• Cellulite

  Filed under Metabolic disorder diseases
  Jan 24

   

  Recently talking about obesity and overweight (fats as well) in literature the term “cellulite” is more and more often mentioned. What is actually mean by using this term? Quite a lot of interesting articles about cellulite are written in different publications however few of people know that cellulite is quite a serious illness.

  Even though times change and women change, however their “vital” problem – hot to get rid of cellulite – still exists.

  Cellulite (a German term) is a name defining the surface of “spongy” skin.

  Cellulite is an illness which does not manifest as pain, but disturbs the spiritual state of a woman. Besides, it is not only accumulation of fat under the skin, but it is also a direct reflection of physiological processes of the body.

  In literature quite earlier the terms “lipodystrophy”, “passive fat”, “hardly removable fatty formations”, but at the moment the name “cellulite” has anyway established and takes a significant place in the vocabulary of beauty and health terms.

  Still 8-10 years ago we have not even heard about such illness, though in European countries and the USA the problem of cellulite has been existing for a long time and already in 1960’s it was discussed about how to avoid it. Good results have been achieved treating this illness.

  It is necessary to note that 90 – 95% of all women suffer from cellulite and (besides) they are not all overweight. It is also characteristic to slim women. And on the contrary – not necessarily every matronly woman has features of cellulite. In our times cellulite phenomena is not only cosmetic problem, but also a very serious scientific task.

  Cellulite is firstly a way of life. Recently we move much less. Besides, we eat many ready-to-cook food which have all the necessary food supplements, artificial substitutes, sugar, fragrances, dyes and preservatives. There is more stress in our life, more dangerous factors, such as environment pollution, ultra violet sun rays, smoking, affect us.

  More and more girls get ill with cellulite at the early age starting from even 14 years. This process is encouraged by fast food, too early use of contraceptive medicine, fast sexual maturation, reduce physical activeness, stress.

  And still – what is the difference between cellulite and obesity?

   

  Cellulite is not a simple fatty tissue, but exterior changes related to some disturbances of the body. No matter how slim we are, we have anyway fatty tissue under the skin which can develop into cellulite at any time.

  Cellulite is the increase of fatty tissue and thickened connective tissue where water and toxins accumulate. It is an unambiguous disturbance of metabolism, changed skin, it is a disturbance of local metabolism and water-salt balance and this is also the accumulation of “spots” in the body.

  In order to understand the essence of cellulite, it is necessary to know more about fats. A person is born having a certain quantity of fatty cells, so the increase of weight or its loss occurs not because of the change in the number of these cells, but because of the changes in the size of these cells (increase or reduction).

  Distribution of the fat accumulated in our body depends on the sex, genetic structure, way of life and balance of hormones. The majority of men have and apple-shape figure. They accumulate fat on the belly, in the areas of heart and intestine. The structure of a woman’s body most often reminds a pear and their fat accumulates on nates, hips (external and internal sides) and area of belly.

  A certain quantity of fat, received with food, is vitally necessary for person’s body since fat carries out many important vital functions:

  • A large part o fat received are stored in the body and used only if additional amount of energy is needed;
  • A certain amount of fat is used for production of the most necessary hormones and also formation of nerves, skin and other tissues and organs;
  • Fat is a very good insulation material;
  • A highest class group of fats – phospholipids located in the structure of nerve cells participate in the processes of short term and long term memory;
  • Fats carry out an important role in the absorption of vitamins A, D, E, K dissolving in fat;
  • Fatty tissue suspends dangerous chemical materials, pesticides and other elements dangerous to the body.

   

  “Favourite” body places for cellulite and its formation mechanism

  Microscopic structures carry out the functions of receptors are located on the surface of every fatty cell and regulate the processes of fat accumulation or removal.

  Alfa-2 receptors are able of accumulating fat and beta-receptors are responsible for fat removal from fatty cells. The process of removal is also influenced by the amount of blood passing through tissues. Abundantly flowing blood helps removing a large quantity of fat from fatty cells. Cellulite tissue is very poorly supplied with blood.

  Even six times more of alpha-2 receptors than fat removing beta-receptors are located in fatty cells on nates, hips and knees (i.e. exactly in those places where cellulite is tending to form).

  Fatty cells of upper body parts have six times more fat removing beta-receptors than fat accumulating receptors alpha-2. Therefore fat firstly accumulates in the lower part of the body and is removed faster from tissues located in the upper part of the body.

  For example, if your body accumulated 7 kg of fat, 6 kg of them would necessarily “settle” on nates, on the exterior and interior parts of hips and only 1 kg would settle in the upper part of the body. And on the contrary, if you lost 7 kg, the lower part of the body would loose only 1 kg, and the upper part – 6 kg. So, the changes in body weight change the very principle of fat distribution and has influence on the change in the persons’ body shapes.

