If you are not aware of cellulitis, or you haven’t even heard about it, here are some fast facts that’ll catch you up on this potentially alarming skin infection. Cellulitis is generally a bacterial skin disease that can grow quickly and expand rapidly. Its symptoms usually include skin redness, tenderness, pain, and warmth. However, severe infections may also cause nausea, fever, and blisters. It can happen to both adults as well as children, and it is not an infection that you can normally treat by yourself. If you think you have cellulitis, immediately see your dermatologist.

2. • If you are not aware of cellulites, or you haven’t even
heard about it, here are some fast facts that’ll catch
you up on this potentially alarming skin infection.
• Cellulitis is generally a bacterial skin disease that can
grow quickly and expand rapidly. Its symptoms usually
include skin redness, tenderness, pain, and warmth.
However, severe infections may also cause nausea,
fever, and blisters.
• It can happen to both adults as well as children, and it
is not an infection that you can normally treat by
yourself. If you think you have cellulitis, immediately
see your dermatologist.
• Coming back to the facts, here are a few that will help
you bring up to speed:

3. 1 . Any Break or Cut in the Skin can Open
the Door to a Cellulites' Infection
• Although most scrapes, cuts, bug bites, or blisters
don’t normally cause cellulites', any break in your
skin can, under specific circumstances. These
circumstances usually include the existence of the
infection-causing bacteria in your wound. Since
you can’t spot bacteria with the naked eye, it is
almost impossible to tell whether a minor cut can
develop into a serious infection.
• Other important factors you should know that
can increase the risk of cellulites include:

4. • A weak immune system
• Inappropriate wound cleaning
• Reduced blood flow and insufficient lymphatic
drainage in the affected area
• For reducing the risk of getting cellulitis, you
should properly clean all the wounds with warm
water and diluted antiseptic solution
immediately, cover the scrapes or cuts with an
adhesive band-aid or a gauze, and routinely check
the wounds for any unusual signs. If you find that
the wound is getting worse, you should see a
dermatologist, especially if you are diabetic.

5. 2. Cellulitis and Cellulite Aren’t the Same
• Although these two are distinctive skin conditions, still
most people get confused between cellulite and cellulitis.
• Cellulite is generally a cosmetic condition, and it occurs
when there’s fibrous tethering of the skin’s upper layer with
the underlying muscles. When fat increases in that area, it
is not evenly distributed because of the tight tethers,
causing a dimpled or bumpy appearance.
•
• Whereas, cellulitis is more of a bacterial skin infection,
which usually appears as a red, tender, warm, and swollen
area. Cellulite might not require medical attention, cellulitis
infection does!

6. 3. History of Getting Cellulitis Increases the
Risk of Developing it Again
• If you develop cellulitis one time, it increases
the risk of getting it again. However, you can
take certain measures to minimize that risk.
• You should start by following your
dermatologist’s instructions for curing the initial
infection, including finishing your course of
prescribed antibiotics. Dermatologists typically
prescribe antibiotics for 10-14 days, but you
may start getting better after just 2-3 days.
Most people make the same mistake of
stopping to take antibiotics soon. If you do not
complete the course, you might not kill the
bacteria properly, and the infection can return.

7. • Moreover, you should make a conscious effort to
minimize skin injuries. Always wear protective clothing
while working outdoors or playing sports. Don’t forget
to wear sunscreen with SPF 15 to avoid sunburn and
apply insect repellent to prevent bug bites.
• If you get wounded, clean it thoroughly with warm
water and diluted antiseptic solution to rinse dirt and
bacteria out. Ensure to properly wash your hands
before and after taking care of your wound. Always
keep the wound covered with a band-aid until it gets
healed. Change the band-aid daily.
• Even when you take the above-mentioned precautions,
cellulitis can still recur. If you experience more than 3
or 4 infections with a period of 12 months, your
dermatologist might recommend a low-dose antibiotic
prescription as a long-term therapy course to prevent
any future infections.

8. 4. Cellulitis Is Not Usually Contagious
• Although cellulitis is known to be a bacterial skin
infection, it typically does not spread from one person
to another. The potential exceptions are when the
individual exposed has an open wound or when there
is a direct sin-to-surface or skin-to-skin contact.
•
• So, if you develop cellulitis, you do not have to stress
over passing it on to your friends or family members.
However, you should still ensure no one touches your
open wounds with bare hands, and if they do, ask them
to thoroughly wash their hands.

9. 5. Cellulitis Infection Can Develop
Anywhere on Your Body
• Cellulitis infection can occur anywhere on your body.
Though, some body parts are more prone to this
infection than others. Among adults, feet, legs, hands,
and arms are the most infection-prone sites. Among
children, cellulitis is most likely to occur on hands,
neck, and face.
• When cellulitis comprises the muscles and fat around
the eyes, it is called orbital cellulitis. When it comprises
the eyelids and skin around the eyes, it is called
preseptal or periorbital cellulitis. Cellulitis infection
usually develops only on one side of the human body
at a time.

10. 6. Cellulitis Infection can be Life-
Threatening
• Although most cases of cellulitis infections respond
well to medical treatments, and its symptoms start to
go away in a few days when you start taking antibiotics,
if it is left untreated, the infection can expand quickly
and become life-threatening.
• The main concern for cellulitis cases is sepsis. It is an
infection of the bloodstream that can result in shock
and even death. Dizziness, extremely low blood
pressure, high heart rate, and loss of consciousness are
some important symptoms associated with sepsis.

11. • Other potentially life-threatening complications
of cellulitis infections include osteomyelitis
(infection in the underlying bones) and
necrotizing fasciitis, a disease that kills soft
tissues, sometimes resulting in loss of limbs and
even death.
• Conclusion
• Often confused for a normal skin infection,
cellulitis can do more damage to your body
than you can imagine. If it enters the
bloodstream, it can quickly become life-
threatening. Fortunately, there is much you can
do to avoid cellulitis. From preventive measures
to medical attention, you have many options to
keep cellulitis from invading your body!

12. If you want to know more
about cellulitis treatments, let
us help you explore your
options. Schedule an
appointment for a visit at our
Lansing or Mount Pleasant
dermatology office,
whichever is convenient for
you.

13. Disclaimer
• The information contained on
safehealthcenter.com is for informational and
educational purposes only and should not be
relied upon for any medical or diagnostic
purpose, or for the treatment of any condition or
symptom. This information is subject to change
without notice and should not be considered
current, complete, or exhaustive. You should
refrain from relying on such information to
recommend a course of treatment for you or any
other individual without consulting our experts.