Cellulitis and dry skin: what to know

Healthy skin forms a protective barrier. Flaking, fissures, eczema, or cracks between the toes can create small openings that are easy to overlook. Cellulitis more often produces a changing area of warmth, tenderness, swelling, and redness rather than simple roughness. Athlete's foot can affect the spaces between toes and may contribute to breaks in the barrier. A clinician can separate cellulitis from dermatitis, allergy, or another surface condition by examining the pattern and progression.

Apply a bland moisturiser to intact dry skin after washing, avoid very hot water and fragranced products, and pat rather than rub. Keep feet dry, change damp socks, and treat persistent scaling with professional guidance. Do not put thick moisturiser into an open, wet, or draining area unless advised. Marking the edge of redness can help you notice spread, but it does not replace an examination.

Arrange prompt review for new warmth, pain, swelling, or redness that is expanding from a crack or sore. Seek urgent help for fever, rapidly worsening symptoms, severe pain, confusion, faintness, or feeling very unwell, because a spreading skin infection can become serious.

Ask whether the skin changes are cellulitis or dermatitis, how to care for cracks, whether athlete's foot needs treatment, and which moisturisers are suitable for your skin.