By Dr. Gianfranco De Angelis
CELLULITE: term of current use used to define a particular dysfunction of the subcutaneous tissue and dermis exchange; in practice, it is the ultimate effect of an altered connective tissue turnover.
For many women it seems that the contraceptive pill and pregnancy are causes of worsening of the phenomenon. In fact, during pregnancy the cellular system is invaded by increased concentrations of estrogen, which promote water retention causing the typical swellings. These hormones reach maximum plasma concentrations a few days before the beginning of the menstrual cycle and in the period preceding ovulation; in both cases, the body generally retains water accentuating the already swollen areas affected by cellulite.
Cellulite is caused by an increase in viscosity of the fundamental substance that forms the connective tissue. With the increase in volume, it becomes similar to a foreign body that dissociates the connective fibers by compressing the nerve endings and the vessels, thereby hindering blood circulation.
Cellulite is a substance composed of fat, water, and waste slag, which stagnates in immovable subcutaneous grainy pockets. This ballast substance behaves like a sponge which can absorb large amounts of water, thus swelling with the formation of protrusions with a wrinkled and flaccid appearance. The skin increases in consistency and loses elasticity; on palpation there is the presence of granulations of varying size and hard consistency; the mobility of the skin on the underlying planes is very reduced, while the characteristic "orange peel" appearance appears. Some nodosities can be painful both spontaneously and on palpation, as a consequence of the compression that they exert on the nervous filaments. In fact, cellulite could be considered a poisoning of the connective tissue. Although our body has a wonderful system for eliminating waste through the lungs, liver, kidneys, intestines and skin, when we abuse it our elimination processes are no longer able to completely get rid of the waste substances of dross. Depending on the sites affected by cellulite, various clinical forms can be distinguished:
The generalized forms mainly affect obese women and are often consequent to an unbalanced diet. They start at puberty (cellulite can occur at any age starting from 14-15 years; often accompanying the appearance of the first menstrual cycle) and become evident in adulthood, especially after the first pregnancy, progressively worsening until menopause.
The widespread regional forms are the most frequent manifestations of cellulite and create major problems of an aesthetic nature: they involve the lower limbs, which appear enlarged, and the gluteal regions, with extension up to the pubic region, causing cutaneous deformations which understandably discourage all women who are affected. Although men are also sometimes affected (abdomen, neck, etc.), cellulite is an essentially feminine problem, for various reasons: women generally have more adipose tissue than men (while in a a normal-weight man, fat represents 11-15% of his weight, in the normal-weight woman this percentage reaches 24% limits). Therefore the possibility of these "clumps" of water, fat and waste are greater in women. Moreover, as has been mentioned, the female hormone estrogen has a great responsibility in the cellulite settlement. To sum up, cellulite forms in the connective tissue for these causes:
1) Slowing down the waste disposal process;
2) Thickening of connective tissue;
3) Stagnation of waste substances.
It occurs in two forms: the soft and flaccid, and the solid and hard. The various forms that it can take later will depend on the "culture medium"
Hard cellulite, more compact, often affects young women or who, despite having led a very active life, remain "firm" for a certain period; other women instead have a structure that favors the onset of soft cellulite: the veins dilate easily, while the muscle tone is scarce.
Solid cellulite generally affects young women in good physical condition, but women of all ages can be subject to it, even those with firm tissues, which we could call "athletic types" (it is very common among dancers ...).
Cellulite usually chooses those areas where circulation is initially bad (the lower limbs when, for work reasons, the woman is forced to remain standing for many hours a day). When attacked by cellulite, the legs become heavy and tired, especially at the end of the day. Even sitting for a long time and often crossing your legs does not favor circulatory flow.
To discover the onset of cellulite there is an infallible and very easy test: to crush and pinch the tissues between the thumb and the forefinger, or between the palms of the hands; if there is cellulite the skin is wrinkled and there is the presence of hard granulations.
Cellulite is insidious and progresses slowly when the body is abused with bad habits, but in some cases it can suddenly arise after a schok, a long illness or a drastic change in life.
Actual cellulite is not inherited, but the tendency to cellulite is, therefore there is no reason to accept thighs and gibbous buttocks only because they are also present in the mother; something can and must be done. The best remedy is to prevent its occurrence, but even those who are affected can recover if the form is not very advanced; however, it is certainly possible to improve appreciably even in cases of greater severity and consistency.
First of all it is necessary to identify possible general disorders (endocrine, dysmetabolic, nervous) and correct them - this is meant by the irreplaceable help of the doctor. We must also fight overweight and obesity, very often present, with a balanced low-calorie diet. Other very important means to promote the reduction and elimination of cellulite are represented by: detoxification diet, oxygenation, exercise, cosmetics, massages and relaxation.
