Symptoms of cellulite: how this skin condition is diagnosed and in what ways it can be combated

Between 85 and 95% of women in Spain will suffer from cellulite at some point in his life, according to data from the University of Navarra Clinic. In most cases it is a purely cosmetic problem, although the term also refers to an infection of the middle layers of the skin that can have serious consequences.

What it is and what are its causes

As explained by the Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI), the cellulite we refer to normally names the irregular fat deposits that women tend to accumulate around the hips, belly and thighs. It may have an ‘orange peel’ appearance and usually begins at puberty, although it may become visible later in life.

On the other hand, it is also known as cellulite. acute infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue of bacterial etiology, specifically caused by streptococcus or staphylococcus most of the time. According to the National Library of Medicinesometimes it can affect the muscle.

The risk factors for this type of cellulite include breaks or peeling of the skin between the toes, a personal history of peripheral vascular disease, injuries or trauma with breaks in the skin, insect stings and bites, animal or human bites, ulcers due to diseases (including diabetes and heart disease). vascular), the use of corticosteroid or immunosuppressive medications, and recent surgeries.

What are your symptoms

The first form of cellulite It has no symptoms other than the cosmetic one.. It is characterized in three types, according to its characteristics:

• Hard cellulite. It is the one that fundamentally affects young women. In it, the skin is hard to the touch and difficult to pinch with the fingers. It occurs mainly on the thighs and buttocks, and has a rough appearance with dimples and stretch marks.
• Soft cellulite. In it the ‘orange peel’ is easily visible, and the consistency of the skin is gelatinous and flaccid. It usually starts in women over 35 years of age and affects parts of the body such as the belly, arms and back.
• Edematous cellulitis. It occurs in women between 20 and 40 years old who retain fluids.
• ​Oedematous cellulitis

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On the other hand, in the case of the bacterial cellulitisthe symptoms that must be attended to are:

• Fever with chills and sweating.
• Fatigue.
• Pain or tenderness in the affected area.
• Inflammation or redness of the skinwhich becomes larger as the infection spreads.
• Skin injury or rash which appears suddenly and grows in the first 24 hours.
• Tight skin appearancebright and stretched.
• hot skin in the area of ​​redness.
• muscle pain and joint stiffness caused by inflammation of the tissue over the joint.
• Nausea and vomiting.

How is it treated?

Due to the nature of the problem, cellulite caused by fat deposits It is mainly treated using cosmetic and aesthetic medicine techniques.

Hard cellulite can be addressed by non-invasive treatments, such as cavitation (removal of fat with low frequency ultrasound). The soft one, through invasive techniques such as liposuction or intralipotherapy. Finally, edema requires lymphatic drainage to eliminate fluid accumulation or liposculpture.

In all these cases, the exercise, healthy diet and plenty of hydration They can help both prevent and improve the problem, and massages with anti-cellulite cream can also be useful.

Instead, bacterial infection is treated with oral antibiotics and pain relievers in cases where it is necessary. Rest is usually prescribed, if possible with the infected area above the level of the heart. More serious cases or in immunosuppressed people may even require hospitalization.

References

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University of Navarra Clinic. Cellulite. Consulted online at on November 18, 2024.

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Spanish Society of Internal Medicine (SEMI). Cellulitis. Consulted online at on November 18, 2024.

MedlinePlus. Cellulitis. Consulted online at on November 18, 2024.

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