What is cellulite?

Cellulite is the collection of fat under the skin. Fat stores will increase as the body prepares for increased energy needs during pregnancy and breastfeeding. The female body does not know whether enough food will be present to maintain healthy growth during pregnancy or milk production after birth and thus, tho the storage of fat may no longer be needed, the reaction is primal and cannot be changed.

Are cellulite creams safe to use while pregnant?

When fat stores increase, cellulite can appear. Cellulite creams may seem like an effective and safe way to reduce the look of cellulite, but the main ingredients – Methylxanthines – are not considered safe to use during pregnancy. Methylxanthines, a stimulant commonly referred to as caffeine, dehydrate the spaces between fat cells and break down fat stored in cells. Cellulite creams claim to have a concentration of Methylxanthines that is sufficient to reduce the look of cellulite, but researchers note this is incorrect. Cellulite creams are not proven to decrease the look of cellulite or break down fat cells.

In addition, recent studies have linked caffeine use during pregnancy to an increased risk of miscarriage. One study published in the December 2000 edition of the New England Journal of Medicine, found caffeine consumption increased the risk of miscarriage with only 100 mg per day. One cup of coffee typically contains about 120 mg of caffeine. The more caffeine consumed by pregnant women in the study, the higher the risk of spontaneous abortion of the fetus, or miscarriage, occurred. Cellulite creams contain caffeine, most of the time in unknown quantities. Applying the cream to the skin on a daily basis may leech enough caffeine into the bloodstream to increase the risk of miscarriage, even if the expecting woman is not consuming caffeine orally.