Whether you call it orange peel skin or cottage cheese thighs, cellulite is a common skin condition that affects the majority of women. It is, in fact, nearly impossible to avoid cellulite that affects more than 85% of women over the age of 20 years. So, what exactly cellulite is? Let’s find out!
What is Cellulite?
The lumpy dimples on your hips, thighs, or buttocks that make skin look uneven, are known as cellulite. This problem occurs when the skin of certain areas is pulled downward and (fat) tissue pushes through the connective tissue of the skin that creates an uneven surface. The body areas most affected by cellulite include hips, thighs, abdomen, buttocks, and even breasts. It can occur in both men and women but females are more vulnerable to developing this issue. There is no harmful effect of cellulite other than it looks unsightly. It is often called orange-peel skin primarily because of its texture. Depending on the severity of the appearance, cellulite can be divided into three grades. Grade 1 cellulite represents a mild orange-peel appearance that gives skin a slightly sagging appearance. Grade 2 is for a medium “cottage cheese” appearance while grade 3 is for severe mattress appearance.
Now that you have a basic idea of what cellulite is, you might want to know its causes, prevention, and treatment. So, let’s find out more about this cosmetic skin condition.
Causes of Cellulite
As mentioned above, cellulite is the result of fat buildup underneath the skin. The severity of these dimples known as cellulite depends on certain factors such as your genes, body fat percentage, lifestyle, and age. There can be other factors also that cause cellulite such as the thickness of your skin and pregnancy. This problem is more likely to develop with age because as you age, your skin becomes thinner and loses elasticity. Though the exact cause of cellulite is unknown, hormones like estrogen, insulin, thyroid, and prolactin play an important role in cellulite development. So, the primary causes of cellulite can be:
- Genetic
- Hormones
- Unhealthy Diet
- Inactive Lifestyle
- Accumulated Toxins
- Weight Gain
- Pregnancy
Prevention & Treatment
Several factors are responsible for developing cellulite and its prevention may depend on controlling those factors. Unfortunately, some factors like genes and hormones are beyond control but regular body brushing may help in avoiding this condition. The preventive measure may include regular body massages and scrubs to support circulation. Also, avoid consuming processed foods that have sweeteners, additives, and chemicals. Besides a healthy diet, engage in exercise to keep your body active.
As far as getting rid of cellulite is concerned, several therapies are available for removing cellulite. Several therapies have been suggested for removing cellulite, for instance, laser treatment is most widely used to minimize the appearance of cellulite by inserting a small laser probe under the skin. There is also Radiotherapy that uses heating and Laser-assisted liposuction. Most of these treatments take several sessions to show results.
