Cellulite is not restricted to fat people. Even lean people can suffer from it. Losing cellulite is more difficult than losing fat. Cellulite is the swelling of the fat cells, which then appear as bumps on the body, causing what is known as the 'dimpling effect', or the 'orange peel effect', because the cellulite affected area resembles an orange peel. In the following paragraphs we will find out the exact nature of cellulite and how it is formed. Once that is clear, it will be easier to understand how to get rid of it.

Appearance of Cellulite on the Skin
The skin is made up of many different layers, called 'dermis'. The fat cells that are under the skin are connected to the skin with the help of a layer called 'septa', which is fibrous in nature. This layer forms a wall between the fat cells and the skin. But when this layer beaks down, the fat cells which expand, do so directly against the skin, so that there is no layer between the two. Due to this the skin develops pits and valleys, and resembles an orange peel, or cottage cheese, or has a dimpled appearance. The appearance of cellulite is different in men and women, but the difference is not very significant.

Causes of Cellulite
The causes of cellulite in men and women differ. In women, the hormonal changes during menstruation, menopause, pregnancy, etc., which regulate the flow of blood, lymphatic drainage and fat, are mainly responsible for the formation of cellulite. Birth control pills, also cause a change in the hormones of a woman's body, so that can also lead to formation of cellulite. The hormones also control the tissues and fat to some extent. If the hormonal balance in the body is skewed, then this can cause a reduction in the thickness in the tissue, causing the cellulite to become more visible on the skin.

Besides hormones, the genetic make up, lifestyle, race, gender, and age of the individual also affects the cellulite formation. As we age, the tissue layers tend to lose thickness and that is why the wrinkled appearance. Because the fat and the lymph have reduced in quantity, whereas the cellulite is still lodged in the cells. And now, as there is no cushion, this cellulite becomes prominent. Even regular exercise is no guarantee that you won't suffer from cellulite, but it will definitely reduce the cellulite if you have it, and delay its formation. Thus, it follows, that exercise and a healthy diet are absolutely necessary for combating cellulite. A sedentary lifestyle, while it may or may not be a cause, can certainly accelerate the formation of cellulite.

How is Cellulite Formed?
So how does cellulite form? Let's take a look at its formation. Is it the same as fat? If not, what is the difference between the two?

Like we have the garbage disposal system for our homes, we have one inbuilt in our bodies as well. This is the lymphatic circular system. This system performs many important tasks and is indispensable, but one of the more important functions of this system is to keep the waste from building up in our cells. This circulatory system is responsible for flushing out the waste buildup from our cells, thus keeping them clean and helping them breathe. When the circulation of this system is impaired or obstructed, the cells are not cleaned up properly and the waste accumulates in them, causing the cells to bulge and thus cellulite is formed. Which leads us to the conclusion, that the cellulite in our bodies is not the same as fat. And that, the formation of cellulite can be attributed to the hindrance in the proper working of the lymphatic system.

The skin is made up of many layers. The three most important layers in the skin are: hypo-dermis, dermis, and epidermis. The hypo-dermis is the layer in which the cellulite develops. The fat cells swell up with the accumulation of water due to the hampered working of the lymphatic system. Due to this, excess fluid is not drained by the lymphatic circulatory system, causing the cells to swell up, occupy more space as a result, and squeeze together due to lack of space. They are then tightly bound together by the collagen fibers. This further hampers the easy drainage of the excess fluids and waste from the cells, leading to the formation of cellulite. These swollen cells then push against the dermis and the epidermis, which are relatively thin layers, and become visible on the skin from the outside.

The fat layer in men and women is arranged in chambers. In women, these chambers are arranged a little more loosely than in men. In men they are arranged in compact diagonals. This means that there is more space for fat to build up in cells of women than men, making women more susceptible to cellulite. The main difference between fat and cellulite is that fat can be burned off, while cellulite cannot be burned off by exercising vigorously or fasting.

Dealing with Cellulite
If you have cellulite and are feeling awkward about your body, here is some news for you. Lots of celebrities have cellulite! Britney Spears, Pamela Anderson, Mischa Barton, Hillary Swank, Teri Hatcher, all of them have cellulite. Recently Britney Spears revealed her untouched photos which clearly show her cellulite. That's the way to go girl! Women see photo shopped images of stars, and their expectations from their own body are raised way above reasonable limits. Many actually believe that these celebrities look in real life how they are portrayed in their photos, which is not the case. While it is true that women are more prone to cellulite than men, it does not mean that men do not suffer from cellulite. They do. Males with androgen deficiency are more prone to cellulite than others. Apparently, Tom Cruise (the heartthrob of god knows how many) too, has cellulite. So there, even the prettiest and the handsomest are not spared!

There is nothing shameful about having cellulite, as long as you are willing to do something to reduce it, because cellulite is an indication that there is something wrong with your body. There are exercises for reducing cellulite, home remedies, and other treatments. Dry skin brushing is a technique that has high success rates. Choose a healthy way of getting rid of the cellulite that has built up in your cells. An important thing to remember is that becoming skinny is NOT the solution to reducing or even avoiding the cellulite build up in the body, so do not just hit the gym and work out till you drop, or are barely visible. Take the warning signal for what it is, and instead of covering up in layers of clothing, exercise in a healthy manner and mend your lifestyle to combat and reduce the cellulite.