Cellulite is not a disease but still, up to 80 or 90% of women have some sort of cellulite. It is undesirable for women to have, which is why despite not being an actual disease, there are tons of research and treatments developed specifically for cellulite.
What Is Cellulite?
Cellulite is simply fat cells that bunch together under the skin and the septa, or fibrous bands, running perpendicular to the skin’s surface. The bands form mini pockets where the these enlarged fat cells end up bunching together. On the surface of the skin, these small bulges look like dimples and have the texture of a bumpy orange peel. In medical terms, cellulite may be referred to as gynoid lipodystrophy,edematous fibrosclerotic panniculopathy or adiposis edematosa.
Cellulite is not to be mistaken for cellulitis, which is easy to do because of the similar names. But the latter condition is a possibly life-threatening infection affecting the skin or connecting tissues.
The severity of cellulite in the body can also be graded based on their appearance. Grade 1 cellulite is when you still observe smooth skin while you are lying down and standing up. Grade 2 cellulite means you still have smooth skin while lying down but dimpling can be observed when standing up. On the other hand, Grade 3 cellulite means in both positions, standing up and lying down, there is visible dimpling.
How Do You Know If You Have Cellulite?
Given the grades of cellulite, it is not always possible to know you have cellulite only by looking at the appearance of your skin. In fact, up to 90% of women have some cellulite whether they know it or not. Once they finally see dimply skin in their bodies, specifically in the legs, abdomen, hips, buttocks and at the back of the thighs, their cellulite is already at the 3rd grade.
Still, the easiest way to identify them is when these dimples are visible and this is also the stage when it bothers women due to their appearance. But beyond that, the skin also feels thicker and cool, and blood vessels might be broken.
There are also severe cases of cellulite where the affected area becomes more sensitive and prone to bruising more. These cases, when observed, should be reported to the doctor as soon as possible as it may also indicate a more serious disease.
Early diagnosis can also make sure that cellulite is addressed before it becomes too visible. After all, it has been the reason for low self-confidence in many women embarrassed by the dimples in their skin. Diagnostic tests, like ultrasound, may be able to detect cellulite early and also identify the extent and gravity. However, a simple test of pinching and rolling the skin of the affected area is enough to visibly identify cellulite.
Because it is simply fat, cellulite does not lead to any medical issues. In fact, it is a normal condition that affects almost every woman. Fortunately, while the appearance of cellulite will be a cause of concern, there are many treatment options out there that are effective in addressing the problem.
