What Causes Cellulite?
Cellulite is an incredibly ugly word for most women. It is also an incredibly common condition. If you have cellulite, you’ve got a lot of company. In fact, it has been claimed that as many as 95% of us women have cellulite. It is more common in aging women, although in some cases, girls as early as fourteen can start to develop cellulite. It is one of the things that tend to haunt millions of women across the country regardless of race, age or (surprisingly) weight.
For many years it was commonly believed that cellulite is caused by being overweight. Why, then, is it found on skinny women as well as on those of us with a bit more padding? Brace yourself- the truth is, you can have as little as 14% body fat and still have cellulite! You might have to pinch the skin in order to see it -but it’s still there.
What causes a thin woman to have cellulite?
Although the process that causes our thighs to resemble highly textured orange peels is still not completely understood, scientists believe they may have found several of the key culprits:
Hormones --not diet or exercise--are in charge of regulating our fat storage and metabolism in the subcutaneous fat layer. These hormones are especially active in the late stages of pregnancy in which estrogen actually breaks collagen tissue fibers apart, which is a crucial step in relaxing the cervix for childbirth. Many experts believe that higher levels of both estrogen and progesterone can stimulate the development of cellulite.
Also, in periods of rapid growth, such as in puberty (and pregnancy), the development of stretch marks on the buttocks, legs, and thighs, suggest increase of fat tissues and rapid growth. In some people, these stretch marks often herald the formation of cellulite. These hormonal factors would explain why cellulite often appears in women during periods of hormonal change such as puberty, pregnancy (as stated above), menopause, premenstrual syndrome and during the first few months that we go on birth control pills. Thus, although cellulite may look more prominent on overweight individuals it is not directly related to obesity.
Genetics - If you're a woman and your mother has cellulite, then you are also likely to share the condition. It is thought that genes may predispose an individual to particular characteristics associated with cellulite, such as gender, race, slow metabolism, distribution of fat just underneath the skin, and circulatory insufficiency. However, the exact genes responsible have not yet been identified.
Lifestyle factors - cellulite seems to be more prevalent in smokers, those who do not exercise, and those who tend to sit or stand in one position for longer stretches of time. Your diet plays an important role as well. People who eat too much, whether through high fat, carbohydrates, or salt and too little fiber, are likely to have greater amounts of cellulite.
Connective tissue damage - The belief is that aging and exposure to toxins and environmental stressors, the tiny blood and lymph drainage vessels that maintain a fresh supply of nutrients in your tissues and remove damaging metabolic byproducts tend to weaken.
This weakening results in damage to the connective tissue that shapes the fat contours and keeps it from bulging outwards. Although by losing weight (and reducing the fat), one can reduce the appearance of cellulite, it does not eliminate the root cause, nor does it remove the look.
So, how can cellulite be prevented?
Eating a healthful, balanced diet with whole foods such as fruits, vegetables, and fiber and exercising may be the best way to reduce the fat content in cells and reduce the appearance of cellulite. Similarly, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, and reducing stress are recommended to prevent cellulite. In addition, wearing looser fitting underwear can prevent cellulite that might form due to restricted circulation from the tight elastic.
If these measures don’t help the appearance of your cellulite, you may want to look into an alternative (non-invasive) method such as Lipomassage to treat the localized fat pockets and shape your body. Treatments such as Lipomassage have been reported to reduce the appearance of cellulite in just a few sessions. The best thing about Lipomassage is that there are no injections, incisions or drugs, and patients experience little to no side effects after treatment. During a session, professionally trained technicians use motorized rollers to massage areas of cellulite and fatty tissue - like the thighs, abdomen, arms, and buttocks.
Either way, the good news is that cellulite itself is not a sign of poor health and has not been linked to any disease. To date there is no scientific proof that cellulite in itself is dangerous. Plain and simple, as much as we love to hate it, cellulite is nothing more than harmless (although ugly) fatty deposits that lie directly under the skin.
For more information about Lipomassage, Massage Therapy and Facial Fitness Contact Dr. Pamela Wachholz’ Liposculpture of Hemet Office at (951) 652-4357