Cellulite Know How
Cellulite is that lumpy fat bulges that you can’t seem to lose, no matter how much you exercise or diet. Cellulite is an incredibly common condition. If you have cellulite, you’re in good company. – as many as 95% of women have cellulite.
Well it is proved in stats that as many as 90 out of 100 middle aged people have cellulite. It is more common in aging women, although in some cases, girls as early as fourteen start to develop cellulite.
There are three layers of fats under the skin. The top layer is called the subcutaneous layer, and it is where cellulite occurs. The bottom two fat layers are “reserve” areas, where excess calories are stored as fat cells. Cellulite does not occur in these layers. In obese people, however, these two bottom layers push out the top cellulite layer, making it more noticeable.
Septate connective tissue in the skin is the responsible one for the accumulation of cellulite. This septae forms a network of compartments, in which fat cells are located. This fibrous tissue’s functions are to keep the fat cells tightly packed, provide structural support for the skin, and to insulate the body.
In cellulite, the subcutaneous fat cells are pushed upwards, and the septae are pushed downwards. As a result, the fat cells are squeezed into small bulges that translate into the lumps and “orange peel” look of the skin. Because of aging, a woman’s skin begins to become thinner, and her septae become more fibrous.
This results in the worsening of cellulite’s appearance. As mentioned above, in obese people, the trapped subcutaneous fat is pushed outwards by the underlying layers of fat, thus also worsening the cellulite condition.
Men, unlike women, have different fibrous septae structure. This is the reason that even obese men often do not have cellulite. Women also have less collagen in their skin, thus making it easier to see cellulite. Furthermore, women also have a higher percentage of body fat, especially in the “problem” areas of thighs and hips. Men, however, are not immune – indeed, some do have cellulite.
