What is cellulite?

Cellulite is a type of fat tissue in the subcutaneous layer of the skin that contains constricting bands of connective tissue. This connective tissue, which varies in thickness is laced with fat cells and is held in place by a network of fibres that protects our body, cushioning our muscles, nerves and internal organs. It only occurs in certain areas of the body: the thighs, buttocks, abdomen and breasts, if and when men get cellulite, it tends to be in the abdominal area. Cellulite is not always a factor of body weight. You don't have to be heavy to have cellulite.

It is also surrounded by a liquid, which nourishes it and provides an effective waste removal system. When all is working well in this system, waste products are removed from the body and smoother curves result; when fats, fluids and toxins are trapped deep in the skin, below the epidermal layer however, the connective tissue thickens and hardens, giving a dimpling effect. As we age the skin becomes thinner, resulting in the rippled appearance of cellulite.

Who gets cellulite and why?

Primarily the women who get cellulite are destined from birth to develop it. It begins to appear in girls around the age of 14 and increases as we mature when the subcutaneous skin layer thins and redistributes, in fact it is thought that ninety per cent of women over 20 years old develop the dreaded dimples. Cellulite often forms in postnatal women and those who take birth control pills because the body's waste system can't get rid of the enormous flow of oestrogen in the body. Cellulite can develop after a traumatic injury, where the circulatory system has been disturbed. A sedentary lifestyle leads to a hardening of the connective tissue, causing a dimpling of the skin. Men rarely develop cellulite because their network of fat cells occurs deep in the skin.

Some of the contributing factors for developing cellulite are:

• Hereditary, but unlike the strength of your nails or the colour and texture of your hair, you can do a lot to fight cellulite.

• Not drinking sufficient water as it is essential in helping the waste system to operate efficiently, flushing toxins from the body.

• Diet. Poor eating habits, lots of processed and highly spiced foods, alcohol and caffeine, contribute to the formation of cellulite because the toxins they produce get trapped in the fatty tissue. Crash diets increase the risk of cellulite because the body thinks it's starving and by attempting to compensate, it holds on to its fat store and assists in cellulite formation. All saturated fats help build cellulite, because they block the arteries and are trapped in the tissue preventing efficient waste and toxin elimination.

• Smoking is not only bad for the lungs, it also weakens the skin, by causing constriction of capillaries. It further damages the connective tissue that causes the dimpling effect of cellulite.

• Tension and stress can cause aches and pains in the muscles; they can also cause the connective tissue that covers that muscle to constrict. Tension then blocks the tissue, preventing proper waste elimination and purification.

• Prolonged use of medication can disturb the body's natural processes, disturbing the purification system that is naturally in place. Such things as diet pills, sleeping pills and oral contraceptives can contribute to cellulite. Oral contraceptives increase the body's oestrogen, causing fat cells to enlarge and leading to water retention in some people. Retaining water inhibits the elimination process preventing the body from flushing the system of toxins and thus contributing to the formation of cellulite.

• Lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle is also a factor in the appearance of cellulite. Exercise decreases many health risks and also helps fight cellulite. It improves muscle tone, circulation and overall well-being.

To test for cellulite, lightly pinch or press an area of tissue between your thumb and finger (or in a larger area, between the palms of your two hands). Normal fat appears fairly smooth, but cellulite will reveal dimples or ripples - like the skin of an orange. Cellulite tissue is also more sensitive and can feel cold to the touch. It might appear whiter than the rest of your skin.