Cellulitis: Symptoms, Causes & Treatment

Cellulitis is a common bacterial infection affecting the deeper layers of the skin (the dermis) and the fatty tissue beneath the skin. It occurs when bacteria (often staphylococcus or streptococcus) enter the skin through an opening in it, such as a wound, scratch, insect bite, or crack from dry skin or a fungal infection between the toes. Unlike superficial infections, cellulitis affects deeper layers, so it may be more dangerous and needs appropriate treatment.

The symptoms of cellulitis are characterized by an area of skin becoming red, warm to the touch, swollen, and painful, and this area tends to enlarge and spread gradually. It most often affects the legs, but may appear anywhere on the body including the face and arms. The inflammation may be accompanied by fever, chills, and a feeling of fatigue, sometimes swelling of nearby lymph glands, and the skin may show shininess or blisters. The chances of developing it increase in those with skin wounds or cracks, diabetes, weak immunity, poor circulation or chronic limb swelling, and obesity.

Cellulitis is a condition requiring medical diagnosis and treatment, because it does not heal on its own and may spread if left. The main treatment is antibiotics, given orally in mild to moderate cases, with elevating the affected limb and monitoring the inflammation's response. Severe, rapidly spreading cases, or those with high fever or not improving with oral treatment, may need hospital admission and intravenous antibiotics. It is important to mark the area of redness and monitor it; if it enlarges rapidly, red streaks extend from it, or the general condition worsens, these are signs of the need for urgent care. Prevention relies on skin care: cleaning and covering wounds, moisturizing dry skin, treating fungal infection between the toes, and controlling diabetes, especially in those prone to recurrence.

• Warm, swollen, painful redness in the skin that enlarges gradually.
• Most often affects the legs but may appear anywhere.
• Fever, chills, and fatigue sometimes.
• Swelling of nearby lymph glands, and shininess or blisters on the skin.

• Bacteria (staphylococcus or streptococcus) entering through a wound, scratch, or crack in the skin.
• Fungal infection between the toes or dry, cracked skin.
• Risk factors: diabetes, weak immunity, poor circulation and limb swelling, obesity.

• Diagnosis is often clinical from the inflammation's appearance and spread.
• Blood tests with fever or severe cases.
• Marking the area of redness and monitoring its enlargement.

Mild to moderate cases

• Oral antibiotics with elevating the affected limb and monitoring the response.

Severe or rapidly spreading cases

• Hospital admission and intravenous antibiotics.

Cellulitis does not heal on its own and needs antibiotics. This content is educational and does not replace medical advice.

• Spread of infection to deeper tissues or to the blood (dangerous).
• Formation of an abscess.
• Recurrence in susceptible people, and chronic swelling.

• Cleaning and covering wounds and scratches immediately.
• Moisturizing dry skin and treating fungal infection between the toes.
• Controlling diabetes and caring for the limbs in those prone to recurrence.