What Is Cellulite and What Causes It?
Some people will tell you that cellulite is just fat, plain and simple. Others will say that cellulite is composed of trapped toxins and excess water underneath the skin. The truth is that cellulite is a condition that affects the appearance of the skin in areas with underlying fat deposits (most noticeably on the buttocks and thighs), giving the skin a dimpled, lumpy appearance.
Fat, in and of itself, is not responsible for the lumpy, bumpy look of cellulite. In the right circumstances, fat can be a beautiful thing. In fact, facial fat is what’s responsible for the smooth and beautiful plump round cheeks you see on the young. Plastic surgeons even charge patients a lot of money to inject patients' own fat into areas of the patients' faces and bodies. In fact, fat injections are sometimes used as a treatment to improve the appearance of cellulite.
So what is it that makes cellulite different from “normal” fat? It is the structure of the overlying skin and of the underlying connective tissue that determines whether a given area has a smooth or rippled appearance.
Who Gets Cellulite?
Have you ever wondered why men are so much less likely to have cellulite, even when obese? Or why obese children usually do not have cellulite? Or why you see even very slim women with cellulite?
While the appearance of cellulite tends to worsen in proportion to the amount of fat present in the affected area, cellulite can affect even the thinnest women. The reason for this is that while fat deposits do exacerbate the condition, fat itself is not the primary cause.
Why Do I Have Cellulite?
Underneath the skin lies a layer of fibrous connective tissue that is responsible for adhering the skin to the muscle beneath it. In most men, this connective tissue is arranged in a cross-hatched or diagonal manner, in a smooth and continuous pattern.
The connective tissue of women is another story, running vertically (perpendicular to the skin). Because of this, these fibrous bands (called septae) tether the skin to the underlying tissue at certain points, essentially creating discrete “fat chambers” to push up on the skin while the bands pull the skin downward.
This difference in connective tissue arrangement (coupled with the fact that men usually have thicker skin than women) explains why far fewer men have cellulite than women.
Bad News First
When we are young, our connective tissue is supple and elastic, stretching and giving with the skin so that everything remains smooth. Then puberty hits, and hormones wreak havoc on the connective tissue, making it stiffer and less elastic. At the same time, our fat cells tend to expand in certain areas, pushing out on the skin.
As the bands of connective tissue contract and stiffen with age, they pull down on the skin even more. At the same time, increasing fat stores push outward in the surrounding areas. Put these two occurrences together, and the result is an unappealing landscape of dimples and bulges.
As we get older, the outer layer of skin weakens, thins, and loses elasticity. Gravity takes its toll, and the skin begins to sag. Since the connective septae remain intact and often contracts and stiffens further as time marches on, the appearance of cellulite continues to worsen with age.
Another probable aggravating factor in the development of cellulite is yo-yo dieting. Repeated cycles of weight gain and weight loss further compromise skin elasticity, making cellulite more pronounced.
The Good News
You can improve (not eliminate) the appearance of cellulite by living a healthy lifestyle. That means staying hydrated, not smoking, and yes, following a sensible diet and exercise program.
A combination of proper diet and exercise will decrease the layer of fat underneath the skin, making cellulite less noticeable. A proper diet can also be helpful in keeping the skin and connective tissue stronger, healthier, and more supple. In addition, staying properly hydrated and eating well will help prevent water retention (which exacerbates cellulite).
Exercise helps with cellulite in a multitude of ways. Not only does it help keep body fat levels lower, it also improves circulation and muscle tone in cellulite-prone areas. Improved circulation will keep both the skin and connective tissue healthier, as well as helping with elimination of waste and excess fluid retention.
The Ugly Truth
You may stick to world’s best diet and exercise program, and still have cellulite. The presence, severity, and location of cellulite are in large part determined by hormones and heredity.
While there are a few cellulite treatments and procedures1 that can somewhat improve the appearance of cellulite, there is no “cure” for cellulite. In fact, most of the cellulite “solutions” offered by those who would separate you from your hard-earned cash are little more than expensive placebos.
Sources:
Cellulite: A Review of its Physiology and Treatment; Mathew M. Avram; Journal of Cosmetic and Laser Therapy, Volume 6, Issue 4 December 2004
Cellulite: An Update; Press Release, American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, August 2003
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