  Blood sufficiency, normal blood pressure and timely removal of vital activity products of the body are necessary for normal functioning of cells and tissues. It means that abundant amount of blood not only has to supply tissues with oxygen and food materials, but also to remove carbon dioxide and toxins, and smoothly functioning lymphatic system has to transport lymph.

  Veins and lymphatic vessels (contrary to arteries) do not have muscles in their walls, so return of blood and lymph liquid to the general metabolism system depends on three interconnected factors which are very significant explaining the formation mechanism and treatment of cellulite.

  Cellulite formation from fats

  After the change in fatty tissue cellulite develops. Its formation is determined by three main factors:

  •changes in little metabolism circle;
  • disturbances of vein metabolism;
  • disturbances of lymphatic liquid circulation.

  Since all these factors are closely related, it is enough for one of them to manifest so that chain reaction would start to which finally all other remaining factors would be included. The area of body surface touched by cellulite depends on the changes in the little metabolism circle and on the fact if disturbances in vein and lymphatic system are very clear. In any case fully manifesting cellulite depends on the amount of fat accumulated in fatty cells of cellulite tissue.

  Main phases of cellulite development

  I. After slowing down of blood circulation in the little metabolism circle, the tissue supply with blood is disturbed and an advance assumption for manifestation of cellulite occurs though obvious features are not yet seen. One of advance cellulite manifestation features is more slowly recovering little sores and scratches. Liquid accumulates in tissues for slowing down of vein blood circulation. Metabolism practically disappears from small veins and capillary. Dangerous materials are produced here (such as milk acid, ammonia) the functioning of which damages blood vessel walls and infection starts.

  After slowing down of lymphatic circulation it starts accumulating in tissues. In such a way, proteins located in lymph (forming fibrous structures) settles in tissues.

  II. After disturbance of usual metabolism in tissues, permeability of veins and capillary increases and this (influenced by not moving blood) can cause big tears. Having permeated to tissues blood and lymph increase the interior pressure of tissues and in this way the outflow of blood and lymph is even more disturbed.

  Visible features of this phase: flabby veins (so called blood vessel stars) and small areas of changed skin colour. It is noticed by touching that the covering tissue became stiff and hard and it is painful to touch it.

  III. Lymphatic vessels are no more able to remove liquids accumulated in tissues within several weeks or months. In this phase accumulation of blood becomes a characteristic feature of tissues. Tissues swallow, get thicker and therefore the hair follicles and perspiration lymph arise to surface – the skin becomes uneven and similar to “orange skin”.

  IV. Then the circulation of lymph practically stops and protein settles in tissues turned into fibre of specific shape. Because of vital activity processes taking place in fibroblasts (for which oxygen and nutritional materials are no more sufficient) protein fibres get thicker. These fibres form an elastic net around fatty cells which forming a strong “border” effect does not allow to remove liquids from tissues and therefore the skin seems “tired” and flabby.

  Tissues absorb too much of liquids for their accumulation and this disturbs the usual metabolism, so it simply outflows in bypass ways, “over passing” this area, therefore the skin temperature reduces a lot.

  Vein metabolism, removal of vital cell activity products and toxin neutralisation gets disturbed. For this reason, the solidity of veins is easily damaged and bruises form easily and disappear very slowly.

  V. Since blood does not get any more into the cellulite tissue the areas thorugh which it flows usually react to big quantities of blood flowing through here. Because of metabolic toxins accumulated in environment of blood vessels, their diameter significantly increases (more blood flows through),so hotter spots – “islands” –  form between cold areas of cellulite tissue.

  VI. Protein fibres continue further forming around fatty cells of damaged tissue. Fat removal from fatty cells does not tale place because of their insufficient supply with blood. Fats continue accumulating in these cells (because of fat protecting receptors located on their surface). Fat increases, fibres become thicker and their amount constantly increases. Fat, lymph and protein fibres form large spongy formations – seatomas. Forming specific thicknesses and risings on the surface of the skin these seatomas “damage” the whole figure.

  Body areas most often damages by cellulite:

  For women cellulite most often damages the following body areas – nates, hips, knees, shins and ankles. Even though sometimes cellulite can appear on the belly, neck and in the areas of forearms and even in the front part of hips.

  Appearance of abdominal (belly area) cellulite for both women and men is related to experienced digestion disturbances, infections of interior organs and stress and that has influence on lymph accumulation in fatty tissues.

