Table of Contents
What is it and benefits
The do-it-yourself anti-cellulite massage allows you to reactivate blood and lymphatic circulation, promote microcirculation and drain liquids, counteracting swelling in the legs and orange peel skin. To understand because massage is effective against cellulite it is necessary to understand what are the underlying causes of this imperfection. In fact, cellulite depends on complexes cellular, vascular and fibrous changes. It is a condition that occurs mainly in women from puberty onwards, mainly affecting the legs, thighs and buttocks.
The areas of the body affected by cellulite initially appear swollen, red, often colder than the surrounding areas. This happens due to dysfunctions related to the blood and lymphatic circulation that it is unable to remove waste substances produced by adipocytes, the cells of adipose tissue. Due to the suffering of the microcirculation, alterations of the tissues and of the vascular permeability occur. The liquid escapes from the cells and accumulates on the outside creating inflammation. The fibroblasts (cells of the connective tissue) are stimulated and there is hyperproduction of the connective fiber, which thus modifies the structure of the tissues by incorporating the adipose cells in visible nodes such as holes in the skin. At this point a vicious circle is established as the nodules further constrict the vessels, slowing down the microcirculation even more. For this reason, in the absence of interventions, cellulite it does not regress indeed it tends to get worse and worse until it reaches an irreversible stage.
Anti-cellulite massage aims at improve circulation, so as to promote exchanges between small blood vessels and restore the correct metabolic functioning of the cells. If performed in the right way and consistently, the massage allows you to drain excess fluids, reducing swelling and cellulite over time.
How to do it
The anti-cellulite massage is a first choice treatment against cellulite but, for it to be effective, it must be performed in the correct way and the ideal would be rely on expert hands. However, if this is not possible, you can resort to a do-it-yourself massage, paying attention to the movements to be made. In the anti-cellulite massage, the touch it must be light and there is no need to press or pinch the skin: just make circular movements by moving your hands From the bottom to the top starting from the feet, then going up towards the ankles, legs and thighs, up to the buttocks. To carry out the self-massage, you initially sit with the legs semi extended and knees slightly bent on a comfortable surface, for example on the bed or sofa, so as to be able to easily reach ankles and legs. When it reaches the hips and buttocks self-massage can be done by lying on one side or standing upright.
Generally the anti-cellulite massage is carried out with vegetable oils which, in addition to reducing friction and promoting hand movements, soften the skin and can convey active ingredients capable of counteracting water retention and orange peel. In fact, they can be added to vegetable oil natural ingredients with vasotonic properties, capable of improving the tone of blood vessels, reducing permeability and promoting the reabsorption of liquids. To increase skin permeability it is advisable to carry out an anti-cellulite massage after subjecting the skin to temperatures higher than the ambient temperature, for example after a hot bath, sauna or turkish bath or after a scrub.
Anti-cellulite massage oil
To carry out anti-cellulite massages you can use homemade massage oils with natural ingredients. In fact, massage oils are made with vegetable oil and essential oils. Just get one dark glass bottle clean and dry 50 ml bottle and fill it with a vegetable oil or a mixture of several oils. For example, you can choose sweet almond oil, sunflower oil, grapeseed oil, rice oil or liquid jojoba wax, all easily available in health food stores or grocery stores. Then one to three essential oils are added, up to a maximum of 50 drops. The essential oils most used in anti-cellulite massage oils are those of cypress, mint, rosemary, lemon, sweet orange and grapefruit. Finally, the bottle is closed and shaken slightly, it is labeled indicating the list of ingredients used and the date of preparation and waits for one day. The massage oil can be kept at room temperature for three months, away from sources of light and heat.
Before proceeding with the massage, it is advisable to take a warm bath followed by a exfoliating treatment. As for the massage oil, the scrub can also be DIY, simply by mixing together one part of coarse cooking salt and three parts of olive oil. The scrub should be massaged into wet skin and rinsed off with soap and water. The massage is then performed on dry skin, pouring a small amount of massage oil on the palms of the hands. The oil then goes massaged until absorbed. To achieve noticeable results, anti-cellulite massage should be performed one to three times a week associating it with good nutrition and a healthy and active lifestyle.
Read also
