It’s quite amazing that it was believed to symbolize both beauty and wealth; before, people neither wondered about it, far less trying to find what causes cellulite. Early paintings depicting female figures (more rounded and broader than the toned and shapely structures perceived as the modern ideal) – nudes as well – provide some witness.
That cellulite is now considered obnoxious (aesthetically; skin dimpling often grow unsightly and too fast) by more than 85% of women (globally; being 20+ years is an invitation to Cellulite) is because the fashion and trends have changed.
A prelude to the reasons
We all have some idea (or the other) about what cellulite is, but quite unclear on what causes cellulite. From dimpled/puckered skin to cottage cheese skin, this normal yet undesired physiologic state bears multiple definitions.
However, cellulite is not fat; it’s found under the layers of fat. These specific layers are situated under the dermis and are made up of fat-filled cells (adipose cells) clumped together, the nerves and the large blood vessels.
The longitudinal connective tissue fibers (fascia) isolate and channel the fat deeper to form layers and expand while themselves staying fixed; this creates undulations in the skin pattern, manifested as puckered appearances on the skin. That men do not is because of the connective tissues’ grid-pattern. Such skin structures are gender-typical.
Post-adolescent women often start getting it in the posterior and lateral thighs and buttocks; the skin structure now resembles an orange skin’s. This is an age that maximizes adipose retention (pregnancy and lactation are two processes coded genetically; both require adequate calorific availability. The body is programmed that way) deposits them locally causing edemas to develop in the subcutaneous tissues.
About adipose tissue:
Adipose tissue is an aggregation of fat cells, comprising single droplets of triacylglycerol, which makes for 95% of its volume. The cell nucleus is thus pushed to a side, against a weakened cytoplasm. Each fat cell remains surrounded by reticular fibers and the spaces between the cells accommodate the capillaries and nerve supplies. Adipose tissue stays further subdivided by the septa into small lobules and remain distributed subcutaneously.
Cellulite development: The predisposing factors
There are many that contribute to; apart from the gender, there is heredity, race (Caucasians for example; they develop cellulite more than Asians and African-American women), raised levels of subcutaneous fat (because of an excess of adipose tissues; makes cellulite more visible) and age (visibility of cellulite also depends on the thickness of epidermis that thins with the years). All but the gender issue can be solved (though difficult), making it possible to hide (or control) cellulite formation but not stop it entirely.
Factors influencing cellulite
Conflicting hormonal levels (specifically the folliculine, the estrogens and the androgens) can be considered the biggest culprit towards the question what causes cellulite. It triggers cellulite formation the most. Estrogens stimulate lipo-genesis unlike testosterone and also inhibit lipolysis, causing adipocyte hypertrophy (hypertrophy is an abnormal enlargement of a body part).
This explains why women at puberty gain cellulite and also the pregnant and nursing women. Artificial causes may include estrogen therapies (HRT) and birth control measures. Hormonal imbalances during menstruation worsen the situations.
The observations have been treated with countermeasures (e.g. regulating hormone levels with medications) and have been found to minimize the visible cellulite in volume and intensity, but the associated adverse effect of de-feminizing resulting as physio-anatomical sequelae is risking it too much.
Stress is another factor that adds to the formation of cellulite. Prolonged stress increases adrenaline (a catecholamine i.e. group of chemicals including epinephrine and norepinephrine, produced and secreted by the medulla of the adrenal gland) as a response to stress.
Stress, as we know it, depletes the energy levels of the body and also bars absorption of nutrients; this affects the immune system negatively, causing toxins levels to elevate, which interfere with the lymphatic drainage, starting the whole cellulite build-up process.
Or, blame it upon an inactive lifestyle. Little or no movement takes its tolls upon blood circulation, on the vascular as well as on the lymphatic systems. The veins and lymphatic ducts depend upon muscle contractions for a flawless functioning; without adequate movement, the stagnant fluids exert extra pressure and stretch the vessels, resulting in fluid retention, leakage and an overall poor circulation.
As a side effect, a weight gain is often observed, which worsens the cellulite. And if the person is a smoker, it speeds up free radical formations by several times; these damage the veins and capillaries all the more. , being a vasoconstrictor (an agent that narrows the opening of a blood vessel) adds to this ill effect by reducing microcirculation.
The cellulite development process:
Cellulite develops in the hypodermis (the subcutaneous fat layer; most superficial of all three), structurally unique due to organized fat lobes amidst connective tissue strands. Underneath the hypodermis are the two reserved fat layers that remain distributed in loose networks. The stored fat amount and its metabolism depend on the genes.
Once the dermal microvascular system deteriorates (because of fat cells grown larger and denser and inhibiting the venous returns), it leads to an excess of humor retention (due to an inadequate lymphatic drainage) in the skin layers, finally giving rise to Edematous-fibrosclerotic panniculopathy. This is cellulite. So, for a quick recap on what causes cellulite, the following algorithm might help:
1. Adipose cells clusters are formed by binding with collagen fibers.
2. Clusters impede further the blood flow. As the congestion increases, the body fluids start leaking out and the sugar starts forming complex chains that trigger more fluid out.
3. Connective tissue strands get stiff and form roots, changing the overall circulation process. The fat cells proliferate into fatty lobules causing the fibrous tissue in between contract.
4. The fatty lobules invade the layers of dermis creating the dimpling.
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