Cellulitis

What Is Cellulitis?

Cellulitis is a common infection of the skin and the soft tissues underneath. It happens when bacteria enter a break in the skin and spread. The result is infection, which may cause swelling, redness, pain, or warmth.

You’re at risk if you have:

• Trauma to the skin
• Diabetes
• Circulatory problems, such as not enough blood flow to your arms and legs, poor drainage of your veins or lymphatic system, or varicose veins -- twisted, enlarged veins near the surface of the skin
• Liver disease like chronic hepatitis or cirrhosis
• Skin disorders such as eczema, psoriasis, or infectious diseases that cause sores, like chickenpox

Cellulitis Causes

Things that cause cellulitis include:

• Injuries that tear the skin
• Infections after surgery
• Long-term skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis
• Foreign objects in the skin
• Bone infections underneath the skin. (An example is a long-standing, open wound that is deep enough to expose the bone to bacteria.)

Cellulitis Symptoms

Cellulitis can appear on almost any part of the body. It usually shows up on damaged skin such as inflamed wounds, dirty cuts, and areas with poor circulation. It needs to be treated by a doctor. Common symptoms include:

• Redness
• Red streaks
• Swelling
• Warmth
• Pain or tenderness
• Leaking of yellow, clear fluid or pus

Go to the emergency room if you have any of these symptoms:

• High fever or chills
• Nausea and vomiting
• Enlarging or hardening of the reddened area
• Increased pain
• Numbness when you touch the area
• Other medical problems that may be affected by even a minor infection

Cellulitis Diagnosis

Your doctor will do a medical history and physical exam. Other procedures could include:

• A blood test if they think the infection has spread to your blood
• An X-ray if there’s a foreign object in your skin or the bone underneath is possibly infected
• A culture. The doctor will use a needle to remove fluid from the area and send it to the lab.

Cellulitis Treatment

To care for cellulitis, you should:

• Rest the area.
• Elevate the area to ease swelling and discomfort.
• Use over-the- counter pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen to ease the pain, as well as keep your fever down.

If the infection isn’t too bad, you can take antibiotics by mouth for a week to 14 days. Your doctor will schedule a follow-up appointment. They may use IV or intramuscular antibiotics if:

• The infection is severe.
• You have other medical problems.
• You’re very young or very old.
• The cellulitis covers large areas, is on your hands, or is close to body parts like your eyes.
• The infection worsens even after taking antibiotics for 2 to 3 days.

In serious cases, you may need to stay in the hospital. You’ll get IV antibiotics until the infection is under control (2 to 3 days), and then go home with oral medicines.

Cellulitis Surgery

It’s rare, but severe cases may need surgery. For example, doctors may need to open and drain an abscess or pus that has collected in the tissue. They may also need to cut away dead tissue to allow healing.

Cellulitis Prevention

To keep from getting cellulitis:

• Practice good personal hygiene and keep your skin clean.
• Wear sturdy, well- fitting shoes or slippers with loose-fitting cotton socks. Don’t walk barefoot outdoors.
• Wash injured skin with soap and water. Make sure it heals over the next few days.

Some injuries have a higher risk for cellulitis than others. Contact your doctor if you have:

• Animal or human bites
• Puncture wounds deeper than a half-inch, such as from stepping on a nail
• Crushed tissue that bleeds
• Burns that blister
• Frostbite
• Deep injuries with dirt in them
• Injuries that touch seawater (making them more prone to infection), especially if you have liver disease
• Diabetes or other significant medical conditions, such as liver or kidney disease
• Swelling in your arms and legs that does not go away

Cellulitis Outlook

Most people with cellulitis respond to the antibiotics in 2 to 3 days and begin to improve. In rare cases, the cellulitis may spread through the bloodstream and become serious. Even more rarely, surgery is required to drain an abscess or remove dead tissue.

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