The term "cellulite" refers to the unevenness on the skin surface, which are formed usually on the hips, thighs, and sometimes abdominal and other body parts. It is much more common in women than in men. It is assumed that this is due to the peculiarities of the distribution of body fat, as well as the structure of muscles and connective tissue in men and women. Irregularities in the skin caused by cellulite fat deposits, which distort the connective tissue under the skin, and put pressure on her from within. This cosmetic problem should not be confused with the eponymous bacterial infection that affects the skin and subcutaneous tissue.

Generally, cellulite is normal - that is, one of the variants of the norm for a healthy person. Its formation can be affected by heredity, skin thickness, gender, age, and other factors - the reasons for the appearance of cellulite continues to be studied. It is known that cellulite appears in representatives of all existing races. Although he often formed of women and presumably associated with female sex hormones, cellulite is not treatable by hormone therapy.

Despite the fact that cellulite is considered normal and is not harmful to health, the demand for various resources for its treatment has been growing steadily.

Methylxanthines

Methylxanthines - a group of chemicals that includes aminophylline, caffeine and theophylline. These substances are included in many cellulite creams because it is believed that they have the ability to break down fat deposits. However, the concentration of active substances in skin creams is not high enough, so that they can to a large extent to break down fats. Studies have shown a decrease of the thighs after using creams methylxanthine, but they do not significantly reduce cellulite.

Nutritional supplements

On sale is a lot of food additives Food additives - basic classification That supposedly help to cope with cellulite. The most popular active ingredients of these supplements are gingko biloba, sweet clover, flavonoids derived from grape seeds, seaweed extract, evening primrose oil, fish oil Fish oil - so whether it is useful to think? And soya lecithin. It is believed that dietary supplements with these substances stimulate metabolism Improves metabolism and losing weight without dieting Improve circulation of fluids, to protect cells from various damages and digested fats .  Concepts such as "metabolism", "fluid circulation" or "cell damage" can not be easily measured on an objective basis, so to determine the expected results or not, it is very difficult .  Furthermore, since these substances are sold as dietary supplements and not drugs, they do not undergo the same certification as medications .  For this reason, their efficacy and safety have not been subject to strict control by the authorities responsible for health issues .  Moreover, there is no reliable scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of the above substances for the treatment of cellulite .  Conducts research did not confirm the effectiveness of this .  Some nutritional supplements for the treatment of cellulite, may even be dangerous - both by themselves and in combination with some prescription drugs (usually on the packaging of food additives is no information on drug interactions) .

Massage

There are a variety of anti-cellulite massage techniques Anti-cellulite massage - beautiful skin As well as various devices such massage (some of these devices are used only by professionals, other, it is quite compact and relatively inexpensive, designed for home use). One variety of hardware massage cellulite is Endermologie - a technique developed in the late 20th century in France. Sessions such treatment duration of 30-45 minutes and are quite expensive to produce noticeable results usually requires 10-12 sessions. Endermologie provides temporary reduction of cellulite, but this is probably due to the redistribution of body fat, not because of the constant change in its texture. Approximately the same results provide other types of anti-cellulite massage. To save the results, you need to be regularly repeated sessions, or cellulite reappears.

Laser treatment

Various types of laser therapy for the treatment of cellulite are used in conjunction with mechanical action on the subcutaneous fat - usually with massage. It is assumed that the laser relaxes clusters adipose tissue and makes it more effective massage. Laser therapy is even more special massage - a full course of treatment can cost several thousand dollars.

Mesotherapy

Mesotherapy - a very controversial method of treatment for cellulite, which includes injection of medicines or other substances directly into the affected tissue. In mesotherapy often used drugs approved for the treatment of other diseases, but not cellulite (as already mentioned, cellulite is not a disease). Frequently used injectable herbal teas, vitamins, or injectable cocktails that include a variety of substances from different classes. During mesotherapy make many injections at several (typically ten or more) procedures. Although this procedure often do doctors, many experts believe that it may be risky, but its effectiveness is not well proven. Anyone who is considering the use of mesotherapy, we must bear in mind that its action is not well studied.

Collagenase

Collagenase - is produced in the body enzyme that breaks down collagen, an important component of connective tissue. The results of a small study conducted in 2006 with the participation of ten women, suggest that injection of this enzyme may help reduce cellulite. The long-term effect of such injections is not yet known, and it is not known how long the results last treatment. This kind of cellulite treatment is still experimental, but possibly the injection of collagenase will soon be available to a wide range of people.

Cellulite - a change of the skin, whereby the surface becomes uneven. Approximately 85% of women in the post-pubertal age greater or lesser degree observed cellulite. Typically, these women are generally quite healthy.

Cellulite has been mentioned for the first time in the French medical literature around 1816; Then there were the term. Described his doctors believed cellulite disease, but long-term studies have shown that it is not. In modern scientific literature about it sometimes written as "the so-called cellulite fictional disease."

Causes

To better understand what is cellulite, you need to understand a little microanatomy skin. As known, the skin is composed of several layers. Under the top of them, the epidermis is the dermis, which contains hair follicles, sweat glands, blood vessels, nerve receptors and connective tissue. Under the dermis is the subcutaneous fatty tissue. Here are the closest to the surface of the skin of subcutaneous fat deposits.

According to the most widespread theory about cellulite, it is formed when a small amount of fat penetrates into the dermis. This structural change of the subcutaneous fat gives rise to bumps and hollows of the skin surface. This theory was confirmed using magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasonography, and biopsy of the skin. According to another, similar theories, cellulite appears due to stretching, loosening of the connective tissue, which is why the subcutaneous fat also falls into the dermis.

It is believed that the reason for this are the hormonal changes and genetic predisposition. Another reason for the appearance of cellulite can be dehydrated tissues. When fat cells are found in the lower layers of the skin, and if they are surrounded by connective tissue well hydrated, and the top is the dermis, which is also enough moisture, there is no problem. However, if the dehydrated tissue, fat cells begin to shift, to rise in the dermis, resulting in irregularities on the skin appear. Some scientists believe that the tissue can lose moisture due to the effects of free radicals.

There is also a theory that the problem of cellulite is associated with fashion. Cellulite has always been, but in the 1970s it started to become a large-scale problem. Moreover, cellulite began appearing in very young girls - in the period of puberty. It was during the second half of the 20th century began to come into fashion much different things tight body - from lingerie to trousers. Some researchers say that cellulite is the most "likes" the parts of the body to which the most tight clothing fabric, which often dig into the skin tight rubber bands and belts. Perhaps, poor circulation, which occurs when wearing narrow linen and clothes, contributes to the formation of cellulite. However, while this is only a theory.

Why cellulite is more common in women

The reason for this, scientists can see the differences that exist between the structure of the first layer of adipose tissue in men and women. In women, the adipose tissue contained in a sort chambers partitioned by connective tissue. From these 'chambers' fat can rather easily move into the dermis. Men "partition" of connective tissue arranged crosswise so that the fat is easily distributed to the side, but rarely rises. And it has a value that the epidermis and dermis is thicker in males commonly than females, therefore, even if a certain amount of fat and into the dermis, the skin surface is nearly imperceptible.

It is assumed that female sex hormones also contribute to the development of cellulite.