Get rid of Cellulite

Do you have cellulite? It’s a really common problem for us girls – all those ugly lumps and bumps, pits and bulges. Wouldn’t you  just love to get rid of your cellulite? Do you know what causes cellulite? and is there a way to get rid of cellulite?

So first things first, what is cellulite? Cellulite is the term given to the lumpy fat bulges or fat dimples that are seen (mainly) on woman’s thighs, as well as butts, tummys and sometimes even calves. Cellulite seems to be really difficult to lose, no matter how dedicated your are, how much you workout at the gym or diet. Cellulite affects up to 90% of women with varying severity. The condition is definitely more common in older women, but it’s also seen in many teenage girls.

What causes Cellulite and how can I get rid of it?

Other (less common) names for Cellulite, used in the medical field are dermopanniculosis deformans, gynoid lipodystrophy, adiposis edematosa,  and status protrusus cutis (all a bit of a mouthful!). Cellulite is also known as orange peel syndrome, cottage cheese skin, or hail damage to us mere mortals.

Some of the reasons it for it happening to us girls are as follows:

• Hormonal factors – hormones probably play an important role in the development of cellulite. It is very likely that estrogen, insulin, noradrenaline, thyroid hormones, and prolactin all play a part of the cellulite creation process.
• Genetics – genes play a big part in the likelihood of cellulite development. Genes have a lot to answer for! They may predispose an individual to the characteristics associated with cellulite, such as race, slow metabolism, the distribution of fat under the skin, and circulatory insufficiency.
• Diet – those who eat too much fat, carbohydrate, salt and not enough fiber are likely to have more trouble with cellulite.
• Lifestyle factors – cellulite can be more prevalent in smokers, and those who do not exercise

Cellulite is caused by clumps of fat cells that push up against surrounding fibrous connective tissue. There are three layers of body fat under the skin and it’s the top layer, which is the subcutaneous, where cellulite occurs. The other two layers are where unused calories are stored as fat. Although cellulite doesn’t occur in these two lower layers, if you have excess body fat, the lower layers force the top cellulite layer up making it more noticeable. This is why overweight people can have such obvious, and severe cellulite.

In the layer where cellulite occurs, there is fibrous tissue (septae) that is formed like  net if you like – it has holes and that is what causes the lumps and bumps of cellulite as the fat is pushed through. If  you imagine a jelly sitting on a hair net and looking from underneath to see the lumps and bumps poking through the holes – you’ve got the picture!

Men don’t have this fibrous septae and that is why they don’t have trouble with cellulite. They also don’t have as much fat on their hips and thighs as we girls were designed to have – hence the lack of cellulite on the men! There is also the issue of skin thinning as we get older which can make things all the more noticeable.

Cellulite develops in several stages. First the blood circulation, and/or lymphatic drainage becomes impaired. This leads to waste products and toxins building up in the area because of the lack of lymph flow which would normally carry waste products away and causes hardening of the fibrous tissues in the area also.

Then because circulation is restricted, capillaries and veins become weakened and leak blood into the tissues. The creates more pressure in the area and you may notice tenderness, discoloration or broken veins. You may bruise more easily also, but there is no visible cellulite still at this stage.

Learn How To Get Rid of  Cellulite

After some months, due to the  lymphatic fluid accumulation, the tissues have become swollen and start to become noticeable as they push against the skin causing the beginnings of visible cellulite.

Get rid of Cellulite

Next because of the stagnant lymph fluid, the fibrous tissue becomes thicker and harder and cells that have been deprived of oxygen and nutrients may also become incorporated into the fibers adding to their thickness. As these fibers become thicker they start to trap and squeeze the fat cells causing more problems with circulation in the area. As you can see the problem is compounding with one stage causing more of a problem in the next stage as so on.

Once the pressure becomes bad enough, blood in re routed around the area in an effort to find easier passage. Septae fibers continue to thicken until the fat cells are completely trapped. The body fat trapped in these cells is difficult to get rid of because of the lack of circulation at this point. The fibers and trapped fat cells are what causes the lumps and bumps we see and feel on our thighs.

So, now that you know all about how cellulite happens, it’s time to learn how to get rid of it! Click here to find out how.