- What is cellulitis?
Cellulitis is a deep layers of skin and tissue beneath skin infection. The first sign of cellulitis is usually red and swollen skin. When you touch the infected area, it often feels warm and tender. This condition can show up anywhere on the skin. Adults often get in lower leg; children tends to appear on the face or neck.
However, when you get redness and swelling in both legs, it’s mean you have another condition, but not cellulitis.
If you think you have cellulitis, you should get immediate medical care. Caught early and treated, cellulitis usually clears completely without any sequelae.
2. Causes:
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 cut or graze.
- An animal bite or insect bite.
- A leg ulcer.
- Dry, cracked skin, because of eczema or tinea pedis.
In most cases the trigger for the infection is unknown.
- Treatment:
Cellulitis is usually treated with antibiotics. Many infections can be treated with antibiotic tablets at home.
After starting treatment for cellulitis, symptoms will improvement in 24-48 hours. Severe cellulitis may require to be treat in hospital.
- Complication:
Without treatment, the infection can spread. The bacterial can move to lymph nodes and then to the vessels, lead to a severe condition like sepsis or permanently damage lymph vessels. Other complications can also develop such as necrolisis, abscess.
When treated before complications occur, most patients recover completely. And treat early, your doctor can use oral antibiotics, and get good wound care.
- Prevention:
If you’ve had cellulitis before, you’re more likely to get it again.
It’s not always possible to prevent it, but the following measures may help reduce your risk :
- Use moisturizer if your skin is dry or prone to cracking
- Lose weight if you’re overweight – being obese can increase your risk of cellulitis
- Try to ensure any conditions that can increase your risk of cellulitis –such as eczema, tinea pedis, leg ulcers and lymphedema- 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 hand regularly – particular when treating or touching a wound or skin condition.