Cellulitis symptoms can range from mild to life threatening. The most common culprit behind these symptoms are the Streptococcus and Staphylococcus bacteria that enter the body through fissures in the skin.  How do you know when you're in trouble? There are red flags that serve as warnings that this skin infection has taken hold.

Cellulitis is a skin infection that usually occurs on the lower legs, although the infection can develop on skin on any part of your body, including your face. The most common cause of cellulitis are the bacteria Streptococcus and Staphylococcus, which invade the body through breaks in the skin, including through cracks caused by flaky skin. In fact, having dermatitis or athletes foot can lead to cellulitis if these skin conditions are not treated quickly and properly. In addition, some insect and spider bites can transfer infecting bacteria to your body.

The symptoms of a cellulitis infection can include red, swollen skin that is warm or hot and hurts when it is touched. In addition, you may see red spots or small blisters that can pop on top of the already-red skin. You may develop a fever and the infected area might get larger.

It is crucial to get medical assistance quickly so as to help stop the spread of this type of infection. The infection, when caught early, is easily treated. However, left untreated, cellulitis may expand below the skin and eventually end up in your bloodstream. Cellulitis that spreads like this can be life-threatening.

In addition, if the infection is caused by streptococcus, the strep can become flesh-eating, although this rarely occurs.

Treatment of Cellulitis
If you catch a cellulitis infection early, your physician will probably prescribe antibiotics that work on both streptococcus and staphylococcus for a period of 10 to 14 days. Make sure that you take all of the prescribed medication even when the symptoms of your cellulitis start disappearing.

If your infection resists treatment or has become serious, you may have to go to the hospital and receive your medication intravenously.

You can help prevent cellulitis by cleaning any cuts that you have daily, applying antibiotic ointments and keeping the wounds bandaged until it is unlikely that the injury will reopen.