Cellulite- Causes & Treatment

OVERVIEW

First of all, let us understand, what actually Cellulite is? Cellulite is a very common skin condition that leads to the formation of lumps and dimples in the skin. The changes in the structure of the fat cells and connective tissues that lie underneath your skin's surface lead to such lumpy dimpled skin.

Cellulite is also known as cottage cheese skin, orange-peel skin, hail damage, and the mattress phenomenon.

Before I dive deeper into this skin condition, I just want all of you to know that Cellulite is 100 percent normal and there is no problem with having it. But if you are not a fan of this skin condition and it gives you nightmares, don't worry, there are ways and means to get rid of them.

GRADES OF CELLULITE

The grades of Cellulite on a severity scale based on a study that was published in 2009 is as follows:

Grade 1 (or mild): Orange-peel like appearance; 1- 4 superficial depressions

Grade 2 (or moderate): Cottage-cheese appearance; sagging appearance; 5–9 medium-depth depressions

Grade 3 (or severe): Mattress appearance; severely draped skin; > 10 depressions

CAUSES

There are many factors responsible for triggering Cellulite formation. Cellulite forms when the fat cells underneath your skin (don't worry, everyone has fatty tissues, regardless of how frequently you exercise or what you eat) grow against the connective tissue of your skin, which causes dimples or wrinkles. Moreover, hormonal factors play a large role in the development of Cellulite. Other factors like gender, inflammation, age, genetic susceptibility, and lifestyle may also be responsible. But a lot is still a mystery about this skin condition.

RISK FACTORS INVOLVED

Cellulite is harmless and most prevalent in women. Around 85 percent of women experience this skin condition at some point in their lives. The reason for this is because women's fat is typically distributed in the thighs, buttocks, and hips. Cellulite can be observed in people of every age group. Cellulite is especially common with older age groups when the skin starts losing elasticity.

Weight gain can make cellulite more perceptible, but some lean individuals also have cellulite. It tends to run in families, so genetics could play the biggest role in the development of Cellulite. An inactive lifestyle can also increase your chances of having Cellulite.

CELLULITE TREATMENT

Can you actually get rid of Cellulite?

Sorry, but no - at least not at home. The senior dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, associate clinical professor at Yale says, "Think of a button creating a pucker on a couch cushion". "To get rid of the pucker, you have to go deeper and cut the cords." And the point to be noted here is that cord-cutting can't happen at home. That said, an active lifestyle and a healthy diet may help you to minimize the appearance of Cellulite, but it may not prevent Cellulite completely.

Before I go ahead and discuss the various therapies used to treat Cellulite, do me a favor, though. Give yourself some time and for once think about this condition. Is this skin condition in any way troubling you or it's giving you sleepless nights? You will surely get an answer for yourself and there is no shame at all in wanting to keep or get rid of it. The decision is totally yours.

The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) has reviewed a number of techniques that could succeed in reducing the appearance of cellulite by breaking connective tissue bands in the affected area. Some of the techniques are as follows:

Acoustic Wave Therapy: Uses a hand-held device to transmit shock-wave energy to improve circulation and skin elasticity.

Subcision: Also known as Cellfina, involves the insertion of a needle by a dermatologist to break up the connective tissue bands in the affected area.

Laser Treatment: This technique involves inserting a very small laser probe under the skin after numbing your skin. It works by disconnecting the connective tissue bands under the skin and burning the extra bulging fat.

Carboxytherapy: This technique involves injecting Carbon dioxide gas under the skin in the affected area to reduce the surfacing of this skin condition.

Vacuum-assisted Precise Tissue Release: This treatment is similar to Subcision. It involves the usage of a device with small blades to cut through the bands of connective tissue and then the tissue underneath moves upward to fill the dimpled skin.

Ultrasonic Liposculpting: Uses Ultrasound to target and destroy fat.

Endermologie: Also known as Lipomasssage, this treatment involves the usage of a vacuum-like device for deep massage and lifting up your skin.

Radiotherapy: It involves heating the affected area to reduce the evidence of Cellulite.

There are some of the medications and creams that are recommended because they act on the fatty tissues.

Caffeine: "Caffeine causes the blood vessels to constrict and the fat cells to temporarily shrink," says, dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum, MD.

Retinol: The collagen-building ingredient smoothens your skin every time you use it.

CONCLUSION

The real reason behind this skin condition is yet to be known before we can come to a full-proof understanding of it. It's important to keep in mind that, although I have mentioned many treatment procedures, none of them have proven to get rid of Cellulite completely and most of them are short-term.

So, in the end, I would just like to say, that the best therapy for this skin condition can be a sense of humor and a healthy dose of self-acceptance.

You should be at peace with your physical appearance.