TREATING AND UNDERSTANDING CELLULITE
Get a handle on cellulite with this comprehensive guide to the pesky, common condition.
The time is nigh to unpack swimsuits and shorts—and thus, to confront cellulite, the alltoo-visible skin surface rippling that occurs, to some degree, in 9 out of 10 women. Although cellulite treatment research is ongoing, there’s still no magic cure that can truly eliminate this complex problem. However, it is helpful for both clients and professionals to understand exactly how and why cellulite occurs, and what you can do about it. We turned to doctors, nurses and industry experts to make sure we could give you the latest science about the causes of, and best ways to address, “orange-peel syndrome.”
Why Mainly Women?
Cellulite forms when the fat in our tissue pushes or “herniates” through the inner layers of the skin. The migration of this fat results in numerous “pockets,” held in place by thick, fibrous bands, which create lumps that are visible on the surface. Nature predisposes females to cellulite for three main reasons.
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The first is their tissue structure. Although cellulite is unrelated to overall body weight, it does tend to appear in fleshy areas such as the thighs, buttocks, abdomen and upper arms. “In women, these body parts have three layers of fat as opposed to one, so they’re the most susceptible to cellulite formation,” explains Flora Vergnolle, founder of Provence Cosmetics and Bioslimming. In men, the subcutaneous tissue is structured differently, so they’re much less likely to be affected.
The second reason centers around the ability of hormones to influence the rate and quantity of fat production. It’s no coincidence that women first develop cellulite after puberty. “Scientists postulate that the rapid deposition of fat during puberty leads to the herniation of fat through the skin,” notes Jessie Cheung, M.D., a dermatologist based in Willowbrook, Illinois. Moreover, cellulite formation tends to peak around another major hormonal phase for women: menopause.
Team Rejuvee