Contrary to what is commonly believed about it, cellulite isn’t actually caused by fat and is completely harmless. The problem is that it causes body confidence issues in those who are affected by it, and considering that it will affect 90% of women at some point in their lives (generally after they reach 25) compared to just 10% of men, it can cause many women to feel uncomfortable in their own bodies.
Beneath the skin, completely regardless of age, gender, weight and even levels of fitness, there are a number of fat cells which are used to store energy. Naturally, women have more fat cells in these areas than men, and over time they grow in size. This growth can be a result of a number of contributing factors, such as hormonal problems, diet and lifestyle choices.
These fat cells are stored inside compartments that are built up of fibrous cords, known as septae, that connect the skin and the underlying muscle tissue. When the fat cells are small (generally at earlier stages of life) they will fit into these compartments without any issues, but as we age and the fat cells grow in size the compartments begin to get crowded. The connective tissues then start to pull down on the skin as the growing fat cells try to push upwards, causing an uneven and dimpled finish to the surface of the skin. Whilst having cellulite is not any form of medical problem (and it certainly doesn’t mean you’re unhealthy or poses any health risks), it does tend to cause issues with how people see themselves which is mostly down to the high standards of beauty that are present in society nowadays.
What are the different grades of cellulite?
As more and more people have turned to healthcare providers and professionals in search of a way to minimise the appearance of cellulite on their skin, a number of different grading and classification systems started to be used. The system that we use has four different grades for classification, which are;
- Grade 0 – There is no visible cellulite, but there are signs of early changes beginning
- Grade 1 – There is no visible cellulite when the skin is it rest, but it starts to become visible when the skin is compressed or muscles are retracted
- Grade 2 – There is cellulite visible when the skin is at rest
- Grade 3 – There is a more severe amount of cellulite visible when the skin is at rest
By discovering the grade of cellulite that is causing problems, it allows for the correct method of treatment to be decided on.
What actually causes cellulite?
Now this one is a tricky one to answer, as the cause could be down to a number of different contributing factors. Whilst the appearance of cellulite does seem to get worse with weight gain, it affects people who are thin as well and the reason for this is that while fat does tend to make cellulite worse, it isn’t actually the primary cause.
Firstly, being a woman actually makes you more likely (by default) to be affected by cellulite and this is all thanks to your genes and the structure of the skin. As we previously touched on, the compartments that are made up of septae connecting the skin and underlying tissues hold the fat cells, but the way these are made up varies between men and women. In men (for the most part), these are arranged in a criss-cross or diagonal patten that is continuous. In women, the septae tend to be vertical and run perpendicular to the skin, causing it to be tethered to the tissues at set points which create these compartments. Another factor that reduces this appearance in men is that males have a thicker layer of skin than women which helps to aid the appearance of cellulite should it be present.
Another cause is something else that differs on a gender basis which is hormones. Estrogen, in addition to everything else that it does, plays a role in regulating body fat. It causes fat cells to build up in areas like the breasts, buttocks and thighs, which conveniently is where cellulite tends to be most common. The problem with this is that when the body has higher levels of estrogen, such as during pregnancy or breastfeeding, it can make you more likely to be affected by cellulite. But, estrogen doesn’t just have an effect on the bodies fat stores and it aids in maintaining levels of fat too. During the menopause, when the estrogen levels naturally decline, it becomes much easier for women to gain weight which can make the appearance of cellulite worse. Testosterone on the other hand has the complete opposite affect and actually helps the body to burn fat. While the figure stands at approximately 10% of men who are affected by cellulite, the vast majority of this number are made up of men who have abnormal levels of testosterone and/or estrogen due to underlying medical conditions which causes cellulite to occur.
Another possible cause is that it is believed that cellulite is hereditary, and a major risk factor of cellulite is having family members who have it already. A number of studies have taken place which have identified certain genes that seem to play a role in how susceptible you are to being affected by cellulite. These include genes that deal with the regulation of blood flow, those which influence inflammation and even estrogen receptors, which are all known as genes that affect the development of cellulite.
Realistically, it’s a combination of all of the above that cause cellulite to appear on the skin. The relationship between your skin and the underlying tissues, the amount of fat cells beneath the skin, your gender, the balance of hormones, age and even genes all play their own individual roles in how cellulite affects the skin, and while these can be exacerbated by other factors, its pretty much just luck of the draw as to whether it will affect you or not.