Cellulite refers to the dimpled and lumpy flesh on the hips, thighs, waist, abdomen, butt, and buttocks. It can also develop on the breasts and the upper arms. Also known as orange-peel skin and cottage cheese skin because of its texture, this condition is more of an aesthetic concern than a serious health condition. Some also call it hail damage because of the peaks and valleys that appear in severe conditions.
Cellulite is often associated with women. Around 80 percent to 90 percent of women may occasionally encounter cellulite growth. However, males may also have cellulites. One of the likely reasons why men are less likely to have cellulites is the crisscross structure of their fat cells and connective tissues, as opposed to the vertical alignment in women.
However, some people tend to have more cellulite than others because of avoidable and unavoidable factors. It helps to get acquainted with the possible causes to know how to minimize the most severe forms of cellulites. Even with unavoidable risk factors, there are ways to elude the worst-case scenarios.
Hormonal Changes
Experts in the medical field have yet to identify the exact cause of cellulite production. However, there are reasons to believe that hormones play a significant role. Researchers suspect that the production of estrogen in women, in particular, influences cellulite emergence.
According to Scientific American, women in their mid-20s to mid-30s start to notice cellulite in their bodies. This is when estrogen production starts to slow down, resulting in lower blood flow to the connective tissues under the skin. Diminished blood circulation leads to lower oxygen levels, which causes reduced collagen production. It does not help that by the mid-30s, the fat cells become larger and begin to protrude through the collagen.
Cellulitis is almost inevitable among menopausal women. The low estrogen concentration among women in their fifties or late forties causes vascular permeability and diminished vascular tone, which impairs microcirculation in different body parts where cellulites typically appear. Additionally, with old age comes the reduced production of elastin fibers and type I and type II collagen. This is also known to contribute to the formation of cellulites.