If caught early, treatment of cellulitis is as painless as a course of antibiotics, which will treat both streptococcus and staphylococcus bacteria, that will last for 10 to 14 days. Your symptoms are likely to start to diminish before you have completed taking the whole prescription. However, it is important to take every single pill that your doctor has prescribed even after you start to feel better.

In some cases, cellulitis resists treatment. In addition, some people wait to go to their physicians until their infection is more serious. In these cases, these patients may have to be treated in the hospital using intravenous antibiotics.

Cellulitis is usually caused by Streptococcus or Staphylococcus bacteria. This skin infection commonly develops near the shins and ankles, although it can occur on skin anywhere on your body, including your face. The bacteria enter the body through breaks in the skin. These breaks can be caused by surgery, cuts, piercings, and athlete’s foot. It looks like a patch of swollen, red skin that may be warm and hurt when touched. Sometimes, red dots will develop on top of the swollen area. Occasionally, the skin may blister and pop.

It is important to see your physician if the infection appears to be spreading or if you have a fever. Left untreated, a cellulitis can infect your whole body and develop into a life threatening illness.

Make sure that you clean any wounds that you have, apply antibiotic cream and put on bandages. Be sure change the bandages periodically. If you have skin conditions such as athlete’s foot, treat the conditions sooner versus later.

People who have circulation problems, who have diabetes, who have suppressed immune systems or who have frequent fungus infections on their feet are more likely to develop cellulitis. If you have one of these conditions, you should be extra vigilant about any open wounds that you have.