Cellulitis: Causes, Symptoms and Preventive Measures

What Is Cellulitis?

Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that affects the tissues beneath the skin. A slight crack or break in the skin is enough to let bacteria penetrate inside. Once inside, these bacteria can trigger symptoms like redness, swelling, warmth, pain and inflammation in the affected area. Though this condition can affect most people, those with compromised immune systems are more prone to this than others. Your legs, feet and toes are most prone to these infections. However, it can also affect your face, arms and hands.

Symptoms

The common cellulitis symptoms you should be aware of to treat the condition properly are:

• Oedema (swelling of the affected areas)

• Warmth over the infected skin (area may feel hot to the touch)

• Pain or tenderness ranging from mild to severe

• Fever and chills

• Blisters or pus-filled spots may develop in severe cases

• Discolouration, with the skin turning red, purple, or a darker shade

• Fatigue

• Skin dimpling or a lumpy texture in the affected region

Causes

According to doctors, cellulitis is most commonly caused by Streptococcus or Staphylococcus bacteria entering the body through a break in the skin, such as a cut, sore or crack.

Who Is at Risk for Cellulitis?

The risk of cellulitis can increase if you fall under one of the following categories:

• Weakened immune system

Individuals with compromised immunity due to illness or medication.

• Skin injuries

Presence of open wounds, surgical incisions, piercings, tattoos, insect or animal bites or ulcers.

• Pre-existing skin conditions

Diagnosed with eczema, psoriasis, athlete’s foot or similar skin disorders.

• Viral infections

Currently or recently affected by chickenpox or shingles.

• Obesity

Being overweight or obese can increase susceptibility.

• Chronic illnesses

Conditions such as diabetes, HIV, or AIDS can raise the risk.

• Lymphedema

Long-term swelling in the arms or legs can make the skin more vulnerable to infection.

Possible Complications

If you don’t diagnose and treat cellulitis on time, it can lead to the following health complications, some of which may require emergency medical care:

• Bacteraemia

This occurs when viable bacteria enter the bloodstream, potentially spreading the infection to other parts of the body.

• Endocarditis

A rare but serious complication where bacteria infect the inner lining of the heart (endocardium), particularly the heart valves.

• Osteomyelitis

A severe bone infection that can result when bacteria from cellulitis spread to nearby bone tissue. It causes pain, swelling and inflammation in the affected bone.

• Toxic shock syndrome

In this condition, your immune system starts to react differently to bacterial infections, causing a severe drop in your blood pressure levels, high fever and rash that looks like a sunburn.

• Sepsis

This is yet another critical condition where the body’s response to infection begins to damage its own tissues and organs.

• Necrotising fasciitis

This is an extreme medical emergency, as bacterial infections can spread to the fascial lining (deep tissue layer) in this condition.

• Enlargement of lymph nodes

This happens when you are frequently diagnosed with cellulitis infections. It leads to long-term swelling of the affected limb.

How to Prevent It?

Antibiotics help to treat these infections and prevent episodes of relapse. Apart from that, here are some tips you can follow to prevent these bacterial infections from entering your body:

• Clean open wounds with soap and water regularly to prevent chances of infection. Ensure you don’t touch or rub your wound, as this can aggravate the condition.

• Use appropriate creams or ointments (based on recommendations from your doctor) on the wounds and cracks to avoid infections.

• If the wound needs to be covered, ensure you change the bandages at least once every day.

• Keep checking the area of wounds to notice signs of infection, pain or swelling. Seek immediate help when you notice any discomfort.

• If you are already diagnosed with conditions like diabetes, check your feet regularly to catch early signs of infection.

• Keep your legs moisturised regularly to prevent cracks and injuries in the skin.

• If you already have fungal infections like athlete’s foot on your toes and nails, ensure you diagnose and treat them on time.

• Even if your infections start getting better, you should complete the full dosage of antibiotics recommended by your doctor.