Plastic surgery restores form and function through reconstructive procedures, cosmetic enhancements, and body contouring.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Cellulitis is a serious bacterial infection that affects the deeper layers of the skin and the tissue beneath it. It usually appears as an area of red, swollen, and tender skin that feels warm. The infection starts when bacteria most often Streptococcus or Staphylococcus get through the skin’s protective barrier. Once inside, these bacteria invade the soft tissue and set off a strong immune response.
The body responds by sending white blood cells to fight the bacteria in the affected area. This causes swelling and warmth, which are typical signs of cellulitis. The infection goes deeper than the surface, reaching the fat and connective tissue underneath. If not treated, the bacteria can quickly spread through the lymphatic system or bloodstream.
Although people sometimes use the terms interchangeably, cellulitis and erysipelas are different conditions with separate boundaries in the skin. Erysipelas affects the upper layer of the skin and the surface lymphatics. It usually has a sharp, raised border that separates the infected area from healthy skin, and often looks bright red with a texture like orange peel (peau d’orange).
Cellulitis affects the deeper layers of the skin and the fat underneath, so its borders are less clear and blend into the healthy skin around it. The redness is usually a darker, flatter pink or red, not raised like in erysipelas. Knowing how deep the infection goes helps doctors choose the right treatment and how long it should last.
The landscape of cellulitis has evolved with the rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Historically, Group A Streptococcus was the primary culprit. While it remains a significant cause, Staphylococcus aureus, particularly Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA), has become increasingly prevalent in purulent cases.
Today, doctors try to find out exactly which bacteria are causing the infection so they can choose the best treatment. MRSA can make toxins that quickly damage tissue and cause pus, which is different from the usual streptococcal infections that do not produce pus. This difference helps decide if treatment will be just medicine or if surgery to drain the infection is needed.
The skin serves as the body’s primary defense system against environmental pathogens. Any disruption to this barrier creates a portal of entry for bacteria residing on the skin surface. These disruptions can be overt, such as surgical wounds, ulcers, or trauma, or microscopic and invisible to the naked eye.
Problems like eczema, athlete’s foot, or dry, cracked skin weaken the skin’s outer layer. Even small things, like a bug bite or a scratch, can lead to a serious infection. Keeping the skin healthy and unbroken is the best way to prevent cellulitis.
Healthy blood flow and lymphatic drainage are important in preventing cellulitis and keeping it from coming back. Long-term swelling, from problems like poor veins or lymphedema, makes the tissues rich in protein, which helps bacteria grow. When fluid builds up, it also makes it harder for immune cells to reach the skin.
Patients with a history of lymph node removal or damage are at particularly high risk. The compromised lymphatic drainage means that once bacteria enter, they are not cleared effectively, leading to rapid infection. This relationship between fluid dynamics and infection risk is a key focus of preventative care strategies.
Cellulitis usually shows up with four main signs: redness, heat, swelling, and pain. The affected area can get bigger over several hours or days. People often have other symptoms too, like fever or feeling unwell, which means the body is fighting a serious infection.
Patients frequently report fever, chills, fatigue, and malaise before the skin changes become dramatic. In severe cases, blistering (bullae) or purple discoloration (ecchymosis) may appear, indicating more profound tissue damage or pressure. Recognizing these signs early allows for intervention before the infection disseminates.
Cellulitis near the eyes needs urgent, special care because it is close to the brain and the optic nerve. Periorbital cellulitis affects the eyelid and the skin in front of the eye socket, often after a scratch or a sinus infection. It causes a lot of swelling but usually does not limit eye movement.
Orbital cellulitis is a deeper infection behind the eye socket, affecting the muscles and fat around the eye. This is a medical emergency because it can cause vision loss or even meningitis. Telling the difference between this and periorbital cellulitis often needs special scans and quick attention from an eye specialist.
In rare but serious cases, cellulitis can turn into necrotizing fasciitis, a life-threatening infection of the soft tissues. This happens when bacteria release toxins that quickly destroy the tissue covering muscles and the muscles themselves. The infection can spread very fast along these tissue layers.
Warning signs that cellulitis is getting worse include pain that is much worse than the injury looks, redness that spreads quickly, and a crackling feeling under the skin. Noticing these signs early is important because treatment must switch from just antibiotics to urgent surgery to remove the infected tissue.
People with weak immune systems are more likely to get cellulitis and may have more serious infections. Conditions like diabetes, HIV, or cancer treatments make it harder for the body to fight off bacteria.
People with diabetes often have nerve damage and poor blood flow, which makes things worse. They might not notice small injuries, and high blood sugar weakens their immune cells, letting bacteria grow more easily. These patients need quick and strong treatment.
Doctors usually diagnose cellulitis by looking at and feeling the affected area. There is no single blood test that can confirm it. They check for spreading redness and warmth, and make sure it is not something else, like a blood clot (DVT) or a skin allergy.
Blood tests like a CBC and markers of inflammation (CRP, ESR) help doctors see how serious the infection is. If there is an abscess or signs of sepsis, they may take samples from the blood or wound to find out which bacteria are causing the problem, but in cellulitis without pus, these tests often do not find the bacteria.
Recurrent cellulitis is a frustrating and debilitating condition affecting a significant subset of patients. Once an initial infection damages the lymphatic vessels, they become permanently impaired, predisposing the area to future episodes. This creates a vicious cycle of infection, inflammation, and further lymphatic damage.
To prevent cellulitis from coming back, the focus shifts from treating the infection to long-term prevention. This means keeping the skin clean, managing swelling with compression stockings, and sometimes taking low-dose antibiotics for a long time. Stopping the cycle is important for keeping the limb healthy.
Cellulitis affects more than just the hospital stay. Pain and swelling can make it hard to move for weeks, which can interfere with work and daily life. People who get cellulitis often may worry about new infections, which can cause anxiety and limit their activities.
Repeated infections can cause long-term swelling (lymphedema) that may need lifelong care with therapy and special stockings. This shows why it is important to treat cellulitis well from the start and to teach patients how to prevent it, so they can take charge of their own care.
Send us all your questions or requests, and our expert team will assist you.
Cellulitis itself is generally not contagious. It is an infection of the deep skin layers, not the surface. You cannot catch it by touching someone’s red skin unless there is an open wound draining pus, and you have an open wound yourself that comes into contact with it.
Both cause a red, swollen, and painful leg. However, a DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) is a blood clot in a deep vein, while cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin. An ultrasound is often used to distinguish them, since their symptoms are so similar.
Yes, if the bacteria from the skin infection enter the bloodstream, it can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening reaction to an infection. Signs include high fever, fast heart rate, confusion, and low blood pressure. Immediate emergency care is required.
It is common for the redness to expand slightly for the first 24 to 48 hours after starting antibiotics. This is often due to the toxins released by the dying bacteria triggering inflammation. However, if it continues to spread rapidly or you feel worse after 48 hours, you need reevaluation.
Stress does not directly cause cellulitis, but chronic stress can weaken the immune system. A weakened immune system makes it harder for your body to fight bacteria that enter through small cuts, potentially increasing your susceptibility to infection.
Leave your phone number and our medical team will call you back to discuss your healthcare needs and answer all your questions.
Your Comparison List (you must select at least 2 packages)
