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What is cellulite?
Speaking scientific language, cellulite is structure changes in subcutaneous fat layer that lead to microcirculation and lymphatic outflow disturbances. It can be characterized as congestion phenomena in adipose tissue that lead to its dystrophy. Medics still prefer not to use the term “cellulite” and call this condition “gynoid lipodystrophy.”
As cellulite is a female secondary sexual character to some extent it is impossible to avoid it completely.
- Cellulite is not only cosmetic problem but a symptom of ill health. It is a “dead zone” where tissues do not receive necessary substances and metabolic products are not taken out. This leads to intoxication of adipose tissue and formation of stable cicatrical changes;
- Cellulite can and has to be treated for it will help to avoid further serious health problems.
The following periods of cellulite risk can be singled out:
- during puberty;
- during administration of oral contraceptives;
- during pregnancy;
- during the period before menopause.
Causes of cellulite beginning
Scientists and doctors still argue about causes of cellulite beginning. The following factors can be formulated with sufficient degree of probability among many ones that directly or indirectly cause blood circulation and lipid exchange disturbances:
1. Hormone disbalance, first of all ovarian dysfunction, thyroid gland diseases and other hormone pathologies.
2. External factors like violation of proper eating pattern, hypodynamia.
3. Acute and chronic stress situations.
4. Hereditary and constitutional factors.
Whatever is the leading cause in the basis of the process, the underlying cause of cellulite is always microcirculation disturbance. Restoration of locally disturbed microcirculation is the main task in cellulite treatment. It means that your adipose tissue will stop being a “dead zone” and will actively participate in metabolic process; therefore decrease of fat content will be possible. This task is very difficult and success will depend on many conditions.
How cellulite changes adipose tissue?
What happens with adipose tissue in the case of cellulite?
1. The volume of adipocytes (fat cells) increases.
2. Edemata appears.
3. Connective tissue fibers, collagen, and elastin lose elasticity and separate fat cells causing cells “immuring” effect.
4. Cell cluster appear that form those unaesthetic lumps that remind grapes.
5. Metabolism products and fats are accumulated.
6. Nervous endings are pinched so skin sensitivity and vascular tonus are decreased.
7. Blood and lymph circulation are impeded.
Cellulite:
- affects all components of adipose tissue;
- is spreading in problem areas;
- skin looks like “orange peel” or “mattress”;
- connective tissue loses elasticity;
- circulation systems are pinched;
- adipose tissue volume increase is caused by liquid retention and increase of fat cells number;
Obesity:
- affects only fat cells (adipocytes);
- can be local or general;
- skin is smooth;
- connective tissue remains elastic;
- circulation systems work normally;
- adipose tissue volume increase is caused by increased size of fat cells because fat vacuole occupies the greater part of an adipocyte.
Cellulite or obesity treatment should not be conducted separately but in combination because in both cases the determining factor is growth of fat cells which is total in case of obesity and local in case of cellulite.
To sum up, we have to treat obesity when excess body weight is present and to treat cellulite at first insignificant symptoms of this disease even if body weight is below normal.
*Famous orange peel, mattress, grapes – all these are used to describe this dubious decoration. Cosmetologists also use such terms as “firm” and “soft” cellulite.
Cellulite form is defined by skin and fatty tissue consistence.
Cellulite is classified into firm, soft, edematous and mixed.
Firm cellulite is observed among young women who lead active way of life (a type of strong Russian woman who can “stop a galloping horse”). Cellulite manifestation does not change depending on body posture (upright or lying). This type of cellulite is often accompanied by stretch marks and is most often encountered among adolescents.
Soft cellulite is observed among non-active women. It is accompanied by muscle flabbiness and is encountered among women who lost weight abruptly. Skin softness is evident, skin shakes with movements and changes depending on body posture. It is often accompanied by vascular stars (telangiectasia) and varicosity.
Edematous cellulite is pronounced as increase of lower extremities volume (not only thighs but also shanks and feet). If the skin is pressed with finger the mark that witnesses the edema remains for some time. The skin is transparent and thin. Patients often complain about feeling of heaviness and pain in legs. This is the most serious but rare type of cellulite.
Mixed cellulite is encountered most frequently and is characterized by different types of skin consistence on different body parts of the patient.
Each type of cellulites can pass four stages during its progress.
Cellulite stages
First stage: precellulite.
Tissue processes. Everything starts from slowing down of blood flow in capillaries, increase of penetrability of capillary walls, disturbances of venous flow and liquid circulation in lymphatic system.
There are no visible symptoms on this stage. The only hint on early cellulite is longer than usual healing of scratches and bruises, appearance of bruises from slightest blows, slight edemas.
Second stage: initial.
Tissue processes. Beginning of edema. Lymphatic vessels are pinched, toxins are accumulating, oxygen supply decreases.
Visible symptoms: Skin and fatty tissue are warm to touch. Changes can be seen only by pinching the skin or at muscular effort as “orange peel” effect. Some paleness, skin temperature and elasticity decrease is observed in affected areas.
Third stage: micronodular.
Tissue processes. Fat cells are matted together in grapes (cellulite) and are surrounded by cicatrical tissue. Elastic partitions of fatty tissue become rough bands that are similar to scars. Edemata and microcirculation disturbances are progressing.
Visible symptoms. Obvious “orange peel” effect without special tests, in both upright and lying positions. Skin has micronodular appearance. Multiple minute and medium nodes can be palpated. Noticeable tissue edema. Skin paleness and temperature decrease, capillary stars, pain at deep pressure.
If you can see noticeable bumps and dimples on your skin then this is at least third stage. During this stage women begin to hate their bodies and try to look at themselves in mirrors as seldom as possible in order not to see these disgusting bumpy grapes. Cellulite on this stage can be considered a disease, it is often accompanied by blood supply disturbance, edemata, varicose veins.
Fourth stage: macronodular.
Tissue processes. Lymph congestion, edema, venous outflow disturbance. Oxygen shortage promotes further cicatrices and edemata (vicious circle).
Visible symptoms. Fourth stage is final and differs from the third one by more pronounced changes: obvious painful nodes matted together with skin. Big nodes can be easily palpated. Pronounced tissue edema, pain on palpation of affected area, local change of tissues temperature.
It can be difficult to visually distinguish third stage from the fourth one but in any case this is unhealthy processes that require treatment, not to say about unaesthetic appearance of adipose tissue. Women have said good-bye to mini-skirts and shorts long ago and are ashamed to demonstrate their legs. Luckily fourth stage is encountered quite rarely.
It should be noticed that you can discover various stages of cellulite on examination of problem areas. For example there can be third stage of cellulite on thighs and second on the belly.
Cellulite treatment requires different approaches depending on its manifestations. |
