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What is cellulite? |
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Colloquially referred to as "orange peel" or "cottage cheese" skin, cellulite is fat that has accumulated in small subcutaneous (just-below-the-skin) chambers, causing the surface of the skin to look dimpled. It usually occurs around the hips, thighs and buttocks, but may also appear under the upper arms. |
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What causes cellulite to form?Your skin tissue contains a fibrous protein called collagen, which gives skin its structure and strength. Collagen forms a honeycomb-like series of fat-storing compartments—called fibrous septae—within the skin. If the compartments become too full, the excess fat breaks through the septae and then bulges against your skin’s surface, creating a rippling, lumpy look. Fibrous septae also harden and contract with age, a process that causes the fat within them to push out even more.
Who gets cellulite—and why?Cellulite is more rare in men, partly because their outer layer of skin (the dermis) tends to be thicker and thus more able to resist any push from below of excess fat. In women, however, cellulite is quite common, affecting an estimated 85 percent before the age of 40.
Although scientists know how cellulite is formed, they don’t know why. In other words—what exactly triggers its formation? Because cellulite occurs primarily in women, hormonal factors are likely involved. Some research suggests that yo-yo dieting—losing and regaining weight repeatedly—may contribute to the condition. Not getting enough fluids may also be a factor. But genetics probably play the biggest role in how early the dimpling begins to appear and how extensive it becomes.
Unfortunately, neither being thin nor being physically active will protect you from developing cellulite. Both these factors, however, can help make cellulite’s appearance less pronounced. |
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Find a Cellulite Reduction Specialist
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New York expert Dr. Lori Brightman discusses cellulite
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Ask The Doctor
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