Cellulite is characterized by an uneven surface on the skin, most commonly appearing on the hips, buttocks, breasts, thighs, and abdomen. It can be unsightly, since it has the texture of an orange peel rather than the smoothness of surrounding skin. Cellulite affects women much more frequently than men, troubling as many as 80 or 90% of all women. There are a number of lifestyle and biological factors that can promote the development of cellulite, and that means there are at least some steps that can be taken to prevent it. 

The lumpy or uneven surface on the skin is actually caused by a process where the skin above some fatty areas is pulled downward toward deeper tissue by connective bands of tissue. Because women have a different distribution of fat, muscle, and connective tissue than men do, they are more susceptible to the development of cellulite. While not harmful in any way to the health of an individual, cellulite can be unattractive, especially when it occurs in areas that are routinely exposed and not covered up.

What exactly is cellulite?

Cellulite occurs as a result of a dysfunction in the body's connective tissue. This tissue is kept healthy through the regular exchange of fluids and other molecules between the tissue and the body's lymphatic and circulatory systems. If the circulation of the lymphatic system becomes obstructed in some way, it can cause fluids to accumulate in the connective tissue. This is often the beginning of the formation of cellulite in the tissue closely associated with the area where the obstruction has occurred.

Once this happens, it can cause an inflammation of the adipose tissue in the skin's dermal layer. When this layer gets thrust up to the surface of the skin, it results in the lumpy or uneven appearance of that layer of skin, and is considered to be cellulite. From the above, it can be seen that the critical factor in the formation of cellulite is the undesirable buildup of fluids in the body's connective tissue. That being the case, it stands to reason that dealing with cellulite will require that this fluid retention be avoided, and eliminated if possible.

Causes Of Cellulite

So now you know that fluid retention is the primary culprit in the accumulation of fluid in certain areas of the body.  But - what exactly is it that causes that kind of fluid retention? There are actually two primary contributors to this unwanted buildup of fluids in the connective tissue, biological factors and lifestyle factors.

Lifestyle factors - Anyone who leads a mostly sedentary lifestyle will generally develop weaker muscles and inconsistent circulation of lymphatic fluid throughout the systems of the body. This sedentary lifestyle causes muscles to become weaker and less effective, so they aren't able to adequately pump fluids through the system, and that causes edema to occur, with cellulite forming eventually. This means that by maintaining a more active lifestyle, you'll have a much better chance of maintaining proper circulation of the lymphatic system. Another thing that can contribute to water retention is consuming an excessive amount of salty foods. Alcohol consumption is something that hinders the successful transfer of fluid in the dermis, and causes swelling around the adipose tissue and collagen. Excessive consumption of alcohol also causes damage to the liver and the kidneys, which contribute to the filtering of toxic compounds from your body. When you become constipated, even more stress is placed on the kidneys and liver because toxins get reabsorbed from the waste that remains within the body. Smoking can cause considerable damage to your lungs, but it also interferes with the oxygenation of your blood. When you have damaged blood vessels, smoking can obstruct proper circulation, and promote the buildup of fluids in the interstitial space between cells. One frequently overlooked factor in the development of cellulite is the clothing that you wear. Anyone who frequently wears tight clothing can significantly interfere with blood circulation because the clothing restricts it unnaturally. That means you should probably avoid wearing such tight clothing as girdles, stockings, garters, and underwear, so they don't obstruct your circulatory system.

Biological factors - Biological factors play an important role in the regulation of your body's systems, because there are many types of hormones whose sole responsibility is to carry out this regulation. During a woman's life, the level of the hormone called estrogen will fluctuate considerably. During the premenstrual period, the body's level of estrogen will typically rise significantly, and the body reacts by retaining more fluid, normally in the area around the thighs and the buttocks. When a woman becomes pregnant, her body will retain as much as 50% more fluid than when she's in a non-pregnant state. Given the fact that this fluid retention occurs during a period of weight gain, it's pretty standard for swelling to occur in the area around the thighs. That makes it very important for a woman to participate in regular physical activity at this time, so as to maintain good circulation and prevent the buildup of fluids in the body. By being more active, you can counteract the effects of increasing estrogen that leads to a buildup of excess fluid. As women reach the menopause stage, typically between the ages of 45 and 50, estrogen levels will normally fall because menstruation is no longer occurring. A woman's metabolism will also slow down at that time, so she will often experience weight gain along with an increase of adipose tissue. By adopting a good, healthy diet and maintaining a regular program of exercise, the effects of falling estrogen levels can be counteracted, and the build-up of fluids can be largely avoided.

Treatment For Cellulite

There are actually quite a few different treatments for cellulite, beginning with changes to your lifestyle, using topicals, and even medical treatments that can be quite effective. The specific treatment you choose may depend on your ability to make a lifestyle change, your budget, and just how committed you are to bringing about some kind of improvement. Here are some of the most commonly used treatments for cellulite:

Lifestyle changes - As mentioned above, you can prevent or at least limit the buildup of fluids in the body by adopting a healthier lifestyle. This would include eliminating smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and reducing your intake of salty foods. Maintaining a healthy diet is one good way to limit the buildup of fluids in your body. Secondly, embarking on a program of regular exercise can maintain much better muscle tone in your body, and make for a more efficient circulatory system. Better circulation decreases the possibility for fluid retention and buildup all around the body.

Cryo T-Shock therapy - One of the newest cellulite treatments in the U.S. is getting rave reviews for its treatment approach to dealing with cellulite. This treatment system attacks cellulite from a number of different angles. First of all, it reduces the presence of fat cells by relieving pressure on the connective tissue. Then it causes an increase of blood and lymphatic flow between connective tissues, and softening up any tissue which has become hardened. T-Shock therapy will improve the appearance of your surface skin while also working to counteract the internal causes of cellulite, restoring healthy tissue internally. After therapy has removed adipose tissue and caused a softening of any hardened tissue, it's much easier for interstitial fluid to pass into the lymph system, where it can be filtered out of the body. That's why during T-Shock therapy, it's really important to stay hydrated, to do moderate exercise, and to do everything possible to promote better blood flow. Taking all these steps will help to prevent the reformation of cellulite in the body.

Medical procedures - One popular approach these days to treating cellulite is cryolipolysis, better known by its brand name of CoolSculpting. This is a non-invasive procedure that freezes fat cells beneath the skin in order to remove cellulite. The fat cells get ruptured and absorbed into the body, after which they are eliminated by natural processes. Ultrasound is another non-invasive procedure that eliminates fat from the thighs and abdomen by using sound waves to target those areas. It generally takes several months for ultrasound treatment to take effect. Effects of this process can be seen in as little as three or four days, while they might last several years. Acoustic wave therapy is another medical procedure that has been developed specifically for the treatment of cellulite. It vibrates connective tissue in those areas of the body where cellulite typically forms. It stimulates the production of more collagen, thereby improving the texture, elasticity, and appearance of your skin.

If you are really interested in removing cellulite from your body, your first step should be to discuss the situation with your family doctor, and considering an approach which is within your budget and which can be accomplished without harming your health. Almost everyone can adopt certain lifestyle changes that will help reduce the presence of cellulite, and if you're really serious about it, you can couple that with some kind of medical treatment.