Cellulitis and Soft Tissue Infections
What is Cellulitis and Soft Tissue Infections?
Cellulitis is a common bacterial infection of the skin and the soft tissues beneath it. It happens when bacteria, usually streptococcus or staphylococcus, enter through a crack or break in your skin. The infection causes redness, swelling, warmth, and pain in the affected area.
Soft tissue infections include cellulitis as well as other infections that affect muscles, fat, and connective tissue under the skin. These infections can spread quickly if not treated. Most cases respond well to antibiotics when caught early.
While cellulitis is not usually serious when treated promptly, it can become dangerous if bacteria enter your bloodstream. Understanding the signs helps you get care before the infection spreads. Blood tests can show how your immune system is responding to the infection.
Symptoms
- Red, swollen skin that feels warm and tender to touch
- Spreading area of redness that expands over hours or days
- Fever and chills as your body fights the infection
- Swollen lymph nodes near the infected area
- Skin that appears tight, glossy, or stretched
- Pain or tenderness in the affected area
- Fatigue and general feeling of being unwell
- Red streaks extending from the infected area
Some people develop symptoms quickly within hours, while others notice gradual changes over a day or two. Early cellulitis may look like a simple rash before becoming more obvious.
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Causes and risk factors
Cellulitis develops when bacteria enter your skin through cuts, scrapes, insect bites, surgical wounds, or skin conditions like eczema. Streptococcus and staphylococcus bacteria are the most common culprits. Any break in the skin barrier creates an opening for these bacteria to invade deeper tissue layers.
Several factors increase your risk of developing cellulitis. Weakened immune systems make it harder to fight off bacterial invaders. Chronic swelling in your legs or arms creates skin changes that allow bacteria in more easily. Diabetes, obesity, and circulation problems also raise your risk. Previous episodes of cellulitis make you more likely to get it again. Skin conditions that cause cracks or breaks, like athlete's foot or dry skin, create entry points for infection.
How it's diagnosed
Doctors usually diagnose cellulitis by examining your skin and asking about your symptoms. The appearance of red, warm, swollen skin along with fever often points clearly to infection. Blood tests help confirm that your body is fighting a bacterial infection and show how serious it is.
A white blood cell count test measures how many infection-fighting cells are in your blood. Elevated WBC levels indicate your immune system is responding to an infection. This blood test helps doctors distinguish cellulitis from non-infectious causes of red, swollen skin like allergic reactions or inflammation. Rite Aid offers testing that includes WBC count to help identify signs of infection. Getting tested helps your doctor choose the right treatment approach and track whether the infection is improving.
Treatment options
- Oral antibiotics for 5 to 14 days, depending on severity
- Intravenous antibiotics for severe infections that require hospital care
- Elevating the infected area to reduce swelling
- Applying cool, damp cloths to soothe pain and reduce inflammation
- Taking pain relievers like acetaminophen or ibuprofen for discomfort
- Keeping the infected area clean and protected
- Staying well-hydrated to help your immune system function
- Following up with your doctor if symptoms worsen or don't improve within 2 to 3 days
- Treating underlying skin conditions that increase infection risk
- Wearing compression stockings if you have chronic leg swelling
Concerned about Cellulitis and Soft Tissue Infections? Get tested at Rite Aid.
- Simple blood draw at your nearest lab
- Results in days, not weeks
- Share results with your doctor
Frequently asked questions
Cellulitis can spread rapidly, sometimes expanding several inches within just a few hours. The infection typically spreads outward from the initial site, creating a growing area of redness and swelling. This is why prompt treatment with antibiotics is so important. If you notice red streaks spreading from the infected area or developing fever, seek medical care immediately.
No, cellulitis requires antibiotic treatment and will not go away on its own. Without treatment, the infection can spread to your bloodstream, lymph nodes, or deeper tissues. This can lead to serious complications like sepsis or tissue death. Always see a doctor if you suspect cellulitis, even if symptoms seem mild at first.
An elevated WBC count shows that your immune system is actively fighting the bacterial infection. Higher levels indicate your body is producing more infection-fighting cells to combat the bacteria. This blood test helps confirm the diagnosis and shows how severe the infection is. Tracking WBC levels during treatment helps doctors know if antibiotics are working.
Cellulitis itself is not contagious and cannot spread from person to person through casual contact. However, the bacteria that cause cellulitis can spread if someone has direct contact with an open wound. Good hygiene like washing hands and covering wounds helps prevent spreading bacteria. The infection only develops when bacteria enter through breaks in the skin.
Most people start feeling better within 2 to 3 days of starting antibiotics. Redness and swelling usually improve within a week. Complete healing of the skin may take 2 to 3 weeks. Finish your entire course of antibiotics even if you feel better early, as stopping too soon can allow the infection to return.
Yes, several strategies help prevent recurring cellulitis. Keep your skin moisturized to prevent cracks and dryness. Treat cuts, scrapes, and insect bites promptly with cleaning and antibiotic ointment. Manage conditions like athlete's foot and eczema that create skin breaks. If you have chronic swelling, wear compression stockings and elevate your legs regularly.
Seek immediate medical care if redness spreads rapidly, you develop high fever above 101°F, or you feel confused or dizzy. Red streaks extending from the infected area indicate spreading infection. Severe pain, numbness, or coolness in the affected area may signal serious complications. These signs suggest the infection may be entering your bloodstream or affecting deeper tissues.
People with diabetes, weakened immune systems, or circulation problems have higher risk. Chronic leg swelling from lymphedema or venous insufficiency makes skin more vulnerable. Obesity and previous cellulitis episodes also increase risk. Anyone with skin conditions that cause breaks or cracks, like eczema or athlete's foot, faces greater susceptibility to bacterial entry.
Most cellulitis cases can be treated at home with oral antibiotics. However, severe infections may require hospital admission for intravenous antibiotics. Hospitalization is more likely if you have high fever, rapid spreading, facial cellulitis, or weakened immune system. Your doctor will assess the severity and recommend the appropriate treatment setting based on your specific situation.
Yes, untreated cellulitis can spread beyond the skin to affect lymph nodes, causing painful swelling. The infection can enter your bloodstream, leading to sepsis, a life-threatening condition. In rare cases, bacteria can reach bones, causing osteomyelitis, or form abscesses in deeper tissues. This is why early diagnosis and treatment are critical to prevent these serious complications.