A Frustrating Experience!!
Medical science does not recognize cellulite per se. Moreover, very few clinical studies exist on the causes, formation and treatment of cellulite, which explains the huge number of cellulite myths and bogus treatments currently on the market. Also, Continental views on cellulite appear to differ markedly from UK views. All this makes cellulite a frustrating experience, especially for women.
Is Cellulite a Consequence of Overweight
Yes and No! Yes, cellulite is a 'fat-condition', which only exists in areas of excess body fat. No, you don't have to be overweight - any 'localised' excess of fat can cause cellulite, even though your total body weight is within the healthy weight range.
Cellulite Fat Appearance - Differences in Connective Tissue
Some cellulite studies have demonstrated that women have a generalized pattern of irregular and discontinuous connective tissue immediately below the skin (dermis), whereas in men, this same layer of connective tissue is smooth and continuous.
Also, there are structural characteristics of connective tissue below the skin that make women vulnerable to developing the irregular extrusion of adipose tissue into the dermis, which characterizes cellulite.
Simply put, cellulite represents areas of a "break in the fence" where fat cells come into the skin area and the dimpling represents where the support structure of the skin (the original "fence") is still intact.
What Causes Cellulite?
Scientists still don't know what causes cellulite, and in particular what causes cellulite to appear and disappear at certain times. They have studied fat metabolism and deposition and had many and varied findings.
Reasons for Fat Deposits
Most fat deposits are the result of two factors:
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The number of fat cells - adipocytes - a person has.
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The amount of fat inside the adipocytes.
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Current evidence suggests that the original number of fat cells in any area of the body is controlled by one's original genetic make up. There are no factors or substances that increase the number of cells in a body region but rather they do not multiply unless the other fat cells get filled to capacity.
Proteoglycans, Hormones
Cellulite fat supposedly may have more proteoglycans (leading to water retention). Cellulite may be hormone-related. But neither supposition is medically supported.
Cellulite Fat Burned by Calorie Deficit
Like any other fat or fat cells, cellulite fat responds to calorie-restriction and is burned off by calorie-deficit, but it is the stored fat that goes away - the fat cell is still present and can refill if calorie excess resumes. That is why many treatments of cellulite are directed at the surgical removal of the fat cells themselves.
Are Women More Predisposed to Cellulite?
Yes, women are more predisposed to cellulite than men. Research shows that women have a much more irregular, discontinuous supporting skin pattern than men, so there is more opportunity for fat cells to extrude into the dermis area. Although men are not as prone as women to cellulite, men who are given estrogens as treatment for medical problems are known to develop cellulite, which suggests that cellulite formation is linked to hormones in some way. The differences in body fat distribution between genders may also be a causative factor for cellulite and this too is linked to hormone production.
Is There a Cure for Cellulite?
There is no cure for cellulite - partly because of fat cell endurance, described above. There may be a cosmetic reduction in cellulite appearance from certain skin creams (e.g. aloe vera), but as yet science has not yet found a cellulite cure.
Can Cellulite be Cured Surgically?
No. Although offending fat cells may be surgically removed, no surgical operation (to date) can actually 'cure' cellulite. Wherever excess fat exists, which can intrude into the dermis due to irregularities in the connective tissue, cellulite will continue to form.