are comfortable, deeply relaxing and super-safe and are great to enhance our radiofrequency/ultrasound treatments for skin tightening / cellulite reduction.

On our booking page you can book stand-alone phototherapy sessions or combine them with our other treatments, as an add-on.

Learn more or check prices and book an expert LED phototherapy treatment at our London clinic.

The Cellulite School™: Get advanced training in cellulite reduction and skin tightening

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