Nurse practitioner Anna Baker examines the underlying mechanisms of cellulite and explores evidence-based approaches to its management and treatment
Cellulite is currently understood to be a pathological alteration of the hypodermis and extracellular matrix (ECM).¹ Cellulite affects specific areas, predominantly occurring in women and considered to be an aesthetic condition requiring treatment. Cellulite is also known as gynoid lipodystrophy as it usually affects areas of fat distribution in females.² It is historically a challenging and common condition, yet little has been known about the prevalence and incidence, as well as the predisposing factors for development due to a paucity of robust epidemiological data.³
By contrast, literature suggests that it is thought to affect between 80-90% of females.³ Although often incorrectly associated, or directly attributed with obesity, excess adipose tissue can worsen the condition, but it is not specific to the development or pathogenesis of cellulite. The evidence continues to evolve in…
