Cellulitis

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

Check if you have cellulitis

Cellulitis makes your skin painful, hot and swollen. The area usually looks red, but this may be less obvious on brown or black skin. Your skin may also be blistered.

You may also feel unwell and have flu-like symptoms, with swollen, painful glands.

You can get cellulitis on any part of your body but it's more common on your lower limbs.

Treatment for cellulitis

For mild cellulitis affecting a small area of skin, a doctor will prescribe antibiotic tablets, usually for a week.

Your symptoms might get worse in the first 48 hours of treatment, but should then start to improve.

Contact your GP if you do not start to feel better 2 to 3 days after starting antibiotics.

It's important to keep taking antibiotics until they're finished, even when you feel better.

Most people make a full recovery after 7 to 10 days.

If cellulitis is severe, you might be referred to hospital for treatment.

To stop cellulitis coming back

Some people with recurring cellulitis might be prescribed low-dose long-term antibiotics to stop infections coming back.

Things you can do to help with cellulitis

As well as taking antibiotics for cellulitis, you can help speed up your recovery by:

• taking paracetamol or ibuprofen for the pain
• raising the affected body part on a pillow or chair when you're sitting or lying down, to reduce swelling
• regularly moving the joint near the affected body part, such as your wrist or ankle, to stop it getting stiff
• drinking plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration
• not wearing compression stockings until you're better

You can reduce the chances of getting cellulitis again by:

• keeping skin clean and well moisturised
• cleaning any cuts or wounds and using antiseptic cream
• preventing cuts and scrapes by wearing appropriate clothing and footwear
• wearing gloves if working outside

Complications of cellulitis

If cellulitis is not treated quickly, the infection can spread to other parts of the body, such as the blood, muscles and bones.

Call 999 or go to A&E if:

How you get cellulitis

Cellulitis is usually caused by a bacterial infection.

The bacteria can infect the deeper layers of your skin if it's broken, for example, because of an insect bite or cut, or if it's cracked and dry.

Sometimes the break in the skin is too small to notice.

You cannot catch cellulitis from another person, as it affects the deeper layers of the skin.

You're more at risk of cellulitis if you:

• have poor circulation in your arms, legs, hands or feet, for example, because you're overweight
• find it difficult to move around
• have a weakened immune system, for example, because of chemotherapy treatment or diabetes
• have lymphoedema, which causes fluid build-up under the skin
• inject drugs
• have a wound from surgery
• have had cellulitis before

People who are more at risk of cellulitis should treat athlete's foot promptly.

Social care and support guide

Our guide to care and support explains your options and where you can get support if you:

• need help with day-to-day living because of illness or disability
• care for someone regularly because they're ill or disabled or because of their age, including family members

If you want to find out more about this particular topic you can visit the Original article on the NHS website. If you are worried by any aspect of your health make sure you go and see your doctor or book an appointment at your local clinic.