10 cellulitis facts
In this article we will describe 10 top tips for cellulitis. Let’s start with the basics.
Typical cellulitis
1. What is cellulitis?
Cellulitis is a common acute bacterial skin infection, that affects the deeper layers of the skin and subcutaneous tissues. It is usually spontaneous but can be secondary to skin injuries, insect bites or foreign bodies in the skin. Any break in the skin can lead to cellulitis.
2. Causes
The most common bacteria causing cellulitis are Streptococcus pyogenes and Staphylococcus aureus.
Staphylococcus aureus bacteria, pictured here, is a common cause of cellulitis.
3. Incidence
The incidence may be increasing in recent years; possibly due to factors such as antibiotic resistance, the ageing population, and increasing prevalence of diabetes and obesity.
4. Risk factors
People with a weakened immune system or underlying medical conditions (such as diabetes or obesity), or who use IV drugs, are at a higher risk of developing cellulitis.
5. Symptoms
Cellulitis starts as a small area of redness and swelling on the skin; which can spread quickly (sometimes less than 6 hours) – and cause pain, tenderness, redness and warmth in the affected area. Cellulitis is not contagious.
6. Location
Cellulitis commonly affects the legs, arms, peri-orbital area and face. It can be recurrent, especially in the legs.
7. Treatment
Treatment involves either oral antibiotics, or intravenous antibiotics (in hospital) depending on severity; and sometimes surgical drainage of abscesses or infected fluid collections.
8. Prevention
It is important to take steps to prevent cellulitis, such as keeping the skin clean and moisturised, avoiding skin injuries (and keeping them clean if they occur), removing foreign bodies in the skin, and treating underlying medical conditions.
9. Complications
These can include sepsis (a life-threatening bloodstream infection), abscesses, and chronic swelling of the affected area. You can get recurrent episodes.
10. Outlook for cellulitis
Whilst cellulitis can be a serious and potentially life-threatening infection, prompt diagnosis and treatment can usually lead to a full recovery with no long-term effects.
Summary
We have described 10 cellulitis facts. We hope you understand it better now.
Last Reviewed on 14 June 2024