Cellulite is a common dermatologic condition that occurs in about 80% to 90% of women. Also referred to as orange-peel skin or cottage cheese skin, cellulite forms lumps and dimples on the thighs, abdomen, buttocks, and hips. While it is not a serious medical condition, it is deemed unsightly and can have a negative impact on a person’s body image and self-esteem.
What are the grades of cellulite?
Cellulite’s severity and visibility vary. There are four grades, ranging from 0 to 3.
- Grade 0:There is no visible cellulite.
- Grade 1:Mild skin dimpling appears when you sit down, but your skin is smooth when you stand up.
- Grade 2:Your skin has moderate dimples when you stand up or when you sit down.
- Grade 3:Your skin has visible dimpling when you stand up or sit down. You may also have raised and depressed areas in the skin.
What causes cellulite?
The exact cause of cellulite is unknown, but it is said to involve fat accumulation underneath the skin and its interaction with the connective tissues. As fat tissue increases and builds up, it can push up against the skin and create uneven skin dimples.
Factors that can contribute to cellulite formation include:
- Gender – skin dimpling is more common in women as they tend to store and accumulate more fat, have thinner skin than men’s, and have underlying vertical structures. These can cause the fat layer to protrude, leading to uneven skin texture.
- Age – aging increases your risk of having cellulite. Aging causes the breakdown of collagen and elastin, resulting in thinner and less elastic skin.
- Genetics – cellulite tends to run in families; you are more likely to have skin dimpling if your mother or grandmother had it. Certain genes are also required for the formation of cellulite.
- Hormones – changes in hormone levels can make skin dimpling more visible. Hormonal fluctuations happen during pregnancy, menopause, and after hitting puberty.
- Weight gain – excess fat from weight gain makes skin dimpling more noticeable, but fit or thin people can still develop cellulite.
- Poor diet – eating lots of unhealthy or processed food increases your risk of having excess fat and cellulite.
- Certain lifestyle factors – a sedentary lifestyle increases your risk of having cellulite. Smoking can also have the same effect, as it damages collagen and elastin, and causes premature skin sagging and wrinkling.
How can we help?
If cellulite bothers you and you want to improve its appearance, we at Sanctuary by Cutis can help. We provide non-invasive cellulite reduction procedures that can improve the appearance of skin dimpling without surgery. You can also combine these treatments with non-invasive fat reduction, particularly if you have stubborn fat bulges you want to treat.
Potential treatments are as follows: