There are several contributing factors, any (or a combination) of which may lead to the appearance of cellulite. They are:
- Genetic
- Intestinal
- Circulatory
- Lymphatic
- Hormonal
- Lifestyle related
Although the causes may be complex and varied, cellulite is usually primarily due to hormonal and/or lifestyle factors, coupled with lost skin- and muscle-tone due to age, sunlight and constant dieting.
Indeed, oestrogens play a large role in the formation of cellulite by causing fatty deposits in the subcutaneous tissue of the thighs and buttocks, which makes the skin more vascular (4). In cases where oestrogen plays the dominant role, the cellulite looks like an orange peel when one pinches it. The more stubborn kind, aggravated by lifestyle and bad skin- and muscle-tone, looks like hail damage on the roof of a motorcar, or a lumpy old mattress. In other words, the latter is more obvious, with deeper and more pronounced peaks and valleys. The reason why different kinds of cellulite differ in appearance, is that the orange peel cellulite occurs when the connective tissue directly under the dermis (skin) becomes weakened, causing fat cells to hernia (bulge out) in between. The more pronounced 'hail damage' or 'lumpy mattress' cellulite appears when large areas of fat begin to strain under the skin, building up pressure and causing skin distension (5).
There is more to cellulite than meets the eye, since its visibility is not the only symptom you may experience, It also frequently causes:-
- cold feet
- nightly cramps
- general pain and discomfort in the affected areas
- feelings of heaviness and tension in the lower areas
According to clinical investigations conducted in 1989 and 1995, the four stages of cellulite are:
3. Dimpling and depressed striations
4. Palpable nodules and depressed striations
Regardless of the causes and the resultant appearance of cellulite, its treatment and prevention remain the same: a holistic strategy, including specialised supplementation.