“Really Cellulite??” New Website Aims to Inform Women of the What, Why (and Riddance) of Cellulite

 

A Harris Poll survey of 2,006 women released last year by Endo Aesthetics found that cellulite can have a negative impact on how women perceive themselves. The survey showed that 60% of women felt they were to blame for their cellulite¹ and nearly half of women (49%) were bothered “a great deal” or “a lot” by their dimples.¹

 

 

There is no shortage of body-shaming and misinformation relating to cellulite – especially on social media. Together, these issues have precipitated a lengthy list of temporary “solutions” that range from diet and exercise to various lotions, creams and scrubs that only add to women’s skepticism and confusion of cellulite treatment.

 

 

 

 

However, cellulite is much more than meets the eye.

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About Cellulite

Cellulite is a localized alteration in the contour of the skin that has been reported in over 90 percent of post-pubertal females and affects women of all races and ethnicities.^2,3 The presence of cellulite is associated with changes in dermal thickness and in the fat cells and connective tissue below the skin.⁴

 

A primary factor in the cause of the condition is the collagen containing septae which attach the skin to the underlying fascia layers.^5,6 The septae tether the skin which, with additional contributing protrusions of subcutaneous fat, causes the surface dimpling characteristic of cellulite.^7,8 These fibrous septae are oriented differently with varying thickness in females than in males, which informs our understanding of cellulite as a gender-related condition.⁹ Cellulite clinically presents on the buttocks, thighs, lower abdomen and arms.

 

It is known that cellulite is different from generalized obesity.¹⁰ In generalized obesity, adipocytes undergo hypertrophy and hyperplasia that is not limited to the pelvis, thighs, and abdomen.³ In areas of cellulite, characteristic large, metabolically stable adipocytes have physiologic and biochemical properties that differ from adipose tissue located elsewhere.¹¹

 

An anatomical study in 2019 found that women have increased fat lobule height compared with men, which may also contribute to the mattress-like appearance seen as a result of the tension of the fibrous septae.^9,11 Weight gain can make cellulite more noticeable, but cellulite may be present even in thin subjects.¹⁰

 

 

 

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“Aesthetic physicians understand that cellulite is more than skin deep,” said Mona Gohara, MD, a Connecticut-based dermatologist, and the Vice President of the Women’s Dermatologic Society. “This is not only because cellulite is caused by fibrous bands below the surface of the skin—but it also is a reference to how the appearance of cellulite can get under some women’s skin and have a negative impact on how they perceive themselves.”

 

Regardless of your body type, or whether you’re a size 2 or 22, you could have cellulite. 

 

 

Now what?

 

Enter the Really Cellulite – a vibrant and innovative awareness campaign inspired by the inner monologue and frustration many women have with their derriere dimples.

 

The approach was created to identify and explain the proven scientific and structural causes of cellulite in an amusing and accessible way. Really Cellulite is intended to educate on the “why” and “what” of cellulite. Designed to alleviate women’s feelings of being responsible for their cellulite, empowering videos and visuals are meant to challenge preconceived notions.

 

 

 

“This campaign was created to remove the stigma associated with cellulite by helping people understand what does and does not cause this very common skin condition,” said Robert Catlin, Vice President and General Manager, Medical Aesthetics at Endo.

 

She continued, “The fun and playful nature of this creative content is designed to provide women with an opportunity to have open and honest conversations with their friends, their online communities and hopefully their aesthetic physicians about what cellulite is and how it makes them feel about their bodies.”

 

 

“I hope this campaign will help women understand that cellulite is a very common issue that can stem from a variety of factors,” said Mona Gohara, MD. “Including, but not limited to, hormones, genetics, skin structure, skin texture and body type.”

 

 

Visit the www.ReallyCellulite.com website to get the facts, stats, and hacks all based on scientific information that educates on what is “Really Cellulite.” You can also connect with them on Instagram.

 

 

 

References:

1. Endo Pharmaceuticals Data on File 2020. Cellulite Survey: Women and HCP Survey Results, The Harris Poll online survey, 1/2/20 – 1/26/20 of 2,006 U.S.women ages 18-59 who have cellulite and 302 U.S. licensed physicians aged 18+

2. Hexsel DM, et al. Side-by-side comparison of areas with and without cellulite depressions using magnetic resonance imaging. Dermatol Surg. 2009;35(10):1471-7. 

3. Khan MH, et al. Treatment of cellulite: Part I. Pathophysiology. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2010;62:361-70.

4. Querleux B, et al. Anatomy and physiology of subcutaneous adipose tissue by in vivo magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy: Relationships with sex and presence of cellulite. Skin Res Technol. 2002;8(2):118-24.

5. Zhang YZ, et al. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2015;81(18):6098-6107. 

6. Rossi AM, Katz BE. Dermatol Clin. 2014;32(1):51-59. 

7. Edkins TJ, et al. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2012;19(4):562-569. 

8. Kaplan FT. Drugs Today (Barc). 2011;47(9):653-667.

9. Rudolph C, et al. Structural gender-dimorphism and the biomechanics of the gluteal subcutaneous tissue – Implications for the pathophysiology of cellulite. Plast Reconstr Surg. 2019;143(4):1077-86.

10. Avram MM. Cellulite: a review of its physiology and treatment. J Cosmet Laser Ther. 2005;7:1-5.

11. Pierard GE, et al. Cellulite: from standing fat herniation to hypodermal stretch marks. Am J Dermatopathol. 2000;22(1):34-7