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Written by: Kamau Austin
Cellulite has been viewed
differently over the years.
In the past, many healthcare
professionals believed that
cellulite was nothing more
than fat in the human body.
However, scientific studies
have recently shown that
this is not the case. Cellulite
is the lumpy, irregular
fat deposits often found
around the hips, buttocks
and upper leg areas. It
is sometimes described as
'orange peel skin' because
of the dimpled appearance
of affected areas.
The history of cellulite
is full of contradiction
and confusion. Far from
being a newfangled notion
created by glossy women's
magazines, cellulite was
first described in depth
by European physicians at
the beginning of the 19th
century.
In 1816, Balfour first
commented on cutaneous nodule
formations—later named
cellulite. In 1929, Dr.
Lageze, a French physician,
discovered that cellulite
develops in stages; first
tissues in thighs, buttocks,
knees, the abdomen and the
upper arms become traps
for free serum outside the
capillaries. Then fibrous
formations develop which,
in time, turn into the retracted
sclerotic connective fibers
that create a dimpled orange
peel effect.
Following Dr. Lageze's
work, researchers proposed
numerous theories about
the causes of cellulite,
but none of them could fully
agree. Then, in 1966, two
Spanish dermatologists named
Bassas-Grau confirmed that,
while no inflammation of
the tissues
is present in cellulite,
watery fluid does indeed
accumulate in the tissue.
They also reported that
the molecules of subcutaneous
connective tissue in cellulite
seem to be larger than molecules
in the normal connective
tissue because they undergo
hyperpolymerization.
The 1970s bore witness
to a host of different theories
about cellulite. In the
1970s, a few researchers
such as Braun-Falco and
Ribuffo proposed that cellulite
was simply fat. In later
years, they were to modify
their beliefs considerably.
Most European researchers
grew increasingly convinced
that cellulite was a well-defined
clinical condition and a
physiological entity. Pisani
argued that it was "a
defect of the mesenchyme."
Merlin argued that it was
"a disturbance in the
vasomotor reflex and an
irritation of the sympathetic
nerve fibers leading to
a disturbance of normal
fat deposits and water logged
tissues." Binazzi,
however, insisted that the
more accurate term for
"cellulite" was
"dermatpanniculopathy
oedmato-fibro-sclerosis."
In 1972, Muller and Nurnberger
showed that where cellulite
occurs there is also a decrease
in the quantity of elastin
fibers in the dermis and
a rearrangement of the collagen
bundles. Then, in 1977,
Braun-Falco and Scherwitz
demonstrated that a dilation
of the lymph vessels takes
place in cellulite as well
as an enlargement of the
adipocytes or fat cells.
But it was not until the
well-respected Italian anatomo-pathologist
and molecular biologist
Professor Sergio Curri took
up the study of cellulite
tissue, that the whole of
the European medical world
began to stand up and take
notice. Now considered the
leading scientific authority
on cellulite in the world,
Currie carried out in-depth
studies comparing cellulite
to normal fat, and established
quite conclusively that
cellulite is
indeed a specific syndrome.
Cellulite theories still
abound. There have been
a lot of arguments and debates
about what exactly it is,
what causes it and how it
can be cured. Furthermore,
it is now believed that
nearly 80 out of every 100
women in Europe and America
have
cellulite. However, scientific
studies today show that
cellulite is not simply
a form of fat in the body.
It is a unique substance
that requires special treatment.
About The Author
Kamau Austin is a health
and fitness enthusiast and
advocate. He writes on a
regular basis on timeless
health and fitness tips
at the
"http://www.healthandfitnessvitality.com/blogs/fitnessblog.htm"
This article is for general
information purposes only.
Before
under taking any exercise
or treatment program always
first
check first with your doctor
and health professionals.
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