Cellulitis signs and symptoms

A common presentation is one-sided redness with warmth, swelling, and soreness, often on a lower leg but also on an arm, face, or another area. Some people develop chills, fever, tiredness, or swollen nearby glands. A small cut, bite, ulcer, surgical wound, or fungal break between the toes can provide an entry point; Athlete's Foot may be relevant when cracked skin is present.

Arrange prompt medical assessment when these changes are new or worsening. Keep the area clean, avoid squeezing or puncturing it, and remove tight clothing or jewellery from the swollen region. Resting the limb raised can reduce pressure. Note where the redness ends so you can tell whether it is moving, and take prescribed treatment exactly as directed.

Seek urgent help if redness is spreading quickly, pain is severe or out of proportion, blisters or darkening skin appear, or you feel faint, confused, very weak, or short of breath. Fever with shaking chills or a rapidly worsening infection can signal a serious complication such as Sepsis. People with Type 2 Diabetes or reduced immunity should seek advice promptly for a suspected infection.

Ask what finding supports cellulitis, whether a wound or fungal infection needs treatment, how to monitor the border of redness, and what change should prompt urgent review. Ask when improvement should begin and how to care for the skin while it heals.