Cellulite is a very common skin condition that causes dimpled, lumpy looking skin, typically on the thighs, hips, and buttocks. Up to 90% of women will develop cellulite at some point in their lives. While cellulite is not harmful, many women seek ways to reduce its appearance for cosmetic reasons. But what actually causes cellulite in the first place? Let’s take a closer look.
What is cellulite?
Cellulite occurs when fat deposits push up against the connective tissue under the skin. This causes the skin to pucker and take on a dimpled appearance. It is most noticeable on the hips, thighs, and buttocks. Some contributing factors include:
Hormones
Hormones like estrogen, insulin, thyroid hormone, and noradrenaline can affect the structure and elasticity of connective tissue in women. Hormonal changes during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause can make cellulite more noticeable. Estrogen in particular can increase the storage of fat cells in women’s thighs and buttocks.
Genetics
If your mother or grandmother had cellulite, you have a higher chance of developing it too. Genetics may predispose you to particular patterns of fat storage that can lead to cellulite.
Diet
A diet high in fat, carbohydrates, sodium, and low in fiber can worsen the appearance of cellulite. Toxins from unhealthy foods can damage connective tissue, while excess fat and salt may cause fluid retention and bloating.
Lifestyle
A sedentary lifestyle with little physical activity can increase fat storage and make cellulite more noticeable. Weakened muscle tone beneath the skin also worsens the dimpled look. Smoking can damage connective tissue and impair circulation, leading to more cellulite.
Thin skin
Thin skin shows the fat beneath more visibly. Aging leads to loss of elasticity in the skin, making cellulite more obvious in older women.
Tight clothing
Undergarments with tight elastic across the thighs, like shapewear or underwear with tight bands, can restrict blood flow and make cellulite more noticeable.
What causes fat cells to push up against the skin?
There are a few structural factors that can cause the characteristic bumpy look of cellulite:
Septae
Fibrous bands of connective tissue called septae run through the fat layers under the skin. They help compartmentalize fat cells into pockets. When fat cells gain or lose volume, these pockets can protrude and retract. This creates an uneven, dimpled surface.
Weak collagen
Collagen fibers reinforce the skin’s connective tissue. Weak collagen means the connective tissue is less able to keep the fat layers smooth. This allows fat to push up more easily.
Poor microcirculation
Reduced blood flow can impair drainage of fluid and toxins from fat cells. This can lead to swelling and lumpiness. Weak blood vessels may also leak blood components like red blood cells into the tissue. This causes inflammation that damages collagen.
Trapped fluid
Lymphatic vessels drain excess fluid from tissues. Sluggish lymphatic drainage causes fluid to accumulate, leading to edema and swelling that accentuates bumps and dimples.
Why do women tend to develop more cellulite than men?
Several key differences between male and female biology contribute to women’s increased likelihood of developing cellulite:
Fat storage
Women tend to store more fat just beneath the skin than men do. Men more often store it deep around internal organs. Subcutaneous fat shows through the skin more obviously as cellulite. Estrogen promotes subcutaneous fat storage in areas like the thighs and hips.
Connective tissue
Men have thicker bands of collagen fiber connecting their skin to underlying tissue. Women’s skin is more directly connected to fat layers by looser collagen. This allows fat to be pushed up more visibly.
Circulatory differences
Women tend to have poorer circulation in the lower body than men. This impairs fluid drainage, leading to swelling and lumpiness from cellulite.
Pregnancy
Pregnancy hormones such as progesterone and estrogen promote fat storage. After pregnancy, the abdominal connective tissue may be weaker. This can leave residual cellulite.
| Factor | Females | Males |
|---|---|---|
| Fat storage patterns | More subcutaneous fat | More deep fat around organs |
| Connective tissue structure | Looser connections between skin and fat | Tighter connections between skin and fat |
| Leg circulation | Poorer circulation in legs | Better leg circulation |
| Hormonal influences | Estrogen promotes subcutaneous thigh/buttock fat storage | Testosterone does not have this effect |
At what age does cellulite typically appear?
Cellulite often first appears during adolescence as girls go through puberty. Some key timeline points:
– Age 10-12 – As estrogen levels rise during the first stages of puberty, girls may start to notice a dimpled or cottage cheese appearance around the thighs, buttocks, and hips.
– Teen years – Around 60% of teenage girls have some degree of visible cellulite. Weight gain during adolescence can worsen its appearance.
– Early 20s – By their early 20s, over 80% of women have some cellulite. Lifestyle factors like birth control pills, yo-yo dieting, smoking, and inactivity can increase cellulite.
– 30s & 40s – Cellulite often becomes more noticeable during this age range. Loss of skin elasticity and muscle tone with aging makes the bumpy fat more obvious.
– After pregnancy – Hormonal shifts and abdominal tissue changes after pregnancy often increase the visibility of cellulite.
So while cellulite can occasionally affect women at a very young age, it tends to appear during adolescence and progressively worsen through adulthood. The key factor is female hormonal changes.
Which parts of the body show cellulite?
Cellulite occurs predominantly on the hips, thighs, and buttocks of women. It can also appear on the lower abdomen. Some reasons why:
Buttocks
The buttocks contain a high concentration of fat cells compared to other areas. This predisposes them to protrusions and dimples. The many criss-crossing fibrous bands in the butt can create compartments that bulge out.
