Is it normal to have cellulite at 14

Hormones are another cause of cellulite that varies by sex. Estrogen , the primary female hormone, plays a role in regulating fat. It causes fat to naturally build up in the breasts, thighs, and buttocks right where cellulite is most common , especially during the reproductive years.

This fat is intended as an energy source for childbearing. Estrogen doesn't just influence fat stores, though. It also helps you maintain consistent levels of fat. When estrogen declines in menopause, it becomes easier for women to gain weight, which then exacerbates cellulite. In addition, lower estrogen concentrations lead to impaired circulation and decreased activity in the walls of some blood vessels. It also causes skin to lose elasticity.

All of these factors are believed to contribute to cellulite. Testosterone , the primary male hormone, has the opposite effect—it burns fat. Cellulite is believed to have a genetic component and it does run in families. In fact, one of the major risk factors for cellulite is having family members who have it. A few studies have identified genes that appear to play roles in your susceptibility to cellulite. The increased risk of cellulite posed by one of the genes appears to be heightened in smokers.

When you're young, your connective tissue is supple and elastic, stretching and giving way with the skin so everything remains smooth. Then puberty hits, and hormones wreak havoc on the connective tissue. At the same time, your fat cells tend to expand in certain areas especially if you're female , pushing out against the skin.

Throughout adulthood, your outer layer of skin weakens, thins, and loses elasticity. Gravity takes its toll, and the skin begins to sag. The septae continue to get tighter and stiffer. Blood vessels in your skin become more fragile. Cellulite is caused by the relationship between your skin, connective tissues, and the normal fat cells everyone has, plus the effects of hormones, age, genetics, and lifestyle on those structures.

Several factors can increase your risk of and exacerbate cellulite, and unlike the causes, you may be able to control some or all of them. Things that can increase the appearance of cellulite include:. Because you have some control over the factors that exacerbate cellulite, it stands to reason that the opposites of those factors can reduce cellulite's appearance. Many of the causes and exacerbating factors have to do with four things:.

Not only can lifestyle modifications help you improve those things, some modifications target a few of them at once. Neither losing nor gaining weight is a foolproof way of minimizing cellulite. For many people, weight gain makes cellulite stand out more. It goes back to the growth of those fat cells and the possibility that they could start to bulge out of their container. However, for some people, weight loss causes looser skin. This is especially true of rapid or extreme weight loss.

That loose skin may make cellulite stand out even more, just as it does with loose skin from aging. Cellulite isn't harmful unless it causes emotional distress because of how it looks , so it shouldn't be the deciding factor as to whether you should lose or gain weight. That decision should be made with your healthcare provider while considering your overall health.

A healthy diet isn't just about weight—it can also keep your skin and connective tissues stronger and more supple, as well. A healthy diet focuses on:. Staying hydrated can also help alleviate water retention. Exercise helps with cellulite in a multitude of ways. Smoking is harmful to connective tissue, causing the normal aging process of stiffening and contracting to go into hyperdrive. Not ever starting is the best way to protect your tissues and the rest of you from the harmful effects of tobacco but, of course, that doesn't help you if you're already addicted.

As hard as it may be, kicking the habit is always the best choice for your health. Healthy, supple septae don't draw your skin and muscles together so hard that they cause the fat cells to bulge out and cause a lumpy appearance.

Healthier, more youthful skin holds fatty areas tighter so cellulite doesn't show as much. A crucial part of healthy tissues is collagen. Research suggests that collagen supplements can improve the appearance of skin and cellulite.

In order to make collagen, your body uses amino acids from protein. It also needs vitamin C, zinc, and copper. However, as you get older, or if you don't get enough of these nutrients, you may benefit from adding collagen-boosting foods or supplements to your diet. Bone broth and pork skin are two of the best dietary sources.

If you're not satisfied with lifestyle modifications for getting rid of your cellulite, you do have some medical options to explore. A lot of products and treatments are touted for cellulite. This treatment has little potential to cause harm. However, the results vary with some people noticing no difference in their cellulite.

The results of the procedure are temporary and last only a month. The procedure may involve long-term treatment. Ionithermie is a spa-based cellulite reduction treatment with electrodes.

Ionithermie involves applying algae or clay, or a mix of both over the cellulite and wrapping the area with plastic before attaching electrodes. Even though it is a low-frequency electric current, some may feel discomfort and pain during the procedure.

Some people had no changes after the process, whereas others noticed positive results lasting 12 to 18 hours. Radiofrequency treatment is a non-ablative no wounds treatment using a device to deliver radiofrequency to the skin. Skin bruises may occur in a few cases and usually fade away in a few days. Fat removal treatment methods may not be valid for cellulite removal. Although some people may have less noticeable cellulite after fat removal treatment, a few may have increased dimpled skin.

A few fat removal treatment methods are 3 :. You may come across with a lot of commercial hype of products and therapies to treat cellulite. It is better to consult a dermatologist than rely on advertisements to choose a treatment based on skin type and requirements. Even though some esthetic centers offer the following therapies, they are not recommended by the American Academy of Dermatology for cellulite removal 3.

Cryolipolysis Cool Sculpting is a method of freezing fat below the skin using a vacuum device and cool pads. It helps eliminate pockets of unwanted fat but may not be effective in eliminating cellulite.

Mesotherapy involves administering injections to the affected area. Various substances are injected into the cellulite, such as caffeine, hormones, herbal extracts, or enzymes. The substance may vary depending on the practitioner, and some may use a single element or blend of ingredients.

Although there are claims that the procedure gives a positive result, it is not recommended due to side effects, such as swelling, erythema redness , lump formation, and allergic reactions. Injection site infections and skin changes may also occur in mesotherapy. You can check to see if you have cellulite by pinching the skin around your upper thigh. If it looks a bit lumpy, you probably have it.

If you do have cellulite, you're definitely not alone. Most girls and women — and some men — have cellulite.

No miracle products, treatments, or medicines can make it go away. Some "treatments" may temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite. Times are changing. To me, the answer is clear: Yes — cellulite is non-threatening, common and not a problem you can fix or a problem at all. But the question lingering on my mind is: Which is bolder: showing it, loving it or forgetting about it altogether? Follow her JulissaTrevino.

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