ABSTRACT
There is little coherency or consistency within the scientific literature as to the manifestation of so-called cellulite which is neither a skin disorder, disease, nor a tissue dystrophy (1-11). It is an inevitable reality of the genetic makeup of the female human species interlinked with steroid hormones and external influences. Cellulite (Fig. 1) is a condition that needs to be managed since it cannot be cured inside the strict confines of cosmetic definition. There are a number of clinical methods available to evaluate cellulite, though the limitations of each method alone are such that more than one method is required in order to correlate clinical findings with any laboratory findings. From a scientific viewpoint, a clearer understanding of the influences on adipose tissue metabolism, and connective tissue structure, is required for the development of new test methods in order to advance a more rational approach to understanding cellulite. Furthermore the development of clinical methods, which can correlate in vitro studies, will finally bring logic and understanding to the scientific literature, the condition, and ultimately manage the continued expectations and unmet needs of the consumer.
