How To Get Rid of Thyroid-Related Cellulite

You’re not going to get rid of cellulite overnight, but you can definitely take steps to reduce its appearance. 

And this is important if you have a thyroid problem because that problem will predispose you to developing cellulite. Here’s why: 

• Low thyroid function reduces blood flow to the skin (1), thereby weakening connective tissue and increasing its appearance. 
• It promotes fluid retention (2) and reduced lymphatic flow. 
• It leads to hormone imbalances that promote fat storage (3) (not fat burning). 
• It prevents your ability to build muscle, which increases cellulite visibility. 

If you already have cellulite and want to get rid of it (or if you just want to prevent it from appearing), here’s what you need to do: 

#1. Lose Weight

About 80% of thyroid patients struggle with their weight, and weight gain is one of the primary causes of cellulite.

As fat cells underneath the skin grow in size, strands of connective tissue on the sides pull down the skin, causing the characteristic dimpling of the skin.

You can fight this process by keeping your fat cells small. And that means keeping your weight in the ideal range.

But this can be tricky if you have a thyroid problem, so you need to be smart about it.

Instead of reducing your calories, focus on these things:

• Fasting – This is the preferred way to reduce calories for thyroid patients because it doesn’t negatively impact thyroid function. Fasting 1-2x per week will help reduce caloric intake with minimal effort.
• Protein-centric meals – Your goal should be to consume 100 grams of protein each day and at least 30 grams of protein each meal. Do this and you will see better thyroid function.
• Eliminating inflammatory foods – Gluten, dairy, and processed carbs/sugars will promote weight gain and reduce thyroid function.

You’ll see better weight loss by focusing on metabolic health rather than counting calories.

And you’ll see a decline in cellulite along the way.

#2. Red light 

This is another great treatment that not many thyroid patients are aware of.

Red light has been shown to:

• Improve circulation to the skin, thereby bringing nutrients to strengthen connective tissue.
• Enhance collagen production by up to 30%.
• Support the breakdown of fat cells through lipolysis.
• Support mitochondrial energy production to keep your cells healthy.

To get these benefits, you’ll want to use red light with a wavelength of 630 to 880 nm (4) for 15-20 minutes, 3-5 times per week.

You’ll want a device with an irradiance of 100 mW/cm2 (milliwatts per square centimeter). This is a measure of a red light’s power.

Simply apply the red light to wherever you have cellulite and let it do its job.

#3. Topical T2 Cream

This is going to be a bit controversial, but I’ve seen good results in thyroid patients who apply T2 directly to cellulite-prone areas.

If you’ve never heard about T2, here’s what you need to know:

It’s a lesser-known thyroid hormone that has specific metabolic action on fat cells (5), liver cells, and muscle cells.

Through these effects, it’s considered to be one of the most important thyroid hormones for weight management.

And when you apply it topically, you can target these benefits to specific tissues. Think: your fat cells that are causing cellulite.

From a theoretical standpoint, if you can encourage the breakdown of fat by applying T2 right on top of it, you can help eliminate cellulite in that area.

But let me clear:

This is still in its testing phase, and there’s no research to prove that it works.

But anecdotally, I have had success with it.

#4. Topical caffeine

Similar to topical T2, rubbing caffeinated cream directly over your cellulite may help get rid of it by:

• Encouraging the breakdown of fat cells (lipolysis).
• Enhancing blood flow and circulation to the area it’s applied (remember, more blood flow means healthier fat cells).
• Providing a source of antioxidants that protect your cells and keep them healthy.
• Promote dehydration of your fat cells to help reduce their appearance and cause temporary tightening of the skin.

This is definitely not considered a cure for cellulite, but it can temporarily improve its appearance (6).

Just realize that the effects will be short-lived.

But if you need to improve your appearance for a trip to some important event (maybe a wedding or a beach trip), there may be a place for it.

#5. Collagen Peptides

Collagen is one of my all-time favorite thyroid supplements, and it just so happens to also benefit cellulite.

All thyroid patients will experience a natural and more rapid decline of collagen compared to someone without a thyroid problem.

This means you’re more likely to experience the signs of aging, joint pain, gut problems, and, of course, cellulite.

But by taking collagen supplements, you can dramatically slow down this process and even reverse many of the symptoms associated with it.

The key is taking the right type of collagen and taking enough of it.

For thyroid patients, I recommend trademarked peptides like VERISOL with a total dose of 12-20 grams per day.

Do this and you should see noticeable improvement in the quality and texture of your skin in as little as 6-8 weeks.

#6. Dry brushing & Massage Therapy

These mechanical treatments can have benefits on skin health and fluid retention, both of which are common among thyroid patients.

Don’t expect immediate results with dry brushing or massage therapy, but if you combine them with supplements, weight loss, and red light, that’s where they will shine.

Both dry brushing and massage therapy can help:

• Exfoliate your skin
• Encourage lymphatic flow
• Enhance blood flow

It also happens to be a very relaxing therapy that has utility in people suffering from adrenal overstimulation.

If that’s you, and you have a lot of fatigue, you may want to try this treatment for that purpose.

And if it happens to help with cellulite along the way, all the better.

#7. Build more muscle mass

Your muscle cells need thyroid hormone to function optimally.

And when thyroid hormones decline, you may end up with a condition called hypothyroid myopathy (7).

This condition leads to muscle weakness, muscle pain, and sometimes muscle atrophy.

If you think about your muscle mass, it represents a huge part of your body on a percentage basis.

And if you think about that from the perspective of your thyroid, it’s a major site of thyroid hormone action.

The more muscle mass you have, the more active your thyroid hormone will be, the more calories you will burn at rest, and the less likely you will be to experience cellulite.

But building muscle as a thyroid patient can be difficult unless you do these things:

• Consume 100 grams of protein each day (we already talked about this). If you need help here, use a plant-based protein powder.
• Take advantage of at least one full-body strength training session each week.
• Optimize thyroid hormones with thyroid medication or natural treatments.

#8. Take Fat Burners

Fat burners will obviously help you burn more fat, but more than that, they can actually help you target fat loss in specific areas.

If you’re like most women with hypothyroidism, you’ll find that your cellulite is concentrated in your hips, thighs, and glutes.

This stubborn fat has a higher density of alpha-2 receptors, which can be targeted by certain ingredients.

Instead of using commercially available overstimulating fat burners, use these instead:

• Alpha yohimbine
• Decaffeinated green tea extract
• Dihydroberberine
• And 3,5 diiodo-l-thyronine

These are by far the most effective for thyroid patients and can help you reduce cellulite by helping you burn more fat.

Just remember:

Use them in combination with a healthy diet and regular exercise.

#9. Hydrate 

This is last on the list, but probably the first and easiest thing you should do:

Drink more water.

Some surveys suggest that up to 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated (8), which has a serious impact on thyroid function.

In states of dehydration, your body concentrates the proteins that carry thyroid hormone.

And when this happens, there’s less free thyroid hormone available to be used.

By simply drinking more water, you can prevent this issue while also enhancing skin health and elasticity.

There’s no universally agreed-upon water intake level, but I’ve found that thyroid patients do best when drinking at least 64 ounces of filtered water each day.

Will it have a huge impact on your cellulite? Probably not.

But it definitely won’t hurt, and it may boost your thyroid along the way.

While all of these treatments can help get rid of your cellulite, the #1 most important thing to focus on is weight loss.

So, make sure to read this article next if you need help with that.