In the people, cellulite (lipodystrophy) is a specific change in subcutaneous fat tissue, which manifests itself in the form of bumpy, relief skin in the thighs, abdomen, less often - arms and shoulders. However, medicine has its own concept cellulite. From the doctor’s point of view, these are structural changes in fatty tissue, often inflammatory in nature, leading to a violation of the microcirculation of blood and lymphatic drainage.
In medicine, there is constant debate around cellulite. Some experts suggest that the disease requires close attention to themselves, while the majority boils down to the view that the “orange peel effect” is no more than a cosmetic flaw that does not matter much.
Which of them is right and which is not is not for us to decide. The only truth is that cellulite affects 80% of women (men are not predisposed to it because of the anatomical features of the skin), it does not spare even young girls, causing them complexes and feelings about their appearance.
Cellulitis - causes
The causes of the “orange peel effect” are still not fully understood, but it has been established that cellulite can be inherited. If the mother has a disease, the likelihood that her daughter will inherit it is high.
Weight does not play a significant role - cellulite can appear in a slim model, but in obese women it forms ten times more often. Hence the conclusion that the disease can manifest itself as a result of obesity and metabolic disorders.
Another important factor is a sedentary lifestyle, leading to stagnation of lymph in the tissues and a violation of microcirculation in them, and this is a direct path to cellulite.
Other causes include: smoking, poor nutrition, constipation, the natural process of aging, pregnancy, endocrine disorders, the use of birth control and certain medications, and wearing squeezing clothes.
Cellulitis - Symptoms
A characteristic feature of cellulite is the presence of tubercles and dimples in certain parts of the body, the relief and amount of which increases with age-related changes in the body.
The skin is unusually cold to the touch at the lesion sites, the appearance of large red spots at the slightest exertion is also commonly attributed to the symptoms of the disease.
Cellulitis - diagnosis
If cellulite is not visually detected, that is, the relief changes are very slight, you can conduct a small test at home. It will help to understand whether you are susceptible to the disease or not. Press your finger on any part of the thigh, if with pressure in the nearby tissues tuberous protrusions form, which means that you are at risk. If the skin remains smooth, you can breathe calmly. Although a positive test result does not mean at all that cellulite will develop without fail, the test only shows a predisposition to it.
There are also medical methods for measuring cellulite. The most accurate of these is contact thermography. The method is based on measuring the temperature of the skin. It is known that cellulite leads to a violation of the microcirculation of blood, as a result of this, the temperature of the affected area also changes.
Normally, in a woman, the thermograph's indicators are uniform, that is, the temperature of the dermis is the same everywhere. This is evidence of the absence of stagnation of lymph and blood.
Cellulitis - treatment and prevention
Today, there are many ways to turn back the clock and restore lost skin elasticity. Science does not stand still in this regard. All new techniques are being developed and improved to help get rid of cellulite. These are all kinds of exotic and vacuum massages, lymphatic drainage of the affected areas, the use of anti-cellulite creams, even surgical treatment has been developed.
To reduce the severity of the disease at home, you must follow the following recommendations, which are also suitable for the prevention of cellulite:
- physical activity (for example, light running in the fresh air, swimming);
- proper nutrition (less fat, more fluid and vitamins);
- rejection of bad habits;
- regular visits to the bath or sauna;
- a visit to the massage room (the vacuum anti-cellulite massage has proven itself well);
- body shaping (follow a balanced diet);
- discard squeezing types of clothes.
Naturally, one should not expect a miracle right away, but, following the above recommendations, you will soon notice that the skin condition has noticeably improved, and cellulite has become less pronounced.
