Cellulitis and an Open Wound: What to Know

A cut, graze, ulcer, puncture, surgical wound or cracked skin can interrupt the skin barrier. Bacteria may then reach deeper tissue and trigger cellulitis around the wound. The surrounding area can become warm, red, swollen and painful; the redness may extend outward. The wound itself may ooze, crust or become more tender. Fever, chills or a general sense of illness can accompany the infection, although their absence does not rule it out.

A clinician may check the wound depth, nearby joints, circulation and sensation, and look for a foreign object or another source of infection. Athlete's foot can create small cracks that are easy to overlook.

Contact a healthcare professional promptly when redness, warmth, swelling or pain is increasing around an open wound. Wash your hands before and after touching it. Rinse gently with clean running water, pat the surrounding skin dry, and cover the wound with a clean dressing. Keep the dressing dry and change it when soiled or wet. Elevate the affected limb if swelling is present. Do not pick at a scab, squeeze the wound, scrub deeply or use antibiotics left from another illness. A clinician may prescribe treatment based on the examination and may need to clean, drain or otherwise manage the wound.

Go to urgent or emergency care if redness is spreading quickly, pain is severe or escalating, the skin turns purple or black, blisters develop, pus or a foul smell appears, or you lose feeling or movement. Fever with shaking chills, confusion, faintness, unusual drowsiness or breathing difficulty can signal sepsis and requires emergency help. A deep puncture, bite, wound over a joint, persistent bleeding or an object stuck in the wound also needs prompt assessment. If you have type 2 diabetes or poor circulation, seek advice early for any new foot wound.

Ask whether the wound appears infected, how deep it is, how often to change its dressing, and whether you need a review after starting treatment. Ask which activities could reopen it and what changes should trigger urgent care. Share when the wound happened, how it occurred, your vaccination history, allergies, diabetes status and current medicines.