What Is Cellulitis?
Cellulitis is a common soft tissue and skin infection that can occur when bacteria enter through a break in the skin. It typically affects the lower limbs in 70 to 80% of cases. The skin acts as a protective barrier, but when it is compromised—whether from a cut, insect bite, or another type of injury—bacteria can infiltrate the subcutaneous tissue and lymphatic system, causing infection. Once bacteria are in the skin, they can cause rapid redness, swelling, and warmth that can spread quickly. While cellulitis can occur anywhere on the body, it most commonly affects the lower legs.
Why Is Cellulitis Serious?
Cellulitis might seem like a minor skin issue at first, but it is actually a serious bacterial infection that can spread quickly beneath the skin. If left untreated, cellulitis can enter the bloodstream, causing severe illness or even life-threatening complications like sepsis. What starts as a small area of redness can worsen within hours, which is why early recognition and treatment are essential.
Interesting Fact: Over 14 million cases of cellulitis occur in the United States annually.
To get an appointment with Dr. Manjulatha Badam for Cellulitis treatment call our wound care clinic.
What Are the Risk Factors for Cellulitis?
Several factors can increase the risk of cellulitis, particularly those that cause breaks in the skin barrier or affect the body’s immune response:
- Skin injuries: Cuts, scrapes, or surgical incisions
- Insect or animal bites: Sites where bacteria can enter
- Skin conditions: Fungal infections, eczema, and psoriasis
- Medical conditions: Diabetes, venous insufficiency, peripheral arterial disease, lymphedema
- Other causes: Intravenous site punctures, fissures between toes, obesity, and compromised immune systems
Symptoms of Cellulitis
Symptoms of cellulitis include redness that spreads rapidly along the skin, warmth, swelling, fever, and pain in the affected area. Some bacteria, such as Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus, can cause abscesses or blisters (bullae) under the skin. Patients with conditions like lymphedema, chronic venous insufficiency, diabetes, or those who have experienced animal bites or water exposure are at an increased risk of developing cellulitis.
Mild vs. Severe Cellulitis: When to Seek Care
Not all cases of cellulitis require hospitalization, but knowing the difference between mild and severe symptoms can help you act quickly:
- Mild to Moderate Cellulitis
- Localized redness, swelling, warmth, and pain
- Low-grade fever or no fever
- Spreading is slow and limited to one area
- Usually treated with oral antibiotics and wound care
- Severe Cellulitis – Seek Emergency Care Immediately
- Rapidly spreading redness and swelling
- Severe pain, blisters, or abscess formation
- High fever, chills, or feeling unwell
- Confusion, dizziness, or rapid heartbeat
- Red streaks moving away from the infected area
- Requires urgent hospital treatment with IV antibiotics
How Is Cellulitis Diagnosed?
Cellulitis is typically diagnosed by a physical examination. Laboratory tests or imaging studies, such as computed tomography (CT) scans or ultrasounds, are only necessary for more severe infections to look for deeper pockets of infection or abscesses.
Complications of Untreated Cellulitis
If cellulitis is not properly treated, it can lead to:
- Sepsis (bloodstream infection): A life-threatening complication when bacteria spread throughout the body.
- Abscess formation: Pockets of pus that may require surgical drainage.
- Necrotizing fasciitis (flesh-eating infection): Extremely rare but severe complication where bacteria destroy deeper tissues.
- Chronic swelling (lymphedema): Especially in patients with venous insufficiency or previous cellulitis episodes.
- Recurrent cellulitis: Once you’ve had cellulitis, the risk of another episode increases if underlying conditions are not managed.
Treatment for Cellulitis
The primary treatment for cellulitis is antibiotics to eliminate the bacteria causing the infection. Antibiotics may be taken orally in mild cases, while severe cases may require hospitalization for intravenous antibiotics. If an abscess is present, it should be drained when possible. For patients with recurrent cellulitis episodes, long-term antibiotics may be prescribed to prevent further occurrences.
Preventing Cellulitis
- Maintain skin health: Keep the skin moisturized to prevent cracks and breaks, especially on the feet.
- Wound prevention: Avoid activities that may cause injuries.
- Manage chronic swelling: Elevate affected areas or use compression garments as recommended by your healthcare provider.
- Follow medical advice: Take antibiotics as prescribed by your doctor to prevent recurrence.
