Guide To The Risk Factors And Causes Of Cellulite

Gender

Gender is an especially strong risk factor for cellulite. In fact, anecdotal reports from leading dermatologists suggest eighty to ninety-eight percent of American women have cellulite, but only ten percent of men are estimated to have this skin complaint. Doctors believe the increased prevalence of cellulite in women may be due to gender differences in the direction of connective tissues. While the tough, fibrous bands of collagen that connect skin and muscle run parallel to the surface of the skin in males, the bands naturally run perpendicular to the skin's surface in females. These perpendicular bands are believed to be a major cause of the skin dimpling that appears with cellulite.

Gender differences in body fat levels and distribution have also been recognized as a contributing factor. Women typically have a higher percentage of body fat than men. A healthy body fat range for females is between twenty and twenty-five percent, and the healthy range for males is between ten and fifteen percent. Women have more subcutaneous (under the skin) fat than men, and they tend to store most of their fat around the buttocks, thighs, and hips, all of which are among the most common locations for cellulite formation. In contrast, men have more visceral fat than women. This type of fat accumulates around the internal organs. In addition, men tend to store the majority of their fat in the abdomen and upper body, areas naturally less prone to cellulite.

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