When people think of
cellulite, they often think of the unpleasant, puckered, almost orange
peel-like skin that they just cannot seem to get rid of on their thighs and
arms. Although this mental image can be correct in some cases, there are
actually different stages of cellulite and each stage has a unique
appearance. Specialists use a tool called the Nurnberger-Muller Scale to
identify three different degrees of cellulite.  

Stage 0 of the
Nurnberger-Muller Scale is cellulite-free, smooth skin. Skin at this stage
shows no sign of wrinkling even when pinched and is smooth to the touch. 

Stage 1 occurs when in any
relaxed position such as sitting or standing, cellulite is not visible, but
your skin dimples when it is pinched. When your skin is pinched, fat deposits
from cellulite stand out.  

Stage 2 is when cellulite is
visible from an upright, standing position but cannot be seen when you lie
down. Skin with cellulite in this stage may also feel mildly sensitive when
touched. 

Stage 3 is considered the
highest degree of cellulite and occurs when cellulite is visible at any time.
In this stage, cellulite will be noticeable regardless of whether you are
upright, laying down, or pinching the skin.  

Cellulite can further be
classified into hard and soft cellulite. Hard cellulite generally appears in
athletes and is when cellulite is formed around the muscles. This type of
cellulite is formed in-depth and can be more difficult to get rid of, but is
also usually less visible than soft cellulite. Soft cellulite, on the other
hand, is formed closer to the skin surface rather than muscles and is easier to
address. 

Cellulite in itself does not generally pose a serious health risk, but if you would like to take steps to reduce its appearance, it is important to know what kind of cellulite you are dealing with. 

Written by: Prishni Seyone