It is possible to be skinny with cellulite as it is caused by the tissue that connects the skin to the muscle pushing down on the layer of fat in-between, which tends to increase with age. While excess weight can increase the appearance of cellulite, the fat layer that causes it is not the same fat accumulation that occurs in those of above-average size. Losing weight with diet and exercise can improve the look of dimpling in some, although a person can be skinny with cellulite no matter how toned he or she is.
The epidermis, or skin, is connected to the muscles underneath by fibrous tissues that resemble strings. These bands, known as septa, can push down on the layer of fat that everyone, even those who are skinny, has between the skin and muscle, creating a ripple effect in the skin. Those who are born with more septa tend to have less of a problem with cellulite. Dimpling in the skin often has more to do with genetics than it does weight, making it possible for someone to be skinny with cellulite.
As a person ages, the septa loses a lot of its elasticity, just like many other parts of the body. Eventually the bands become rigid and are unable to expand to accommodate any fluctuations or movement in the fat layer. Even those who maintain a healthy weight their entire lives still experience fluctuations in the fat layer between their skin and muscle as they age, which can make cellulite more apparent no matter what weight they maintain.
Many believe that all of the fat in the body contributes to an increase in size. In reality, the fat that causes cellulite has very little to do with what size a person is. The fat that actually causes an increase in size is located beneath the muscle and is used by the body for fuel, making it possible to burn it off with diet and exercise. Being skinny with cellulite is common because it is nearly impossible to lose the layer of fat between the skin and muscle even if a person has little fat beneath the muscle, as the body does not use the first layer for fuel.
Toning up can often decrease the appearance of dimpling by building up the muscle, which can help to smooth out the layer of fat underneath the skin. Depending on how a person’s muscle naturally builds and how the septa are pressing down on the layer of fat, toning can also actually cause cellulite to become more apparent. Even if a person loses weight and builds muscle, he or she can still be skinny with cellulite.