Why are men less affected by cellulite?

Cellulite is characterised by a swelling of the fat cells in the hypodermis, giving the skin a bumpy appearance and texture. The main causes of cellulite formation are an unbalanced diet, lack of physical activity, hormonal disruption, and poor blood circulation.

The accumulation of fats in the hypodermis disrupts the structure of the adipose tissue and causes the swelling of adipocytes, the cells responsible for storing fats. This leads to the formation of dimples which can give a cellulite-like appearance (adipose cellulite). The cellulite can also be of the aqueous type and result from a build-up of water in the skin tissues, caused by a dysfunction in the venous and lymphatic circulations. The adipocytes slow down the elimination of water and toxins, which accumulate under the skin and cause swelling.

Cellulite predominantly affects women, typically appearing on the thighs, stomach, arms, and buttocks. In men, it is more commonly found on the abdomen, hips, neck, and arms. It is usually concealed by the thickness of the skin or body hair. This often gives the impression that men are not affected by cellulite, when in fact it is present but simply not visible. However, it is true that women are more affected: it is estimated that approximately 90% of women develop cellulite at some point in their lives compared to only 2% of men. We will now review the factors explaining this difference.

The morphological differences between men and women, as outlined below, are the root cause of the disparity in cellulite prevalence between these two populations:

• The structure of fat cells : adipocytes are structured differently in women and men. Smaller in the latter, they are less likely to expand. Moreover, the partitions that separate them are oblique, not vertical. Thus, even in the case of fat accumulation, their hypertrophy is less visible on the skin's surface. Furthermore, as male adipocytes are more closely packed, the space between each cell is reduced, which limits the risk of water retention.

• The quantity of fat cells : adipose tissue, composed of adipocytes, is less prevalent in men and more localised in the abdominal area. On average, fat makes up about 25% of a woman's body mass, compared to 15% of a man's. The female body's capacity to store lipids is thus greater. The reason is as follows: in the event of pregnancy or breastfeeding, it must provide more energy to meet the needs of the woman and her child. It is estimated that the quantity of adipose cells found in men is about half of that found in women.

• Skin thickness : Men's skin is approximately 20% thicker than women's, hence the irregularities of the deep skin tissues are more concealed.

• Female hormones : oestrogen and progesterone stimulate adipogenesis, that is, the formation of adipocytes. They thus encourage the cellular storage of fat, but also the phenomenon of water retention. Indeed, the permeability of capillaries is partly conditioned by the balance between the levels of oestrogen and progesterone. When there is an excess of oestrogens compared to progesterones, the porosity of the capillaries tends to increase.