Cellulite, what is it?
Cellulite, also called “orange peel”, is a very common condition, especially among women, but what is it?
We see it appear in 80% of women aged 20 and over, of course men can have it too, but 95% of cases of cellulite are in women. It often appears at puberty and generally on the back of the thighs, on the stomach, on the upper arms and on the buttocks. Furthermore, despite what we often hear, cellulite is not necessarily synonymous with being overweight. Some heavier women do not have them, while thinner or athletic women do.
The subcutaneous layer contains fat cells - adipocytes. The fibers that connect the skin to deep tissues form cells that contain accumulations of fat. When fat cells increase in size, these “compartments” form bulges on the surface of the skin. This is when this “orange peel” appears. Cellulite is a combination of fat deposits, fluids and “waste” distributed unevenly in the layers beneath the skin.
Considered a normal physiological phenomenon, cellulite has no consequences for health.