Thighs
Female hormones promote fat storage on the outer thighs. Weakened collagen from cellulite and aging causes loss of tone that makes bumps from fat more visible. The front and inner thighs are often spared due to better circulation.
Hips
The hips have a similar fat distribution and fibrous band pattern as the buttocks. Hip widening during puberty predisposes this area to cellulite. The overlying skin is relatively thin and may show lumps more readily.
Lower abdomen
While less common here, the lower belly can exhibit a dimpled or orange-peel look. Factors are loose skin after pregnancy and hormonal influences on fat storage.
Upper body
Cellulite on the arms, chest, shoulders and back is very uncommon in women. These areas have better circulation and tend to store less superficial fat overall. Men can sometimes develop cellulite on the upper body though.
So in summary, women’s bottom half shows cellulite the most due to fat patterns encouraged by female hormones. The top half from the waist up is usually spared.
What stages and grades are used to classify cellulite severity?
Doctors often categorize cellulite into stages and grades to evaluate its extent:
Stages
Stage 0 – No visible cellulite while standing or lying down
Stage 1 – Cellulite only visible when pinching the skin
Stage 2 – Cellulite visible when standing, but not lying down
Stage 3 – Cellulite obvious when standing and lying down
Higher stages indicate more severe cellulite that is visible in multiple body positions.
Grades
The Nurnberger-Muller scale grades based on severity of skin dimpling:
Grade 0 – No dimples while pinching or contracting muscles
Grade 1 – Dimples are visible only when pinching the skin
Grade 2 – Dimples visible when standing and contracting leg muscles
Grade 3 – Dimples obvious when standing normally
Higher grades reflect deeper, more defined dimpling in the skin surface. Both staging and grading help track improvement with cellulite treatments.
What natural or at-home treatments improve the appearance of cellulite?
While cellulite can be extremely difficult to eliminate fully, there are natural ways to potentially reduce its appearance:
Diet
Eating a healthy diet with antioxidant rich foods may help boost collagen production and support connective tissue. Avoid excess salt, sugar, and alcohol which can worsen fluid retention. Stay hydrated to aid lymphatic drainage.
Exercise
Weight training lifts and tones the butt and thighs. Cardio exercise helps burn subcutaneous fat cells. Yoga and pilates build muscle strength beneath the skin.
Massage
Massage and self-massage improves circulation and lymphatic drainage. This can smooth bumps and reduce swelling. Focus on problem areas like the thighs and hips.
Skin brushing
Using a stiff natural bristle brush to gently brush the skin before showering can boost circulation and lymphatic flow. Start at the feet and brush upwards.
Skin firming creams
Look for creams containing caffeine or retinol. Caffeine may help constrict blood vessels and tighten skin while retinol promotes collagen growth. Niacinamide and peptides are also helpful ingredients. Apply twice daily.
Weight loss
Losing excess fat reduces the prominence of dimples. However, cellulite often remains even with significant fat loss if the underlying connective tissue damage is severe. Milder cellulite may improve more with weight loss.
What medical procedures are available for treating cellulite?
Several medical treatments offered in clinics claim to reduce the appearance of cellulite. Some options include:
| Procedure | How it Works |
|---|---|
| Laser treatment | Use laser energy to stimulate collagen production and thicken skin over dimples |
| Radiofrequency | Apply radio wave energy to boost collagen and contract fibrous bands |
| Mesotherapy | Inject vitamins, drugs, enzymes to dissolve fat and improve circulation |
| Carboxytherapy | Inject carbon dioxide under the skin to improve blood flow and fat drainage |
| Massaging devices | Rollers and handheld devices to massage and stretch tissue manually |
These can provide mild improvement but results are often temporary. Multiple treatments are required for the best outcome. Uncertified practitioners may also cause side effects like infection or contour irregularities. Consult a board-certified dermatologist or plastic surgeon.
What surgical procedures are available for cellulite treatment?
There are a few surgical options that may reduce the appearance of severe, resistant cellulite:
Subcision
The fibrous bands under the skin are cut to release trapped fat pockets and smooth the skin. Results last 1-2 years typically. Bruising is common.
Laser or radiofrequency assisted subcision
These minimally invasive tools are used to cut the fibrous bands after being inserted through tiny incisions. This enhances the results of regular subcision.
Cellulaze
This is a type of laser assisted subcision. It also targets fat by liquefying the deposits via a fine laser probe inserted under the skin.
Cellfina
Using a device inserted below the skin, Cellfina treats cellulite by cutting the fibrous bands vertically and horizontally to release tight pulling. Results can last about 3 years.
These methods are expensive and carry risks like infection, contour irregularities, and recurrence. Compression garments are required post-surgery to help reduce swelling and enhance results. Multiple treatments are often needed.
Conclusion
Cellulite is an extremely common skin condition in women caused by the interaction between fat cells and connective tissue under the skin. Hormones, genetics, diet, lifestyle and thinning skin are contributing factors. It typically arises during adolescence and worsens with age. The thighs, hips and buttocks show cellulite most due to distribution of fat encouraged by female sex hormones. Natural treatments like diet, exercise and massage can help reduce its appearance, but medical procedures like laser or radiofrequency and surgical options may offer longer lasting improvement in severe cases. While cellulite can be managed to some degree, it may never fully disappear. Self-acceptance combined with lifestyle changes provides the healthiest long-term approach.