Is it cellulite or cellulitis? At the first glance, these two seem to be the same thing. But is cellulite the same as cellulitis? These two terms may have the similar names, but they are not the same.
While cellulite is a skin condition, cellulitis is basically a bacterial infection. As such, each condition is defined by unique causes, symptoms, and treatments. While one is largely harmless, the other is life-threatening if not treated quickly. In this write-up, we explain the differences between cellulite and cellulitis.
What Is Cellulite?
Cellulite might be aesthetically unappealing but it is largely harmless. People usually describe it using the names mattress phenomenon, fat dimples, hail damage, cottage cheese or orange-peel skin. It is caused when, muscle fibers become weak and fat cells develop under the skin, causing the development of dimples that appear like cottage cheese or orange peels.
Cellulite is a common problem in 90 percent of women, especially those in middle age or older. Cellulite in men, although possible, is a very rare condition.
Cellulite is caused by a number of factors, including heredity, gender, age, diet, body fat amounts, and skin thickness. Fat deposits begin to press against the skin and the underlying tissues. The connective tissue becomes tight, thus pulling down the skin. With time, the skin develops dimples and appears to have an uneven texture.
What Is Cellulitis?
Basically, cellulitis is an inflammation of the cells. In the cellulite or cellulitis debate, it turns out that the latter is nothing cosmetic nor harmless. It is caused by bacteria which leads to the infection and inflammation of the dermis – your skin’s deepest layer. 
Cellulitis is also known to spread further past the dermis and into the layer of underlying soft tissue and fat. How deep it goes depends on the individual, the situation itself, and the treatment.
In most cases, it starts as a tiny, red patch. With time, it spreads over the skin and starts causing swelling, redness, and inflammation. People with cellulitis may also have a fever, malaise, and swollen glands.
What Causes Cellulite?
Cellulite comes due to a combination of factors. Since hormones mainly affect women, it is linked to hormonal changes in the body. The major culprit is estrogen, which is more prevalent in women than men.
Women have a higher percentage of fat deposits than men and are susceptible to cellulite formation in comparison with the men.
Apart from gender, cellulite can also be caused by factors such as an individual’s genetics, stress levels, diet, skin thickness, age, sedentary lifestyle, and lifestyle choices such as smoking.
What Causes Cellulitis?
Cellulitis is caused by a bacteria known scientifically as Staphylococcus aureus or just “staph”. It is also possible for the Streptococcus bacteria to cause cellulitis.
Bacteria gets into the body via a small cut, wound or blister and start multiplying while spreading the infection. It is common on the head, neck, arms, and lower legs. It is, however, possible for cellulitis to occur anywhere on your body.
Cellulitis mainly appears as a large, red, tender rush. It causes pain. Some individuals may have spots, skin dimpling, blisters, shivering, nausea, chills, and fever. Like any other disease, cellulitis is likely to appear in people with compromised or reduced immunity.
What’s The Treatment for Cellulite?
Cellulite can be reduced or you can even get rid of it completely, if the right measures are taken. Most women with the problem use cellulite cream, which has great ingredients that work to boost the production of collagen, break down fat cells, increase the circulation and flow of blood, and make the skin tighter. Although some good creams like Revitol Cellulite Solution, might reduce cellulite significantly, it’s hard to get rid of cellulite completely using only cellulite creams.
It is also recommended that people with cellulite try massage, exercise, healthy diet, adequate sleep, and drink lots of water. That’s in a bid to control the amount of fat in the body. When your inner body gets into shape, it will show on your skin in terms of reduced cellulite.
What’s The Treatment for Cellulitis?
Since cellulitis is caused by different bacteria, the best treatment is the use of antibiotics. As soon as you notice changes in your skin, seek treatment. That will help prevent further damage to the skin and surrounding tissues.
When cellulitis stays untreated for a long time, it can move down to the muscles, poison the blood, and even kill all the infected cells.
Doctors often prescribe a strong antibiotic or several antibiotics take intravenously or orally. It is important to treat it before it spreads to other areas if you hope to fully recover.
In some cases, the affected area may retain the swollen or red appearance even after treatment. Watch out for red spots or lesions and if you see any disinfect scrapes or cuts without hesitation. This will help you avoid further problems in the future.
If you were treated, but the swelling or redness is worsening, then you have to go back to the doctor for further assessment.
You may require to be admitted to the hospital, especially if you have a high fever, you are vomiting, fail to respond to treatment or have recurrent cellulitis. That’s when the antibiotics are introduced into your body intravenously.
Conclusion
In the cellulite or cellulitis debate, it turns out the two are completely different. While cellulite is a skin condition that’s characterized by fat deposits under the skin, cellulitis is actually a bacterial infection that can go deeper than the skin.
Cellulite is caused by different factors such as an individual’s age, genetics, gender, diet, stress levels or lack of activity. Cellulitis, on the other hand, comes as a result of a bacterial attack.
In essence, cellulite is only a cosmetic issue since it only affects the appearance of the skin. Not so for cellulitis, which is a disease that causes a reddish skin rash.
If you have cellulitis, you have to seek treatment. While cellulite can be treated using methods such as surgery, massage, exercise, and diet, cellulitis is treated using an antibiotic.
In case of cellulitis you have to consult your doctor to know the best method of treating your condition. Treatment should be done early enough to avoid complications that come with either of these conditions.
In case of cellulite you can get rid of cellulite easily and for good with Joey Atlas’ Exercises.
If you don’t want to exercise, your other inexpensive option is Cellinea Cellulite Pills. Most of the other methods don’t solve the cellulite problem completely and for good.
Leave a Reply