Cellulite I (Introduction).
Cellulite (also referred to as “so-called cellulite”) is a very good example of bodily ambiguities.
[Note:
a) It should not be confused for cellulitis (a bacterial infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissues by Streptococcus pyogenes).
b) However both cellulite and cellulitis can affect (although differently) the same tissues].
In this introductory part (for cellulite), mainly quotations {with my notes in ( ) and [ ]} from the Journal of Dermatologic Surgery and Oncology (March 1978) will be used to illustrate this.
1) From Morris Leider.
The French word cellulite was suddenly thrust upon the lay public in the country (US) some years ago in commercial advertisements of “beauty” parlors and other agencies that offered treatment for a certain dimpled appearance of the ordinarily well –covered skin of mature women.
[Note:
a) The dimpled appearance of the skin (referred to above) has been described in much earlier French publications as resembling the skin of an orange or the surface of a mattress.
b) Reasons for the two different appearances will be discussed at some other time].
2) From Earle W. Brauer.
(A) Cellulite is a cosmetic “defect that consumes and tortures millions of European women.
[Note:
a) The term cellulite made its entry in French medical literature in 1816. However it is not certain that it was applied precisely to same condition that we discuss here].
b) It was not until 1978 that two papers about so-called cellulite (or cellulite for short) were published in English (in the journal mentioned above)].
(
It is a normal “abnormality” that has spawned a billion-dollar industry of futile treatment both within the legitimate medical/surgical collegium and in that fringe of lay persons who call themselves “estheticians”.
[Note:
a) “Estheticians” as referred to above is a direct translation from the French “estheticiennes”.
b) In modern terms they would be referred to in the US as cosmetologists and in the UK as beauty therapists.]
3) From F. Nurnberger and G. Muller
A) It has been claimed but never proven that so-called cellulite is attributable to internal illnesses, birth-control pills, environmental pollutants and miniskirts.
[Note:
The more likely causes will be discussed at some other time]
It is an important obligation of physicians to teach the fact that so-called cellulite is not a disease but is the result of the sex-typical structure of the skin of women and a natural sequence of ageing.
[Note: Involvement of the sex hormones in skin structure will be discussed at some later time].
4) From C. Scherwitz and O. Braun-Falco
A) Since so-called cellulite is not a real illness, there is no meaningful or effective therapy by medications
[Note: Therapy proposed by the above authors will be discussed at some later time].
