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What is this cellulite? What is it due to and how does one get rid of it?

'Cellulite' or Gynoid Lipodystrophy, is a skin condition known by various other synonyms such as 'orange peel syndrome' and  'cottage cheese skin'. It is a condition that affects girls, women and some men wherein the skin overlying the thighs, abdomen and buttocks becomes dimpled, giving it a lumpy and somewhat unsightly appearance.

Incidence

A whopping 80-90% of women are said to suffer from this condition. The condition can be seen in women depicted in 16^th century Baroque painter Ruben's works of art. In fact, during those days, it was considered a sign of affluence and beauty. But today's 'Generation X' considers it aesthetically unacceptable. It generally occurs after puberty and childbirth in women.

The fair sex can take heart, because cellulite spares no one. Not even the bold and the beautiful, the supermodels and the prettiest women; all of them are at their wits end trying to get rid of their cellulite. Perhaps you have to thank your ancestors for it, as cellulite can be genetically inherited.

When the woman is affected, can the man be far behind? Not so - for some men, deficient in the male hormones, also suffer from cellulite. They include those who are castrated, or those suffering from a condition known as 'hypogonadism' (due to lack of male hormone called testosterone) or those being treated with the female hormone, estrogen, for prostatic cancer.

Wages of Womanhood

It is believed that the female hormone, estrogen, has a major role to play in initiating as well as worsening cellulite. Other hormones like insulin, catecholamines and prolactin can contribute to its formation

Cellulite is formed when fibrous bands develop connecting the skin to the muscles below. Derangement in the architecture of connective tissue, lack of a good blood circulation and abnormal water metabolism leads to fat, fluid and toxins getting entrapped between these bands of fibrous tissue. These bands then become tight and hard, compressing the fat and giving rise to the 'dimpling effect'.

Yes, cellulite can occur in thin women too. When obese women lose weight, cellulite will not disappear, although the dimples may reduce in depth.

With the passing of years, as the skin gets thinner, the cellulite becomes more obvious.

It could also be the price we pay for today's lifestyle-smoking, alcohol consumption, lack of exercise, prolonged standing or sitting, tight clothes, high heels, stress, excess starch and fats with too little fibre in the food have all been implicated in causing cellulite.

Tell -tale Signs

If you were to pinch the area of skin over the lower abdomen or thighs, and the skin is dimply and tender, or the area appears paler or feels colder than other areas in comparison then it is very likely that you have cellulite.