Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that causes redness, warmth and swelling in the skin. It can also cause fever and chills in the body. It is caused by a break in the skin due to an abrasion, a cut or a skin ulcer. Cellulitis may also affect tissues that are underlying the skin and can spread to bloodstream and lymph nodes. It is not a contagious disease as it infects the inner layers of the skin whilst infection is covered by the top layer of the skin.
Signs and symptoms The common symptoms of cellulitis are skin lesion, shaking, sweating, fatigue and muscle aches. Some additional symptoms of the disease are nausea and vomiting, stiffness in joints and loss of hair at the site of infection. The skin appears tight and warmth appears on the red infected area.
Causes Cellulitis is caused by two types of bacteria that include streptococcus and staphylococcus. The bacteria enter the body via any break in the skin and can causes infection and inflammation in the body. Some disrupted areas of skin include recent surgery areas, cuts, puncture wounds or ulcers. The disease can even be transmitted through insect and spider bites. The disease is most common on the legs, especially near the shins and ankles.
Risk Factors for Cellulitis Some factors that can increase the risk of developing cellulitis is if the person has a history of peripheral vascular disease and/or diabetes. As these diseases decrease the blood circulation in the lower extremities and can cause chronic ulcers in the feet, these can act as an entry point for bacterial infection. The cracks on the skin between the toes can also increase the probability of this disease in the same area. The use of immunosuppressive and corticosteroid medications can also increase the risk of developing cellulites. Chickenpox and shingles cause broken blisters on the skin that can also act as potential entry points for bacteria.
Screening and Diagnosis The doctor can diagnose the disease through a physical examination of the swollen areas and glands. The red infected area on the skin is marked by a pen and any extension of its borders is suspected as cellulitis. The disease is confirmed through blood tests, wound cultures and other tests. An increase in white blood cell count can also indicate a bacterial infection.
Treatment Cellulitis treatment includes the taking of oral antibiotics, and a close outpatient monitoring of the patient. Antibiotics can control the infection and analgesics will control the pain. The infected area should be elevated so as to minimize swelling. In severe cases, the patient is hospitalized and given intravenous antibiotics as well as close observation. The medication should be taken as directed by the doctor and the entire course of medication should be completed even if the patient starts feeling better.
Prevention The disease can be prevented from happening by taking some preventive measures when any wounds appear on the body. Wash the wound with soap and water daily, and apply an antibiotic cream and ointment. By covering the wound with a bandage, bacteria can be prevented from entering.
Daily Skin Care Always moisturize the skin so as to prevent cracking and peeling. Hands and feet can be protected by wearing footwear and gloves.
Cellulitis is an acute inflammation so always treat any superficial skin infections quickly which will avoid any distress.
Do you know there are so many types of cares available for us? I have no doubts not many. So what are they? These available cares are specialists for your eyes, for your teeth, for your joints and for your feet can now be easily be found. Not surprising for this reason too there is a whole profession specifically for medical skin care, especially now people are more beauty conscious.
There are many of us who have so many problems with the skin ranging from mild acne to severe acne and everything in between, but there are also medical skin care clinics mushrooming all over the place to tackle all these problems. Due to the reason that most of the over the counter treatments usually do not work as they expected, the need for professional medical skin care help and advice is greatly welcomed.
Furthermore most medical insurance companies are covering the visits to the medical skin care clinic and medications given by them, even though there are quite a number of insurance companies out there that do not feel that acne treatment needs medical attention.
Of course it is easier for those who don't have these problems to make nasty remarks. While for those who have been going through years of embarrassing acne,they will tell you the mental effects it has on them are heart-breaking so it is everything but unnecessary. The reason for most of the medical skin care visits is exactly due to the mental and emotional trauma that can be caused by acne.
What Can Be Done?
You are confused when people are staring at you and offering their home remedies, you don't know weather to believe them or not. Though you have never had a professional give you a check up, this will be the time for you. A medical skin care specialist can tell you exactly how bad your acne is and what kind it is just by taking a few minutes to scan your face. For your information there are more than one kind of acne problems. Each one of them is needing their own kind of treatment plan. Don't feel embarrassed because you are not the first one with this problem and you certainly will not be the last. Or maybe it is not as bad as you thought it was.
The medical skin care doctor may ask you about the type of treatments you have tried in the past or now using and whether they are over the counter or prescription. This is not to embarrass you but to help the medical skin care doctor in determining which medication is suitable for .
However, there is something that needs to be thought over and talked about ahead of time is whether your medical insurance cover these types of treatment. A lot of people forget about this issue.
Therefore don't forget to do some research first because treatments which are not covered by your insurance can cost several hundred dollars a month just for your treatment. However, once the treatment begins you should see the whole new you in just a few months.
Both Nammy Mike & Suzy E Hughes are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Nammy Mike has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Health and Massage. The article is written by Nammy Mike. If you want to find out more useful articles, please visit and. Nammy Mike's top article generates over 12100 views. to your Favourites.
Suzy E Hughes has sinced written about articles on various topics from Cellulite, Skin Care. Before you are purchasing any products on the net, make sure you check Suzy E Hughes' excellent free report on . Suzy E Hughes's top article generates over 880 views. to your Favourites.