Cellulitis

Cellulitis | NHS inform Home Illnesses and conditions Symptoms and self-help Tests and treatments Healthy living Care, support and rights Scotlands Service Directory 0 Home Illnesses and conditions Skin, hair and nails Cellulitis Cellulitis About cellulitis Symptoms of cellulitis Causes of cellulitis Treating cellulitis About cellulitis Cellulitis is an infection of the deeper layers of skin and the underlying tissue. It can be serious if not treated promptly. The infection develops suddenly and can spread through the body quickly. Severe infections can spread deep into the body, andcanbe life threatening. Most casesare successfully treated with antibiotics at home, although sometimesit needs to be treated in hospital. Symptoms of cellulitis Cellulitis causes an area of skin to suddenly become: red hot swollen painful tender It most often affects the lower legs, but can occur anywhere. Cellulitis causes swelling, redness, pain and tenderness in the affected area. Source: https://dermnetnz.org/ In more severe cases, cellulitis can also be accompanied and often preceded by: a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above vigorous shaking (rigors) nausea and vomiting dizziness confusion These are signs that the infection has spread deeper into the body. Read more about the symptoms of cellulitis Pharmacy First Scotland: Cellulitis treatment from your local pharmacy Adults 18 years and over with symptoms of cellulitis can get advice and treatment directly from a pharmacy in certain instances. This includes cases where cellulitis is linked to an insect bites on the arms or body. If the pharmacist cannot treat you they may recommend you see your GP. Pharmacies When to get professional advice See your pharmacist as soon as possible if an area of your skin suddenly turns red, painful and hot. Early treatment can help reduce the risk of the infection becoming severe. Phone 999 or go to A&E if: your face or the area around your eye is affected your symptoms are getting rapidly worse you experience other symptoms in addition to the changes in your skin, such as a fever or vomiting you have a weak immune system for example, because of HIV or chemotherapy  or severe lymphoedema ,a condition that causes swelling in the bodys tissues a young child or elderly person has possible cellulitis Treatments for cellulitis Cellulitis is usually treated with antibiotics . Many infections can be treated with antibiotic tablets at home. Youll usually be given a five-day course of treatment, and your symptomsshould start to improve after a few days. Make sure you complete the whole course of medicine youve been given, even if youre feeling better. Contact your GP if your symptoms get worse after a few days or dont improve within a week. For serious infections, treatment is usually started in hospital. Youll normally be given antibiotics directly into a vein through an injection or a drip. Many hospitals can then arrange for this treatment to continue at home or in an outpatient clinic. Treatment is usually for five days. If the infection responds to treatment quickly, it may be possible to complete the course with antibiotic tablets instead of having injections or a drip. Read more about how cellulitis is treated . Outlook for cellulitis Cellulitis can usually be treated successfully with antibiotics, and most people make a full recovery. But there is a risk it could cause potentially serious problems, particularly if its not treated quickly, such as: blood poisoning (sepsis) where the bacteria enter the blood kidney damage leg ulcers Septicaemia and kidney problems can be life threatening and require immediate treatment in hospital. Causes of cellulitis Cellulitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection. The bacteria that cause it often live harmlessly on the skin, but they can lead to an infection if they get into a break in your skin, such as: a bruise, cut or graze an animal bite or insect bite a legulcer dry, crackedskin  for example, because of eczema or athletes foot In most cases the trigger for the infection is unknown. The infectionisnt normally spread from person to person. Readabout the causes of cellulitis , including information on whos most at risk of the condition. Preventing cellulitis If youve had cellulitis before, youre more likely to get it again. Its not always possible to prevent it, but the following measures may help reduce your risk: use moisturiser if your skin is dry or prone to cracking lose weight if youre overweightbeing obese can increase your risk of cellulitis try to ensure any conditions that can increase your risk of cellulitis  such as eczema, athletes foot, leg ulcers and lymphoedema  are well managed make sure any cuts, grazes or bites are kept clean  wash them under running tap water and cover them with a plaster or dressing wash your hands regularlyparticularly when treating or touching a wound or skin condition If you get cellulitis often or severely, your GP may refer you to a skin specialist called a dermatologist, or aninfection specialist, to discuss the option of taking antibiotics on a long-term basis to protect against further infections. Symptoms of cellulitis Symptoms of cellulitis develop suddenly and can get worse quickly. It affects the skin and can also cause additional symptoms. Skin symptoms