What Causes Cellulite?
In ordinary everyday language, cellulite is known as orange peel syndrome, cottage cheese skin, hail damage, or even the mattress phenomenon. To physicians, however, such as Dr. Kotis, it is known as adiposis edematosa, dermopanniculosis deformans, status protrusus cutis, and gynoid lipodystrophy.
Understanding Cellulite
Having cellulite doesn’t mean you are overweight, even thin people can have cellulite. Although if you are overweight, losing weight may help to reduce your problems with cellulite. So the question is, what causes cellulite?
No matter what you call it, cellulite is a condition in which the skin appears to have areas with underlying fat deposits. This gives it a dimpled, lumpy appearance, which is most noticeable on the buttocks and thighs, and usually occurs after puberty. According to dermatologists, cellulite may affect up to 90 percent of women at some point in their lives. Cellulite can affect both sexes, but it is much more common in women than in men, mainly because they are more likely to have particular types of fat and connective tissue.
From a medical perspective, cellulite is nothing more than normal fat beneath the skin. The fat appears bumpy because it pushes against connective tissue, causing the skin above it to pucker, which is why most people want to get rid of it, because of the way it affects one’s appearance.
Among physicians, cellulite is often classified using three grades:
- Grade 1: Cellulite sees no clinical symptoms, but a microscopic examination of cells from the area detects underlying anatomical changes.
- Grade 2: Cellulite causes the skin to show pallor (pastiness), have a lower temperature, and have decreased elasticity, in addition to anatomical changes noted by microscopic examinations.
- Grade 3: Cellulite causes visible roughness of the skin (like an orange peel) along with all grade 2 signs.
When it comes to treating cellulite through diet and exercise, Dr. Kotis and most other experts agree that the most effective exercise routine for cellulite is one that incorporates aerobic exercise and strength training, along with a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and fiber. But sometimes, unfortunately, diet and exercise are not enough to eliminate cellulite symptoms. That is when Dr. Kotis can really help.
If you have cellulite issues, schedule your consultation now with Dr. Kotis. For some patients, a body contouring procedure from Dr. Kotis is required to remove excess fat and to rid your body of unsightly tissue, such as cellulite. For other patients, a carefully selected MedSpa procedure can help to restore smoother and natural-looking skin tone.
You deserve to look your best and cellulite free, so contact the office of Dr. Kotis today to set up your consultation!