Cellulitis most commonly affects one of your legs, although symptoms can develop in any area of your body. The condition affects your skin in several ways, causing it to become:
- red
- painful
- hot
- swollen
- tender
If you have cellulitis, you may also find that blisters develop on your skin.
Cellulitis can make you feel generally unwell, causing symptoms that develop before, or in combination with, changes to your skin. These symptoms include:
- nausea
- shivering
- chills
- a general sense of feeling unwell
When to seek medical advice
See your GP as soon as possible if an area of your skin suddenly turns red, painful and hot. If it is not possible for you to see your GP on the same day that your symptoms develop, you should visit your local minor injuries unit.
When to seek urgent medical advice
There are a number of symptoms that suggest the infection has begun to spread from your skin to other parts of your body, such as your blood. These symptoms include:
- the affected area of skin changes appearance and may begin to spread rapidly
- high temperature (fever) of 38ºC (100.4ºF) or above
- vomiting
- changes in mental state, such as confusion
- rapid heart beat
- rapid breathing
- dizziness, particularly when moving from a lying or sitting position to a standing one
If you have any of these symptoms, go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department as soon as possible because you may need urgent medical attention.
It is also recommended that you visit A&E if you suspect that you have cellulitis and you have a pre-existing condition that makes you more vulnerable to complications arising from infection, such as having a weakened immune system.
