Cellulitis is a skin infection that is more common than anyone imagine. It affects the dermis or the lower area of the human skin and the subcutaneous or the area just beneath the dermis. Cellulitis infection is generally caused by the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus. There are also other bacteria which causes Cellulitis but in a much lower occurrence than the previous two. The skin infection frequently appears without any evident cause in the legs, arms and the head and neck areas of the body. Surgical incisions and other wounds are also known to be invaded by the Cellulitis bacteria hence those that have skin openings are particularly immune to the skin disease.
The skin infection is not contagious though as it frequently affects the deeper area of the skin which is covered by the epidermis. There are skin infections that are less serious than Cellulitis but they are often contagious as they affect the topmost part of the skin, which makes them very transferable. Cellulitis duration usually takes less than week. However, this is possible when done with a corresponding prescribed antibiotic therapy. Other severe cases are treated for months before the skin disease completely disappears. Serious cellulitis if undiagnosed or left untreated can result to severe disability or even death. Untreated cellulitis can disappear but has the tendency to reappear later.
Oral antibiotics for Cellulitis are usually the usual prescription for the skin disease but more severe infections requires antibiotic injections. Pain medications are also prescribed generally. Accompanying pains are usually mild but patients who are complaining of severe pain may need to be reevaluated, as it may be a symptom of another disease, which could require different treatment. Deep wounds which could possibly have foreign bodies in it also need to be examined as this could also cause a cellulitis infection. There is a prescribed method for proper wound caring and it includes preventing an infection. This precaution will also help in preventing cellulitis from infecting your wound so if you are at a loss on how to do it, practicing proper wound healing and care will do.
