Cellulite aka orange peel
Cellulite consists of fatty deposits that form uneven, wrinkled and dimply skin on the thighs, hips and buttocks of about 85 percent of all mature women. It forms when the connective tissue beneath the skin that shapes these fatty deposits becomes weak and deformed. The first layer of fat beneath the skin is called
subcutaneous fat, and acts as a cushion to keep us warm and to help prevent trauma. Underneath this layer is another layer, called the
scarpus fascia, in which fat cells get larger when we gain weight, and the distribution of which determines the form and contour of our bodies. This layer is divided into chambers by connective tissue, which attaches the top layer of the skin to the lower layers of muscle. When this connective tissue become weak, the scarpus fascia bulges upward, causing the characteristic uneven, dimpled appearance in the skin. Women tend to be plagued by cellulite more than men.
How does cellulite develop?
Although the cause of cellulite has yet to be proven, some theories claim that its primary cause is poor blood and lymph circulation, which leads to lymph stagnation. The reasoning is that
poor circulation causes a higher fluid density in the surface layer of fat. This prevents the fat from being properly absorbed into the blood and causes it to swell with excess fluids, thus stretching the connective tissue and leaving a lumpy, irregular appearance. In the past cellulite has been widely interpreted as a fat disorder. However, recent medical research has discovered that it is in fact primarily a disease of the connective tissue. Other causes that have been considered include an excess of estrogen in the body, lack of exercise and a poor diet, which let toxins remain in the body.
What are the symptoms of cellulite?
The typical symptoms of
cellulite are a dimpled, pitted and bulging “orange peel” or “mattress” appearance mainly around the hips, buttocks and thighs, and occasionally in the nape of the neck, the lower abdomen and the upper parts of the arms. In the early stages, this dimpling is only evident with a pinch test. Later, the skin will appear smooth while lying down, but the dimpling will appear when standing. In the final stages, the dimpling is apparent both when lying down and standing up.
