Firming up the skin: cellulitis
Although the term "cellulitis" refers specifically to a skin infection, we know it as "orange peel skin", closely related to the loss of skin firmness as well as the accumulation of fatty material in the subcutaneous tissue.
Cellulitis involves a change in the appearance of the surface of the skin due to the accumulation of fatty tissue, arranged in an unstructured manner, which forms nodules found mostly on the hips, thighs, buttocks, and abdomen. It affects 85 - 99% of women, beginning during the teenage years. It is more common in white women, and to a lesser extent, women of Asian descent. It is very uncommon in men, leading us to believe that hormones play a large role in the development of cellulitis.
What causes cellulitis?
There are a number of theories surrounding the pathogenesis of the change in the lipoid structure of the skin that causes the loss of firmness:
- Changes to cutaneous structures
Due to the fact that there is an increase in the accumulation of fat, this fatty tissue undergoes a herniation towards the dermis tat damages the uniformity of the division between the dermis and the epidermis. This structural change can be seen in the form of the much-feared appearance of "orange peel skin".
- Changes to connective tissue
The change in shape takes place because the septum of the connective tissue moves from its usual oblique position and instead is oriented upwards. This causes a loss of tightness that causes the fat to accumulate differently, altering the structure of the skin.
- Changes to the blood vessels
The accumulation of fat in the subcutaneous tissue can change the capillary wall due to the storage of glycosaminoglycans. This causes an increase in pressure, causing a retention of fluids in the dermis. This swelling causes a reduction in venous return and the flow of oxygen to the tissue becomes more difficult, leading to the rupture of capillaries and the formation of micro-hemorrhages. This way, they are unable to mobilize and accumulate without the dermatological structure itself losing pressure.
- Hormonal changes
The increase in the formation of adipocytes (lipogenesis) due to the action female hormones (estrogen and prolactin) and diets high in carbohydrates increase the concentration of fat in the blood,, leading to their accumulation.
Advice for preventing cellulitis
- Exercise: A sedentary lifestyle leads to the accumulation of fat and a slowdown in its elimination from your body.
- Diet: Increase in weight (obesity) and diets that are high in fat and carbohydrates increase the concentration of fatty acids in the blood.
- Healthy lifestyle habits: stress or the use of tobacco or alcohol help cause the accumulation of fatty acids.
- Pharmaceutical products: certain antihistamines or antithyroid treatments make the situation worse. Cellulitis can also worsen with the use of estrogen and birth control pills, as well during pregnancy.
Treatments that really work…
- Pharmaceutical products: substances with a lipolytic effect (that dissolves fat): caffeine, coenzyme A and amino acid L-carnitine.
- Substances that have an effect on connecting tissue: restoring firmness and promote healthy tissue structure, for example: Centella Asiatica, silicon, Vitamin C, hyaluronic acid or alpha-hydroxy acids.
- Microcirculation activators: they promote tissue vascularization and allow the fatty tissue to re-structure itself, for example: orange, horse chestnut, horsetail, Ruscus aculeatus, ginkgo biloba or vitamin E.
- Retinol: improves the firmness and thickness of the dermis.