Cellulitis causes the affected skin to become: red hot swollen painful tender There may also be a break in the skin, although this isnt always obvious, and pus or blood-filled blisters . Any part of the body can be affected. Commonly affected areas include the lower legs, feet, arms or hands, and sometimes the face, particularly around the eyes. See your GP or visit your nearest minor injuries unit as soon as possible if an area of your skin suddenly turns red, painful and hot. The symptoms of cellulitis include redness, swelling and tenderness. Source: https://dermnetnz.org/ Additional symptoms Cellulitis can also cause additional symptoms that may develop before or alongside the changes to yourskin. These can include: feeling generally unwell feeling sick shivering chills Occasionally the infection can spread to other parts of the body, such as the deeper layers of tissue, blood, muscle and bone. This canbe very serious and potentially life threatening. Signs the infection has spread include: a high temperature (fever) of 38C (100.4F) or above a fastheartbeatorfast breathing being sick diarrhoea feeling dizzy or faint confusionor disorientation cold, clammy,paleskin unresponsiveness or loss of consciousness Call 999 orgo to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department immediately if you have other symptoms in addition to changes to your skin. Causes of cellulitis Cellulitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection. It occurs when bacteria get into the tissues beneath the skin. Howthe infectionoccurs The bacteria that cause cellulitis often live harmlessly on the skin. But if the surface of your skin is damaged, they can get into the layers underneath and cause an infection. The break in the skin may be so small its not noticeable. Itmay be caused by: a cut or graze a burn an animal or human bite an insect bite a puncture wound a legulcer the skin becoming dry and cracked for example, because of eczema or athletes foot Cellulitis isnt normally spread from person to person as the infection occurs deep within the skin and is often caused by bacteria that live on the skins surface without causing problems. Increased risk Anyone can get cellulitis, but youre at an increased risk if: youre obese you have poor circulation in your arms, legs, hands or feet you have a weakened immune system for example, because of HIV or chemotherapy treatment you have lymphoedema a condition that causes fluid to build up under your skin you have poorlycontrolled diabetes youve had cellulitis before you use injected drugs Ensuringthe underlying health conditionsmentioned above are well controlled may help reduce your risk of getting cellulitis. Treating cellulitis Cellulitis can often be treated at home with a course of antibiotics, although severe cases may need to be treated in hospital. Treatment at home Antibiotics If youre treated at home, youll usually be prescribed antibiotic tablets to take two to four times a day for a week. A longer course may be needed if your symptoms dont improve after a week or youhave an underlying condition that makes cellulitis more difficult to treat,such as lymphoedema . Commonly prescribed antibiotics include flucloxacillin and clarithromycin. Possible side effects can includean upset stomach or diarrhoea . Your symptoms may get worse in the first 48 hours after treatment starts, but should start to improve soon afterwards. Make sure you complete the whole course of medicine youre given, even if youre feeling better. Looking after yourself While youre recovering at home, the followingstepscan help ease your symptoms and aid your recovery: take paracetamol or ibuprofen for the pain raise the affected body part to reduce swelling for example, if your leg is affected, rest it on pillows or a chair when youre sitting or lying down try to regularly move the joint near the affected body part, such as your wrist or ankle, to stopit getting stiff drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration if you usually wear compression stockings for example, for lymphoedema avoid these until youve recovered When to get medical advice Contact your GP as soon as possible if: your symptoms get worse after 48 hours your symptoms havent improved after a week you develop additional symptoms, such as a high temperature (fever) or vomiting Treatment in hospital If you need to be admitted to hospital for treatment, youll be given antibiotics directly into a vein through an injection or a drip (intravenous antibiotics). Once youve recovered from the initial symptoms, you can usually be treated with antibiotic injections or tablets at home or as an outpatient, rather than staying in hospital. Source: NHS 24 - Opens in new browser window Last updated: 09 November 2023 How can we improve this page? Help us improve NHS inform Thank You Your feedback has been received Dont include personal information e.g. name, location or any personal health conditions. Email Address e.g. you@example.com Message Maximum of 500 characters Send feedback Add this page to\n            Info For Me NHS inform About NHS inform Editorial policy Contact us Webchat Give feedback about NHS inform Info for Me tool Terms and conditions Privacy and cookies policy Freedom of information (FOI) Accessibility Other languages and formats  2023 NHS 24  v1.1.1.17852