Cellulite and stretch marks are a normal part of any person’s body. But for some reason, we are taught that we should hide or get rid of. That showing them is embarrassing and will only bring about people’s judgment of us. Even though basically everyone has them, there is still a perception that they are ugly. We take a look at why this is so and how we can go about changing these perceptions.

Why are they embarrassing to have?

From flawless models in magazines to articles telling you what products to use to decrease your cellulite, we are taught at a young age that these are things that we should be ashamed of. As a society, we have developed a sort of phobia towards cellulite and stretch marks because they somehow indicate that you are “fat.”

This is ridiculous, especially because having stretch marks and cellulite aren’t necessarily linked to putting on weight. You can have cellulite because of estrogen, your biological makeup and even because of the way in which your body stores fat. When it comes to stretch marks, you can get them due to rapid growth where your skin can’t keep up. So it can be a result of a number of things, besides pregnancy and weight gains, such as muscle growth and even medication use.

Even if these have come about due to changes in your body’s weight, we shouldn’t be ashamed of them. These are just signs that your body has grown and changed over time. Instead of criticising ourselves and others who show it we should embrace it as a normal part of our bodies.

Accept that they aren’t “flaws”

As we just said, it all comes down to accepting that cellulite and stretch marks are a part of your body. Even if you want to get rid of them, you would spend so much time and money on it and in the end, you wouldn’t be able to permanently get rid of them. So why put yourself through that?

Stretch marks and cellulite are only flaws if you believe they are. If someone on the beach stops you to share how you can get rid of them, then it’s their problem – not yours. Just by accepting that these are a part of you, you are one step closer to being happy with yourself.

At the end of the day, it all comes down to being happy in your own body. If you want to wear a bikini and have cellulite and stretch marks, wear it anyway. Show just how proud you are of your own body – and to hell what others think of it.