At Vayu Advanced Wound Clinic & Hyperbarics, Dr. Manjulatha Badam provides individualized treatment plans based on each patient’s specific medical needs and underlying conditions. For more information or to schedule a consultation, call us at 210-651-1112 or book an appointment online.
Or Fill Out the Form Below:
Contact Us
Quick Do’s and Don’ts for Preventing Cellulitis
Keeping your skin healthy and protected is the best way to reduce your risk:
Do:
- Wash and cover cuts, scrapes, and wounds immediately
- Apply an antibiotic ointment as advised by your doctor
- Keep your skin moisturized to prevent cracking
- Manage chronic conditions such as diabetes and venous insufficiency
Don’t:
- Ignore redness or swelling that worsens quickly
- Walk barefoot outdoors, especially if you have diabetes
- Scratch insect bites excessively, which can create openings for bacteria
- Stop antibiotics early without your doctor’s approval
HBOT for Cellulitis Treatment
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) is an innovative treatment that may help manage cellulitis, particularly in severe or recurrent cases. HBOT involves breathing pure oxygen in a pressurized chamber, which increases the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream. This can enhance the body’s natural healing processes by promoting oxygenation in tissues where blood flow is limited.
For cellulitis, HBOT can help by:
- Improving circulation: Enhances blood flow to the affected area, promoting faster recovery.
- Reducing inflammation: Helps reduce swelling and pain.
- Accelerating healing: Increases oxygen delivery to damaged tissues, speeding up the repair process.
Dr. Badam may recommend HBOT as part of a comprehensive cellulitis treatment plan, especially for patients with chronic conditions or those who have not responded to conventional therapies.
For questions or concerns, or to learn more about how HBOT can help treat cellulitis, contact Vayu Advanced Wound Clinic & Hyperbarics today.
FAQs
1. How Fast Does Cellulitis Spread?
Cellulitis can spread rapidly, sometimes within hours, especially if left untreated. Once bacteria enter the skin through a break, the infection can quickly move through the subcutaneous tissue and lymphatic system, causing redness, warmth, swelling, and pain. At Vayu Advanced Wound Clinic & Hyperbarics, we offer expert cellulitis treatment, including antibiotics and Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) for severe or recurrent infections.
2. What Does Cellulitis Look Like?
Cellulitis typically appears as an area of red, swollen, and warm skin that spreads rapidly. The affected area may feel tender or painful and sometimes develop blisters, abscesses, or a shiny, tight appearance. In more severe cases, fever and chills may accompany the Cellulitis infection.
3. How to Prevent Cellulitis and Reduce the Risk of Infection?
Preventing cellulitis starts with proper skin care and wound management. At Vayu Advanced Wound Clinic & Hyperbarics, we recommend moisturizing daily to prevent cracks, promptly cleaning and covering wounds, and managing conditions like diabetes and lymphedema. Reducing swelling through elevation or compression can also help lower infection risk.
4. Is Cellulitis Contagious?
No, cellulitis itself is not contagious. You cannot “catch” cellulitis from someone else. However, the bacteria that cause cellulitis (such as Streptococcus or Staphylococcus) can spread through direct contact if they enter another person’s skin through a cut or wound.
5. Can Cellulitis Come Back?
Yes, cellulitis can recur, especially in people with conditions like diabetes, chronic swelling (lymphedema), or venous insufficiency. Preventive measures, good skin care, and in some cases long-term low-dose antibiotics may be recommended.
6. How Long Does Cellulitis Take to Heal?
Most mild cases of cellulitis improve within 7 to 10 days of antibiotic treatment. Severe cases may take longer and require hospital care. Full recovery depends on how quickly treatment begins and whether there are underlying health conditions.
7. What’s the Difference Between Cellulitis and a Rash?
A rash is usually limited to the skin’s surface and may be itchy, scaly, or patchy. Cellulitis, on the other hand, causes redness, warmth, swelling, and pain that worsens quickly and often spreads. Cellulitis also carries a higher risk of fever and systemic illness.
8. How Can I Prevent Cellulitis in the Future?
- Keep your skin clean and moisturized
- Treat cuts and scrapes immediately
- Wear protective footwear outdoors
- Manage swelling with compression therapy if recommended
- Control chronic conditions such as diabetes or vascular disease