There are four stages to cellulite. Each stage has its own characteristics and its own manifestations. It does seem strange that this common plague (nine out of ten women are affected) has actual stages. After all, isn't cellulite just one of those things that you have? Well, depending on where one is at, different treatments might be more effective. But to know where you are, you first need to know what stage of the dimply skin you have.

What is cellulite?

Cellulite is basically what appears when you retain fluid underneath your skin. A relatively smooth surface exists under your skin, but there are plenty of little pockets with connective tissue in between. This is where the fat cells can be found. All the excess fluid under the skin muddles the messages to the fat cells to release fat, and so soon the pockets become overloaded and overflow, straining the connective tissue. That in turn becomes rigid and the pockets pucker, causing the unsightly dimpling.

The three stages of cellulite

Cellulite comes in four stages. The scale is named the Nurnberger-Muller scale, since those are the names of the two doctors who developed it. Stage 0 is marked by no dimpling. It's there, but you can't see it. Even when you are pinched, there are no dimples. This is a very scarcely populated stage (only about 10 percent of women). 

In Stage 1, the woman's lumpy pockets can only be seen when pinched. So, most people won't even notice that one is affected. Stage 2 is when dimpling is visible only when standing up. It is not seen when lying down. Finally, Stage 3 is the most severe case, with dimpling apparent no matter the position.

This cellulite scale is progressive, and likely most women will progress through it completely without treatment. However, there are many treatments available, from creams to lasers, that reduce the appearance of dimpling and even help the connective tissue regain its flexibility and release excess fluid.

With a little work, it is possible to rid oneself of cellulite and enjoy a healthier appearance.