Losing weight is rarely a bad thing. Losing those extra pounds will make a big difference in how you look and feel. You’ll have more energy, be less prone to sickness, and feel better about yourself. And if you lose weight, you can still experience cellulite or lipedema.
In this article, we’ll look at the differences between lipedema and cellulite, as well as the possible causes, symptoms, and treatments for each disorder.
Key Differences Between Lipedema and Cellulite
There are a few main differences between these lipedema and cellulite conditions. These include their appearance, symptoms, causes, and treatment.
Lipedema and cellulite can both make the skin look dimpled, lumpy, or uneven. Lipedema is a more severe medical condition that needs treatment. But cellulite is a common cosmetic condition that is completely harmless.
If Left Untreated, Lipedema Can Cause Debilitating Symptoms
Lipedema causes more noticeable changes in the skin, such as swelling of the limbs, especially in the lower half of the body. If you do not treat it, it may also cause debilitating symptoms such as chronic pain and the inability to walk or get around easily.
You should always perform treatment for lipedema under the supervision of a physician.
Cellulite Is A Cosmetic Problem With No Known Health Effects
Cellulite rarely causes symptoms and can be so mild that it is barely visible in some cases. And if cellulite is left untreated, it is purely cosmetic and has no known long-term health effects.
Below is a more detailed background on lipedema and cellulite. These include the underlying causes of both, symptoms you may experience, and possible treatment options.
What Is Cellulite?
Do your thighs, hips, or buttocks have lumpy, rough skin? Is your skin orange-peel in appearance? Will these symptoms persist after losing weight? Cellulite may be a problem for you.
An accumulation of fat under the skin causes cellulite. When the skin is pulled downward toward the fat cells, it creates a distinct dimpled appearance.
The Following Factors May Cause Or Worsen Cellulite:
Hormones. Estrogen, the primary female hormone, promotes fat accumulation around the hips and thighs, which are the areas most vulnerable to cellulite. As a result, cellulite affects 80-90 percent of women and very rarely affects men.
Poor diet. An unhealthy diet is high in toxins. Many of those toxins are stored as fat in your body. Toxin accumulation may affect the appearance of fat cells.
Genetics. Some women and a limited number of men are predisposed to cellulite genetically.
Weight gain. Weight gain is often followed by a rise in cellulite.
Cellulite Treatment
Several supposedly successful cellulite treatments are available. These range from special creams to anti-cellulite massage to wraps. But many of these treatments fail to deliver the expected results. Thankfully, many home remedies are effective.
They Are As Follows:
Collagen. Studies have shown that taking a hydrolyzed collagen peptide regularly for 3-6 months may help improve internal collagen development, preserving and restoring skin elasticity, and significantly reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Exercise. Working out will help you lose body fat and strengthen your muscles. All of these will make cellulite less noticeable. Exercise also improves circulation and may help the body in ridding itself of toxins that can exacerbate cellulite.
Dry brushing. Said to temporarily increase circulation and lymph flow, dry brushing can help detoxify your fat cells, resulting in less cellulite. Brush the affected area upward against the natural direction of gravity with a body brush or loofah. This is best done before taking a shower or bath.
Coffee grounds. Coffee grounds can be used as an exfoliant as well as an alternative to costly anti-cellulite creams. Use on their own or in combination with olive or coconut oil. Rinse after massaging the affected area for 10 minutes. This at-home treatment has the potential to reduce bumpiness, stimulate blood circulation, and encourage lymph flow.
Increase hydration. Drinking more water can help reduce or even prevent cellulite. Water is used by the body to wash away toxins. Moreover, dehydration reduces skin elasticity. Per day, drink at least 64 ounces of distilled water.
Lifestyle changes. Lifestyle changes, such as eating high-sugar foods, smoking, sedentarism, excessive alcohol intake, and not eating enough healthy foods, can worsen cellulite.
Your skin is the largest organ in your body and a reflection of your overall health. A healthy lifestyle will undoubtedly help you achieve healthy-looking, cellulite-free skin.
What Is Lipedema?
Lipedema is a condition in which fat cells accumulate excessively in the hips, abdomen, and buttocks, impacting the arms. The affected area grows in size as a result of this. However, it hardly spreads to the feet or wrists. It resembles a cuff or anklet since the enlargement stops right before the extremities. Obese people are more likely to have this condition. Losing weight, on the other hand, has little effect on the scale of the affected region. As a result, it is possible to develop lipedema in the legs or arms.
However, the rest of the body should be relatively slim. Lipedema has no known cause, but genetics and hormonal imbalances can play a role.
Lipedema is often associated with lymphedema. This is water retention, which exacerbates swelling, especially at the end of the day. Lymphedema usually improves overnight, while lipedema is more constant. Lipedema, like cellulite, is much more common in women and extremely rare in men.
In Addition To The Swelling, Affected Areas Of The Body May:
- You can feel soft and cold
- Bruise easily
- Bruise easily
- Feel painful, tender, or ache
- Have tiny broken veins under the skin
Lipedema Treatment
Lipedema can be difficult to treat, mostly because the cause is unknown, and it is not purely a matter of diet and exercise. That said, the following are thought to be ways to help reduce or regulate lipedema.
Compression therapy. Wearing compression tights or arm sleeves can help improve fluid drainage and reduce swelling.
Exercise. Swimming, biking, or cycling are all good low-impact exercises.
Massage. Massage stimulates circulation, which removes excess fluid from the affected area.
Liposuction. The only medically recognized treatment for lipedema is liposuction. Liposuction is a medical procedure that removes the affected fat cells. Though fat cells can come back, this is the only way to “cure” lipedema.
Which Do I Have?
Lipedema and cellulite are 2 different diseases. And you should be able to determine if you have one or the other.
Cellulite causes the skin on the thighs, hips, and buttocks to dimple and has an “orange peel” appearance. Cellulite can affect even the thinnest people and usually responds well to dietary and lifestyle changes. While cellulite may be unpleasant and cause embarrassment, it has no negative impact on your health.
On the other hand, Lipedema is characterized by swelling of the affected limbs and is caused by abnormal fat cells. It is much more difficult to treat, and it usually does not respond to dietary or lifestyle changes. Lipedema may affect mobility and necessarily require medical treatment because sufferers can develop lymphatic system problems.
