Cellulite

Cellulite is a medical condition characterized by lumpy skin that resembles the surface of an orange peel or cottage cheese. It happens when fatty tissue beneath the skin presses up against the fibrous bands of connective tissue that hold the skin to the muscles beneath, creating a dimpled appearance to the top layer of skin.

This harmless cosmetic condition is much more common in women than in men, affecting as many as 90 percent of women in Western countries but only about 10 percent of men. While overweight people are more prone to experience cellulite, it can occur in very fit people as well. Some steps can be taken to minimize the chance of developing cellulite as well as some treatments to reduce it, but they do not work quickly and are not foolproof.

Background

Skin has three layers: the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis, which is also known as the deep subcutaneous tissue. The epidermis is the top visible layer of skin. The dermis contains strong bands of connective tissue that connect the epidermis to what is beneath it. The hypodermis contains fat and additional connective tissue.

Cellulite occurs when the fatty tissue in the hypodermis presses against the bands of connective tissue in the dermis. The fatty tissue bulges around the connective tissue, forming raised bumpy areas in the epidermis. This creates the rippled, lumpy appearance to skin known as cellulite.

Overview

Cellulite is a very common and completely harmless skin condition that affects nearly all women after they have gone through puberty. Fewer than 10 percent of men get the condition. It is more likely to occur in people with more body fat but can also occur in thin, fit people. Cellulite is most often found on the thighs, stomach, and buttocks.

Scientists are not entirely sure what causes cellulite. They have several theories, though none of them completely explains how and why the condition develops. Scientists believe that several factors—age, sex, and lifestyle—may all play some role.

Cellulite may be related to the hormonal changes that occur as people age, particularly those associated with puberty, childbirth, and menopause. Menopause is the cessation of a woman’s menstrual cycle, or period. Each of these conditions affects the level of estrogen in a female body, and cellulite is more likely to appear at these times as well. This theory would also explain why women are more likely to have cellulite, since their bodies produce much more estrogen than men’s bodies.

Sex may be a factor in another way as well. Scientists have discovered that the connective tissue in the dermis differs in women and men. Women’s connective tissue is lined up in rows like a picket fence, while men’s connective tissue more closely resembles a mesh or chain link fence. One theory is that men’s connective tissue more firmly contains the fatty tissue beneath, reducing the likeliness of cellulite.

Age may also play a role. Many types of body tissue become looser with age. This happens because the body produces less collagen. Collagen is a structural protein that plays a key role in the development of many types of soft tissue, including skin and the connective bands of tissue within the skin. Less collagen can cause a loosening of this tissue, allowing for the changes that create cellulite by letting fatty tissue press against the skin from beneath.

While thin people can develop cellulite, it is often found in people who are overweight. This leads to the speculation that lifestyle decisions that lead to weight gain, such as eating processed and fatty foods, may play a role in the development of cellulite. Weight gain may also make cellulite more prominent and visible.

Cellulite is not dangerous and requires no medical treatment. It is a normal condition, and, while it is more common in people who are overweight, it is not in itself a symptom of any medical problem. However, many people find it unsightly and want to reduce or eliminate it.

While no quick and easy ways to remove cellulite exist, individuals can reduce it. Weight loss and exercise can both help the appearance of cellulite. Weight loss helps by reducing overall body fat and the amount of skin that may be affected by cellulite. Exercise both tightens and tones the skin and increases blood flow, which can help improve overall skin health.

Some people use a 0.3 percent retinol cream, which plumps the top layer of skin; however, this generally takes at least six months to have a noticeable effect. It also does not get rid of cellulite, but makes it less noticeable. Experts say that it is unclear whether this or other at-home cellulite treatments, such as massages, dry-skin brushing, or a treatment with hand-held devices that roll or flatten the skin, have any lasting effect. They may only create a temporary puffing of the skin that minimizes the appearance of cellulite.

Other treatments require the assistance of a medical professional. They include the following:

• Prescription drugs—several injectable medications have gained official approval for use in treating cellulite.
• Laser and radiofrequency treatments—these use heat administered either under the skin through a probe or from above the skin to destroy the connective bands that cause the dimpling effect.
• Acoustic wave therapy—uses sound waves administered over multiple treatment sessions to break up the cellulite tissue.
• Cryolipolysis—uses a combination of suction and cold applied from above the epidermis to freeze fat tissue, eliminating cellulite over the course of several months.
• Surgery—plastic surgeons can either cut the connective tissue bands or pad areas of cellulite with a smooth layer of fat, reducing cellulite for a few years.

Alternative therapy treatments have also been used to treat cellulite as well. Ginkgo biloba is an herb that is thought to increase blood flow. The extract of ground grape seeds is thought to have a similar effect, and both products are sometimes recommended to treat cellulite. Cupping—a technique that uses small, heated glass cups placed on the skin to treat a variety of conditions in Middle Eastern and Chinese traditional medicine—is also used to treat cellulite. Results from all these treatments are inconsistent and generally temporary.

Bibliography

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“Cellulite.” Drugs.com, 3 Nov. 2021, www.drugs.com/mcd/cellulite. Accessed 16 Feb. 2022.

“Cellulite.” Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cellulite/symptoms-causes/syc-20354945. Accessed 16 Feb. 2022.

“Cellulite.” Nemours Teen Health, July 2018, kidshealth.org/en/teens/cellulite.html. Accessed 16 Feb. 2022.

Harmon, Katherine. “Is Cellulite Forever?” Scientific American, 4 May 2009, www.scientificamerican.com/article/is-cellulite-forever/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2022.

Hoffman, Matthew. “Picture of the Skin.” WebMD, 1 Aug. 2021, www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/picture-of-the-skin. Accessed 16 Feb. 2022.

Pallarito, Karen. “Cellulite: What It Is, Why It’s Normal, and How to Treat It if You Choose To.” Health, 28 July 2020, www.health.com/condition/skin-conditions/cellulite. Accessed 16 Feb. 2022.

“What Is Cellulite and How Can You Treat It?” Healthline, 18 Dec. 2017, www.healthline.com/health/cellulite. Accessed 16 Feb. 2022.