  Cellulite appearing in the neck area is almost always related to neck, shoulder and hand pain. In the long run it forms into the so called “hump of a widow” – fatty rising on the neck area damaged by cellulite. Neck and shoulder muscles affected by long term stress press stronger the vertebra and therefore their arrangement is changed and neck and shoulder nerves are pressed. These changes cause pain, local fever occurs and, when lymph liquid starts accumulating, features reflecting these disturbances appear on the surface of the skin.

  Quite often cellulite also damages the areas of forearms, though this problem is slightly more actual to older people. Change in fatty tissue in the area of forearms is most often a consequence of vein metabolism disturbance in tissues and appears when cellulite features are well seen in the whole body (and especially legs). In this case other types of vein disturbances, such as blood vessel tears, leg thickening and accumulation of lymphatic liquid are also unavoidable.

    Dismorphia is such a form of cellulite when only front parts of hips are damaged. Such phenomenon is often called “legs of a footballer”. Most often it occurs to people in whose activity most physical load is given to legs.

  Dismorphia appears when little metabolism circle and vein metabolism circle are disturbed in the fatty tissue of the front part of hips. All metabolism and vein metabolism of leg muscles (and especially in the front muscles of hips) can also be of normal state, but their supply with blood and outflow from surface tissues are insufficient. During activity of muscles (in legs as well) blood gets here supplying tissues with oxygen. Blood flowing always provides with a possibility for vein and lymphatic vessel drainage process in legs (especially ) in subcutaneous layer of muscular tissue). In the mean time, when liquids accumulate in the tissue, cellulite may start developing at any time. 

  Cellulite causing factors

  1. Excess of calories and fat accumulation:

  • Excess of fats and sugar in nutritional materials encourage accumulation of fats on hips and nates;
  • Regular diet encourages accumulation of fat on the surface of the lower body part though it facilitates fat removal from the upper body part;
  • Weight loosing diets which do not forbid the use of sugar and fats, increase the possibility of fat accumulation in certain parts of the body and when the latter increase, a “pear” shape figure is formed;
  • Irregular nutrition and occasional snacks help to accumulate fat in the lower body part.

   

  1. Sugar:

  • At the beginning the excess of sugar in the shape of glycogen settles on the bottom part of the body;
  • The excess of sugar may disturb the activity of mechanism which controls the quantity of sugar in the blood, therefore too much need for sugar is manifested and the weight starts growing;
  • Food ration lacking fresh and natural products causes a deficit of microelements regulating the quantity of sugar in blood (chrome, zinc, nickel and cobalt);
  • A need for sugar occurring during the pre-menstrual period is related to hormone changes taking place in the body and the need for additional energy.

   

  1. Alcohol

  • Calorific and very fast turning into fat.

   

  1. Water accumulation

  • Water distribution depends on balance of kalium – natrium in the body and features of structural proteins.

   

  1. Synthetic food products: dyes, fragrances, preservatives, pesticides
  2. Allergic reactions to food and sensibility to food products of certain types
  3. Influence of hormones:

  • Estrogens stimulate the accumulation of fat in the areas of breast, hips, nates and knees, most often – in case of sexual maturation and during pregnancy;
  • Progesterone (which is included to the structure of contraceptive pills) can be the reason for water accumulation;
  • Infections, fevers and other disturbances of ovaries and sexual system organs “helping” the formation of cellulite.

  1. Surgical invasion of pelvis organs:

  • Surgical disturbance of lymphatic system drainage.

  1. Pregnancy

  • Characterized by increased amount of estrogens and progesterone;
  • May be the reason for water accumulation in the body;
  • Reduces the reserve of iodine in the mother’s body, disturbs the usual activity of thyroid and this disturbs her body weight to “return” to the previous weight.

  1. Adrenalin and stress
  2. Direct damage of lymphatic system, little metabolism circle and vein metabolism.
  3. Lymph blockage – in case of infection and fever, their jamming.
  4. Disturbance of the usual lymph flow, especially in inguinal channel: to tight clothes press the inguinal channel and therefore the outflow of the vein blood and lymph is disturbed.
  5. Incorrect posture:

  • In such a case the inguinal channel is also pressed;
  • When abdominal muscles get weaker, the activity of toraco-abdominal (stomach-chest) pump is stopped, therefore liquids in the lower limbs and area of nates start accumulating.

  1. Constant hoove can be the reason for cellulite since the pressure of inguinal channel causes the disturbance of the usual activity of toraco-abdominal pump.
  2. Incorrect massage can also damage the tissues and small lymphatic vessels.
  3. Inactive life style and sitting work.
  4. Influence of air flights:

  • Long term presence in the reduced pressure of atmosphere (moving little) encourage the permeability of liquid from blood vessels and lymphatic vessels and its outflow to surrounding tissues.

