Pronounced Cellulite on Thighs A Cellulite Education Contrary to popular belief, cellulite is not caused by lumps of fat under the skin. It is actually caused by the connective cords that tether the epidermis to the muscles underneath pulling down too hard, causing fat to bulge up into the surface layer of skin. The technical term for this is herniation of subcutaneous fat within connective tissues. “Orange Peel” and 3 Stages Cellulite is often referred to as “orange peel syndrome” or “cottage cheese skin” but in medical circles, it is referred to as “adiposis edematosa” or “status protusus cutus.” Cellulite is a condition that gives skin an orange peel appearance, featuring dimples of varying sizes. These dimples can be visible at all times (stage 2 or 3 cellulite), or only when pressure is applied, which is considered a mild case of cellulite (stage 1). The Anatomy of Human Skin Understanding cellulite begins with understanding the anatomy of the skin. So, here is a quick anatomylesson on human skin—well, a partial lesson since we’re only interested in part of the human skin that is ultimately responsible for cellulite. Three Layers of Skin Our skin is made up of three layers, namely the epidermis, the dermis and the hypodermis—also referred to as the subcutaneous fat layer. For our purpose, we need to look at the dermis and the hypodermis. Role of the Dermis, Layer 1 The dermis’ main role is to sustain and support the epidermis. Composed of two layers, the dermis contains lots of collagen and elastin. The upper layer, or the papillary dermis, consists of loose connective tissue that contains elastin, collagen, capillaries and reticular fibers. Cellulite Visible Solely Under Pressure Connective Tissue, Layer 2 The second layer, or the reticular dermis, is made up a thick layer of dense connective tissue that contains bigger blood vessels as well as elastic fibers that are closely interlaced and layers of collagen fibers that are parallel to the surface. TheHypodermis, Layer 3 The hypodermis is the third layer of skin and consists of fatty tissue and connective tissues arranged as cords that keep the skin attached to the muscle known as septae. The fat cells are dispersed between these connective cords, forming pockets. Understanding Connective Tissue We also need to take a quick look at connective tissues, as they play a very important role in the formation of cellulite. Collagen The main type of fiber in connective tissue is collagen, which is meant to give said tissue strength. However, it also contains elastic fibers, which can be stretched up to 150% of their original length and return to normal when tensile strength is no longer present. These elastic fibers are made up of elastin, which is a protein. So, What Is Cellulite? What happens is that as collagen and elastin break down, which occurs due to aging, environmental factors and lifestyle, the connective tissue in the dermis and the hypodermis weakens. The breakdown of collagenleads to a weakening of the dermis and the support it provides, while the breakdown of elastin makes the connective cords more rigid. The result is that the dermis is no longer able to keep the fat cells “flat”, while the cords pull down even harder so that the fat cells poke up into the skin even more. This leads to the formation of the dimples we so despise. Furthermore, as we age, not only do collagen and elastin break down, but our bodies produce less and less of these two proteins, leading to even weaker and thinner skin. The thinner our skin is, the more visible the bulging fat cells become. And, of course, with weight gain, the problem becomes even more apparent because the fat cells are larger and the connective cords can’t stretch, resulting in even more obvious dimpling of the skin. It’s just like a cushion with buttons. When the string attached to the buttons is pulled down tight, little pillows form with dimples around the buttons. The same principle applies to cellulite.Why Cellulite is More Prevalent in Women Cellulite is a condition that affects mainly women, but it can present in men as well. Statistics show that 90% of women have cellulite, while only 10% of men seem to suffer from it. One reason for this is because of how female connective cords are arranged. In women, these connective cords are perpendicular to the epidermis and muscle, forming a ladder when viewing a cross-section of skin. Conversely, men’s connective cords are arranged in a crosshatch pattern, meaning they are better able to keep the fat in place. Cellulite on Buttocks Where Does Cellulite Form? Cellulite is mainly present on the thighs but can affect other areas as well, such as the buttocks, arms and stomach. Though there is no actual cure, i.e. you can’t completely eradicate cellulite, there are treatments that can help minimize the appearance of cellulite and improve how your skin looks. Furthermore, it’s important to take measures to prevent cellulite from getting worseas we age. This includes eating a healthy diet, exercising on a regular basis, and employing some form of regular treatment to keep skin firm and healthy. Do I Have Cellulite? Most dermatologists will say that if you are a woman, then you have cellulite. However, not all women get cellulite, and some men get it too. The fact is that cellulite is considered a genetic condition, which means that if your mother had cellulite, there’s a good chance you will get it as well. To get a better idea of what cellulite looks like as well as to see the different types of cellulite, take a look at some of these Cellulite Pictures. What Happens Next? You can prevent cellulite to a certain degree by adopting a healthy diet, exercising on a regular basis and looking after your overall well-being. However, since cellulite is more of a structural problem with your skin rather than being caused solely by excess fat – the reason why even slim women have cellulite – it’s important that you employ a goodskin care regimen to keep your skin firm and tight, which will delay the onset of cellulite or, at the very least, help minimize the dimply appearance of your skin. Our Cellulite offers step-by-step instructions on treating cellulite properly and is completely free so make sure to check it out, especially since it shows you how to treat this problem without resorting to expensive surgery or painful laser therapy.   Lazer Treatment Oral Medication Surgical Topical Treatment Cost Efficient X X X Yes Safe & Natural X X X Yes Painless X Yes X Yes Zero Longterm Side Effects X X Yes Yes Guaranteed Money Back X X X Yes