That percentage is an estimate, not a precise population count: detailed research on how many people have cellulite is limited. Cellulite occurs across racial and ethnic groups and can develop at any age after puberty, though it most often appears between ages 20 and 30.2

What does cellulite look like?

Cellulite creates dimples, dents or an uneven surface, usually on the thighs, buttocks and hips. It can also appear on the stomach. Some people see it at rest; others notice it only when they pinch the skin or tighten the underlying muscles. Standing can make the dimples more visible, while lying down can make them less noticeable.123

Medical terms for cellulite include gynoid lipodystrophy.3

Does cellulite mean you have too much body fat?

No. Very lean people can have cellulite too. Its appearance involves the arrangement of fat and connective tissue beneath the skin: fibrous bands pull downward while fat pushes upward, creating dimples. The full cause is not settled. Differences in the structure of these bands help explain why cellulite is more common in women.12

Weight gain can make existing cellulite more noticeable, but cellulite is not simply a result of a higher body mass index. Age and skin thickness also influence its visibility. As skin loses elasticity with age, dimpling can become more evident. Cellulite can also become more pronounced during pregnancy and nursing.13

Does cellulite need treatment?

Cellulite does not harm your physical health and is not painful, so treatment is optional. Pain, swelling or easy bruising should be assessed by a healthcare professional rather than assumed to be ordinary cellulite. Lipedema, a condition involving excess fat accumulation, can cause those symptoms and also change skin texture.1

If you want to change its appearance, treatments can reduce visible dimpling, but complete removal is not a realistic expectation. Many treatments give unpredictable or short lived improvements, although newer procedures have made progress. A long list of treatment options is not the same as a long list of reliable results, however impressive the menu looks, which leaves the brochure doing much of the heavy lifting.12

Dry brushing has no proven benefit for reducing cellulite, and handheld massage devices, foam rollers and cellulite rollers lack evidence of lasting improvement. Buying a tool is optional too, which keeps the bathroom from becoming a cellulite equipment showroom.1

Where this answer comes from

  1. 1Cellulite: What It Is, Causes, Location & Treatmentmy.clevelandclinic.org
  2. 2Cellulite: Current Understanding and Treatmentpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. 3Cellulite: a review with a focus on subcisionpmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov