Cellulitis Cellulitis is a skin infection that's treated with antibiotics. It can be serious if it's not treated quickly. Get advice from 111 now if:
Early treatment with antibiotics can stop cellulitis becoming more serious. 111 will tell you what to do. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one. Go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111. 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, and you can also have swollen, painful glands. You can get cellulitis on any part of your body, such as: 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 a 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 recurring Some people with recurring cellulitis might be prescribed low-dose long-term antibiotics to stop infections coming back. Things you can do yourself As well as taking antibiotics for cellulitis, you can help speed up your recovery by:
You can reduce the chances of getting cellulitis again by:
If it's 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 now if you have cellulitis with:
These are symptoms of serious complications, which can be life threatening. What causes 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:
People who are more at risk of cellulitis should treat athlete's foot promptly. Social care and support guideIf you:
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