Cellulite vs stretch marks: differences and similarities

Cellulite and stretch marks on legs: are they connected?

• 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

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.

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 early stages - 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

• The connective tissue strands (retinaculae cutis) that anchor the surface of the skin to the fascia underneath

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 researchers 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 radiofrequency, ultrasound and 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 can help partially remove stretch marks.

However, all lasers are just too superficial for cellulite.

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 for it. In addition, both these ingredients 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 same actives that help with cellulite also help with stretch marks.

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 are not absolutely necessary, but 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).

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