Dimples Overnight: What Causes a Sudden Increase in Cellulite

You’ve just woken up and dove headfirst into your morning routine. You headed to the kitchen to grab your morning coffee, maybe went for a morning jog or got lost in your favorite meditation. You've cranked your go-to, pick-me-up tunes and you're geared up to start your day. 

You grab an outfit from your closet, slip off your pajamas and… wait, what? What are these dimples that have taken up residence on your derriere overnight? Where did they come from, and what could you possibly have done to cause these pesky little puckers to show up out of nowhere?!

In truth, while it’s impossible for cellulite to fully form overnight since it's born from a connection between fat cells and skin that happens over time, it can seem that way when you wake up to find your cellulite has doubled in definition from the previous day.

It’s easy to frantically rack your brain for reasons why, but odds are, the reasons you jump to probably have very little to do with why your cellulite has suddenly taken center stage.

“Does Coffee Cause Cellulite?”

If you’ve woken up to a new cluster of dimples on your backside, you can rest assured that extra cup of coffee you had yesterday isn't to blame. Coffee, and caffeine in general for that matter, is not the culprit (just like coffee doesn't actually dehydrate the body, like we've been told for years!)

In fact, caffeine is a super effective ingredient in products proven to help kickstart circulation, a major factor in helping reduce the appearance of cellulite.

That being said, if you're reaching for coffee all day long and slacking on your water intake, that could be a reason you're suddenly noticing an onset of cellulite. We'll dive deeper into that shortly!

Sudden Weight Gain

Knowing that cellulite doesn't actually have that much to do with fat, it’s safe to say your dimples becoming more defined does not mean you gained weight overnight. It takes a good amount of time for fat cells to accumulate and expand, so there's no need to go racing to the scale.

So if we know what isn’t causing the sudden party of puckers on your belly, butt and thighs, then what could be leading to this unexpected deluge of dimples?

You're Dehydrated

We said we'd dive deeper into lack of water intake, so here we go. Hydration is the number one way we keep our skin soft and supple, so if you're slacking on your water consumption, the lack of hydration in your body, and therefore for your skin, could be amplifying the appearance of your cellulite. While dehydration itself won't cause cellulite to actually form, it can definitely make it more noticeable. 

Alcohol 

As delicious as they are, if you overindulged on a few too many martinis or margaritas, it may be putting the spotlight on your cellulite. Alcohol and cellulite go hand-in-hand because of the high sugar levels in most alcoholic drinks, and our body stores access sugar in our fat cells.

Since cellulite forms when the fat cells in our hypodermis push their way through our dermis to surface on skin, when the sugar content in alcohol causes those fat cells to swell, it can quickly amplify our dimples seemingly overnight.

You’re Not Getting Enough Antioxidants

Antioxidants are the superheroes of smooth, supple skin, so if your diet is lacking in these benefit-packed beauties, that may be contributing to a sudden onset of cellulite. Dark, leafy greens, blueberries, blackberries, grapefruit, and avocados are a few of our go-to antioxidant-rich foods to help deactivate dimples.

If you've got a sweet tooth but still want to keep antioxidants in abundance, dark chocolate is a great way to incorporate then. Grab some dark powdered cocoa on your next trip to the grocery store and mix it in with your yogurt, or even stir it into your morning coffee. Not only does it provide a sweet dose of antioxidants, but it's well known to help kickstart circulation.

Your Circulation is Stagnant

Speaking of circulation! Keeping blood flowing is one of the best ways to counteract the appearance of cellulite, so if your circulation cycle is on pause, it can make cellulite appear more prominent. 

Exercise is always a good move when you feel like motion is slacking, but you can reach for active scrubs and lotions that utilize caffeine and other fast-acting ingredients to kickstart circulation.

Your Hormones Are Having a Field Day

Hormones are directly linked to estrogen production, and estrogen is tied to how much collagen and elastin our body produces. Collagen is the secret sauce that keeps our skin supple - thus lessening the appearance of cellulite - so if our hormones are going through major fluctuations, it can lead to what feels like an instant onset of ripples and dimples. 

This can happen during your monthly cycle, if you're pregnant, if you're approaching menopause, or if you've recently started a new method of birth control.

Waking up to what seems like an overnight increase in cellulite can be enough to make you want to ditch the shorts and reach for your sweats, but don’t lock away your bikini bottoms just yet. Double check your diet, weigh your water intake, and be on the look out for opportunities to keep blood blowing.

How to Get Rid of Cellulite Overnight

Just like cellulite can't really just appear overnight, there’s no way to make it completely go away overnight, either. But if you're set on taking action, consider testing out a tough-on-cellulite cupping technique to help reduce the appearance of your dimples. 

There’s no magic potion or remedy to make cellulite disappear, but with a little diligence, dedication, and a sufficient amount of suction, you can bring the bounce back to your backside.