Women dream of having a sleek and smooth skin that appears flawless and naturally radiant. Pimples, wrinkles, dark circles won’t satisfy us ever. We often spend hours in a day experimenting with homemade face packs and what not to make our skin look glowing in exchange.
Women do have skin trouble after they pass the menopause phase in their lives. Who doesn’t want to look young and glowing even in their middle ages? For the same purpose, we apply makeup, spend fortunes on cosmetic products, and might not be satisfied even after doing so much.
It has always been so that not just the face but the body seems to be essential for women. The appearance of our skin has always mattered. Although it is so now that accepting the imperfection is preached to every individual. Still, humans do tend to seek perfection everywhere, even if it is always not possible.
There is one such skin condition which does not profess to be harmful in any way still has been a matter of concern for Individuals (not only women) as it does not appeal to our eyes- Cellulite.
What is Cellulite?
Cellulite is a term given to a skin condition where the thigh, hips, buttocks, and abdomen region begins or appears to look dimpled or what might be said that wrinkled skin. Medical experts have termed this condition as Edematous fibrosclerotic Panniculopathy (EFP).
The skin condition is more prevalent in women than in men. Research says that Cellulite is much more common and active in women because of the way fat cells, muscles and also the way tissues are connected and distributed in the body of a woman is very different from a male’s body.
The way Cellulite appears on the thigh region, the name “cottage cheese,” or “orange-peel” seems an appropriate name due to specific visibility characteristics.
It happens so that the fat which remains accumulated deep inside the skin starts pushing through the connective tissue and rupturing it completely. The fat then begins to appear over the surface as a dimpled and wrinkled area on the thighs.
The dimple over this surface of thighs or hips occurs when the fibrous tissue cord, which is the anchorage to the skin, shrinks majorly. Cellulite is prevalent in about 80 to 90 per cent of women at some point in their life.
What Causes Cellulite?
Experts have only been able to identify that Cellulite appears over the skin visibly when the fatty layer tissue just below the fibrous tissue cord ruptures it and penetrates through the coating, the skin becomes wrinkled and dimpled.
The fibrous cord and fatty tissue layer are placed vertically in women and crisscrossed in men. Hence, Cellulite is much more active in women, where the adipose tissue is easily able to break through the fibrous layer below the dermatological sheet.
Other factors behind the cause of Cellulite might include:
- Your age and Hormonal Changes
Estrogen level in women plays an essential role as thyroid hormone, Estrogen level, and Insulin together are involved in Cellulite production process. Moreover, with an increase in age, the elasticity of the skin reduces, causing dimpled appearance over the skin surface.
Experts have given another idea that just after the menopause in women, the supply of blood towards the fibrous tissue cord reduces, and due to less oxygen delivered to the connective tissue, the estrogen level decreases, and fatty tissues expand.
- Genetic Constituent
The association of Genes with the level of blood circulation in a human body, and the distribution of fat below the skin (differs in men and women) gives a fair idea amount of awareness about the production of Cellulite.
- Diet and Lifestyle
The consumption of too much of carbohydrates but to little fiber or wearing underwear with too tight an elastic, leading to restricting blood flow and maybe the smokers who are not prone to much physical activity or exercise could develop Cellulite.
The production of Cellulite is visibly active in younger people above the age of 25 years.
One should keep in mind that Cellulitis and Cellulite are different Skin condition wherein, Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that spreads from the skin up till inside the tissues as well.
Remedies and Treatment
The occurrence of Cellulite is not only confined to thighs and buttocks but could also be visible on upper arms, breasts. If you have a mild Cellulite production, it won’t be visible unless you pinch your skin.
One does not need a particular test for the prognosis of Cellulite. Since it is visible, it becomes a cosmetic problem to treat. Some of the cosmetic therapies which might work in the reduction of Cellulite include:
- Acoustic Wave Therapy, wherein a hand-held device transmits soundwave to reduce the wrinkled skin over the thigh, buttock, or any other region. The therapy could take more than one session for the reduction of Cellulite production.
- Laser Treatment involves inserting a laser probe under the sin and can only remove Cellulite from over skin for just a year or so.
- Subcision involves the inserting of a needle under the skin by the physician to break the fat penetrated through the connective tissue band. The results after this treatment could take more than a year for visibility.
- Carboxytherapy involves inserting carbon dioxide gas under the skin. This therapy is generally very discomforting and might bruise the skin after the procedure is over.
- Radio-Therapy removes Cellulite by heating it. The procedure gives results for a shorter duration.
- Ultrasonic-Liposculpting the procedure targets the fat under the skin, which has caused the production of Cellulite and destroys it. There is no evidence till now as to if it works or not.
There are several medications and creams as well, which helps in the reduction of Cellulite:
- Caffeine Creams can dehydrate the cells and makes the visibility of Cellulite reduced.
- An application of a cream called Retinol for six months could reduce the Cellulite. It makes the skin thick and removes Cellulite from over the region. Experts have recommended using it in a patch since there have been complaints of adverse side-effects, including a racing heart.
- Eating a healthy and balanced diet along with a proper exercising routine.
- Wearing Compression clothes might help in reducing the visibility of Cellulite.
All of the above methods might not always prove to be effective. Consulting a dermatologist if cellulite production is visible on your skin is still advisable.
