How long does antibiotic treatment take to work for cellulitis?

Cellulitis is a deeper skin infection that can cause a hot, tender, swollen area with spreading redness. A useful sign is that the edge stops expanding and discomfort or fever begins to ease. The skin may remain visibly red while inflammation resolves. If symptoms are not responding, the medicine, dose, route, or diagnosis may need review. More serious infection can require hospital treatment.

Take each dose as prescribed and complete the course unless the prescriber changes it. Rest the affected limb and raise it when practical to help swelling. Keep any wound clean and covered as advised, and mark the outer edge of redness only if a clinician recommends monitoring it. Do not massage the area or use leftover antibiotics. Learn more in Cellulitis and Antibiotic Treatment.

Get urgent medical help if redness is rapidly spreading, pain is severe or out of proportion, fever or chills develop, you feel faint or confused, or the skin becomes blistered, dusky, or numb. Contact the prescriber promptly when early improvement is absent or symptoms return after treatment.

Ask how to monitor the border of redness, when a review is needed, and whether a wound, ulcer, or swelling could be maintaining the infection. Mention diabetes, circulation problems, immune suppression, allergies, and previous episodes.