Free
E-newsletter
Subscribe to Housecall
Our weekly general interest
e-newsletter keeps you up to date
on a wide variety of health topics.
close window
Mayo Clinic Housecall
Stay up to date on the latest health information.
What you get
- Free weekly e-newsletter
- Mayo Clinic expertise
- Recipes, tools and other helpful information
- We do not share your e-mail address
Risk factors
By Mayo Clinic staffCellulite is much more common in women than in men. In fact, the majority of women — at least 8 out of 10 — have some degree of cellulite. This is because fat is typically distributed in women in the thighs, hips and buttocks — common areas for cellulite. In addition, cellulite is more common with aging, when the skin loses some of its elasticity.
Weight gain can make cellulite more noticeable, but cellulite may still be present in lean individuals. It tends to run in families, so genetics may play the biggest role in whether you develop cellulite.
Other factors that may increase your chances of having cellulite include:
- Stress
- An inactive lifestyle
- Using hormonal contraceptives
References
- Khan MH, et al. Treatment of cellulite. Part I. Pathophysiology. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2010;62:361.
- Khan MH, et al. Treatment of cellulite. Part II. Advances and controversies. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. 2010;62:373.
- Sakamoto FH, et al. Lasers and flashlamps in dermatology. In: Wolff K, et al. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 7th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=3005384. Accessed Nov. 28, 2010.
- Rawlings AV. Cellulite and its treatment. International Journal of Cosmetic Science. 2006;28:175.
- Goldberg DJ, et al. Clinical, laboratory, and MRI analysis of cellulite treatment with a unipolar radiofrequency device. Dermatologic Surgery. 2008;34:204.
- Wollina U, et al. Esthetic and cosmetic dermatology. Dermatologic Therapy. 2008;21:118.
- Manuskiatti W, et al. Circumference reduction and cellulite treatment with a TriPollar radiofrequency device: A pilot study. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology. 2009;23:820.
- Hodgkinson DJ. Clinical applications of radiofrequency: Nonsurgical skin tightening (Thermage). Clinics in Plastic Surgery. 2009;36:261.
- FDA warns about Lipodissolve product claims. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. http://www.fda.gov/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/ucm206240.htm. Accessed Nov. 28, 2010.
Find Mayo Clinic on