   

  1. Free radicals, occurring during smoking or during affect of environment pollution and sun light, damage the little metabolism circle.
  2. Nicotine.
  3. Caffeine (consumed in little quantities it quickens the metabolism, but its larger quantities also damage the functions of little metabolism circle).
  4. Fat sucking and lipoclastic.
  5. Physical structure and genetic tendencies:

  • Cellulite develops slower to slim and thin women and it can be faster cured than to stumpy and grosser women;
  • Inheritance factors have certain influence on cellulite appearance.

   

  Cellulite treatment

  Before starting to treat cellulite and design one’s body it is necessary to consider different possible methods, weight all “cons” and “pros” and firstly, think: will not that damage the patient’s health? After all, beauty and health are two interconnected concepts. Besides, women with lower pelvis organ diseases (uterus fibromioma, ovary polycistosis, and etc.) cannot be applied all apparatus used in procedures and if they are used – they can be applied only locally (maybe on the surfaces of hips).

  1. Anti-cellulite diet:

  • to reduce up to the minimum the consumption of synthetic food products, dyes, fragrant materials;
  • not to use artificial sugar replacements;
  • to constantly observe that we could receive enough natrium with food;
  • not to use too much liquids;
  • to reduce the excess of fats in food ration;
  • to limit the amount of sugar in food; this phase should be coordinated with the use of anti-cellulite creams, physical exercises or – medical procedures (it might be necessary to use micro elements);
  • to limit the use of coffee and alcohol;
  • to include more fresh vegetables to their food ration;
  • to eat fruit separately since using them together with the main food products, fructose present in fruit helps the body to better absorb fat;
  • to comply with the rule for food product coordination and their quantity distribution in the daily ration.

   

  1. Physical exercises:

  • regularly carried out exercises help increasing the speed of calorie “burning”;
  • the milk acid formed during physical exercises cleans arteries and improve in this way the provision of tissues with blood;
  • carrying out exercises with legs the outflow of vein blood and lymph towards heart improves;
  • bending and stretching the feet the lymph drainage is quickened;
  • strong abdominal pressure improves the activity of toraco-abbdominal pump;
  • persons to whom dismorphia is characteristic should constantly carry out an appropriate complex of exercises helping to evenly develop muscles both in the lower and upper part of the body. 
  • it is recommended to avoid exercises during which hip quadriceps are loaded;
  • exercises for legs which are carried out by short, often repeating movements are also not recommended.

  1. Posture correction

  Formation of correct posture depends on the back, neck, abdominal, shoulder and pelvis muscles. In case of incorrect posture, the spine gets used to natural posture and the patient is constantly burdened by headache and neck ache, often pain is felt at the bottom of back. Because of incorrect posture, abdominal muscles become flabby, the hips protrude in the front and then the inguinal channel is pressed. For this reason the normal outflow of vein blood and lymph is disturbed, the liquid is accumulating in the tissues of legs. In order to remove these disturbances and at the same time to strengthen the abdominal muscles and to “straighten” the hips certain physical exercises are also recommended.

  1. Stress removal

  In order to implement this uneasy task it is recommended to also include rational psychotherapy methods to the complex of anti-cellulite actions.

  1. Aromatherapy

  Oils extracted from plants are called ethereal and are often used in aromatherapy. Even though it is defined that too large concentration of these oils may have toxic influence as well.

  The main solution of all ethereal oils is also oil, however the features (main materials) of this oil strengthen even more the treating characteristics of this solutions. Masseurs most often use almond oil, though walnut oil would be most suitable for anti-cellulite massage, production of its any mixtures which (differently from sweet almond oil) also positively influences blood vessels and lymphatic vessels. Having had a bath or shower drip several drops of this oil on the skin and rub it in circles (starting from ankle area and gradually rising). Only those areas which are damaged by cellulite are rubbed by oil mixture.

  1. Cosmetic measures.

   

  Different  creams and gels (except early stages of cellulite formation) should be used at the same time as diet and a complex of physical exercises and massage. In the 5th-6th phases of cellulite development creams are not effective. It is recommended to use anti-cellulite measures regularly (daily course lasting for 3-4 weeks) together with massage procedure (massage glove or brush).

  A complex of anti-cellulite massage methods

  Assessing currently the newest theory about cellulite formation mechanisms and its distribution in the human body, massage measures (in presence of this pathology) can be characterized in the following way:

  1. That should be a whole complex of actions as if repeating separate chains of cellulite pathogenesis and besides, affecting each of them separately.
  2. Mechanism of certain actions affecting surface (and even deeper located) tissues.
  3. Different effect whose result is not only anti-cellulite, but also other positive effects (from the point of medical prophylactics).
  4. Strong treating factor must be coordinated with gentle (not injuring) effect.

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