How to Tell if You Have Cellulite or Skin Laxity

When ripples and dimples appear on our thighs or butt, it’s simple to shortly assume it’s cellulite. Nonetheless, specialists warn that what might seem like cellulite may really simply be pores and skin laxity. Each are widespread situations that may seem related on the floor, however the way in which you deal with them varies a bit. To assist us perceive the distinction between cellulite and pores and skin laxity, specialists broke down the reason for every situation and learn how to inform them aside.

What’s the distinction between cellulite and pores and skin laxity?

Deciphering whether or not you may have pores and skin laxity or cellulite “will be tough at first sight on the buttocks and thighs,” admits Campbell, CA dermatologist Amelia K. Hausauer, MD. Nonetheless, the 2 situations come from totally different causes.

“Pores and skin laxity is one thing most girls expertise, particularly because the pores and skin thins with age, if the pores and skin has solar harm, or after important weight loss,” says Chicago, Illinois plastic surgeon and Avéli supplier Laurie Casas, MD. Dr. Hausauer explains that pores and skin laxity outcomes from a “breakdown in collagen and elastin which causes the pores and skin to fold or crepe usually showing like indentations or strains.” The lack of elasticity is what causes the skinny ripples or linear banding, and it’s generally discovered on the aspect of the butt, on the thighs and above the knees, says Dr. Casas.

Then again, cellulite has “true tiny tethering bands that create the pincushion impact of dimples,” says Dr. Hausauer. In accordance with Dr. Casas, “One of many major causes of cellulite is the tethering of the connective tissue below the pores and skin, referred to as fibrous septa.”

Pull your pores and skin

“To distinguish between pores and skin laxity and true dimples attributable to septae, one can pull up the pores and skin,” above the indentation, says Houston, TX plastic surgeon Olga Bachilo, MD. “If dimpling utterly disappears, it’s most probably as a result of pores and skin laxity. If some dimpling stays,” it’s probably cellulite.

Think about your historical past

“It’s not all that simple to differentiate the distinction between cellulite and pores and skin laxity,” says Delray Seashore, FL dermatologist Dr. Janet Allenby. “The historical past of the affected person, like superior age, earlier surgical procedure (corresponding to liposuction), solar publicity historical past will certainly assist as these are often extra generally seen in pores and skin laxity sufferers.”

Look at pores and skin’s look

In accordance with Dr. Allenby, “Pores and skin laxity is extra dry showing whereas the pores and skin appears fuller though dimpled with true cellulite.” Nonetheless, she notes that “there’s most likely a mixture of each in a good variety of sufferers.”

Have a look at the perimeters

Dr. Casas says wanting on the edges of the dimples may also help decipher which situation is inflicting them. “Cellulite depressions attributable to shortened or stiffened septa, whether or not they’re round, linear, or irregular, will be recognized by their outlined edges,” she explains.