Guide To The Risk Factors And Causes Of Cellulite

Cellulite develops when fat deposits located underneath the surface of the skin push against neighboring connective tissues. This causes the skin in the affected area to appear lumpy or dimpled. Cellulite can give the skin a texture similar to that of an orange peel. Mild cellulite is generally visible only when the affected area is pinched or compressed. However, severe cellulite creates peaks and valleys on the skin's surface. Patients with lighter skin tones often experience worse cellulite than those with darker skin tones. Many doctors consider cellulite normal.

Cellulite treatment is only necessary for cosmetic reasons. Topical treatments, such as retinol cream, can improve cellulite's appearance. Doctors may use liposuction for cellulite. Other options are cellulite laser treatments and cryolipolysis. However, patients benefit from understanding the risk factors for cellulite first. Cellulite prevention is quite effective for many of these factors.

Age

While children rarely have cellulite, it is prevalent in adults. The changes to the skin's appearance associated with this issue typically begin in adolescence and continue as the patient goes through puberty. For many patients, the amount of cellulite they experience tends to increase with age. As individuals age, their skin produces less collagen, losing firmness, thickness, and elasticity. This loss can result in sagging skin, and it may worsen the dimples, peaks, and valleys on the skin's surface.

Aging can also increase a patient's body fat percentage and their risk of chronic health conditions such as diabetes, arthritis, and cardiovascular disease. Patients with these and other underlying medical conditions may find it harder to maintain a healthy weight and keep a regular exercise schedule. These factors could further increase the amount of cellulite an individual has. Patients who experience excessive skin sagging or a concerning degree of collagen loss may need laser or radiofrequency treatments to minimize cellulite appearance.

Gender

Gender is an influential risk factor for cellulite. Anecdotal reports from leading dermatologists suggest eighty to ninety-eight percent of American women have cellulite. However, only ten percent of men are estimated to have this skin complaint. Doctors believe the increased prevalence of cellulite in women may be due to gender differences in connective tissues; direction. While the tough, fibrous collagen bands that connect skin and muscle run parallel to the skin's surface in males, the bands naturally run perpendicular to the skin's surface in females. These vertical bands are believed to be a significant cause of the skin dimpling that appears with cellulite.

Gender differences in body fat levels and distribution have also been recognized as a contributing factor. Women typically have a higher percentage of body fat than men. A healthy body fat range for females is between twenty and twenty-five percent, and the beneficial content for males is between ten and fifteen percent. Women have more subcutaneous fat than men, and they tend to store most of their fat around the buttocks, thighs, and hips. All of these are among the most common locations for cellulite formation. In contrast, men have more visceral fat than women. This type of fat accumulates around the internal organs. Besides, men tend to store most of their fat in the abdomen and upper body, areas naturally less prone to cellulite.