Typically, cellulitis infections clear up completely after seven to 10 days with antibiotic treatment. Cellulitis Because it’s typically caused by bacteria that “There are definitely times in which we get a cut or scrape or a splinter and it gets infected, and that can certainly be cellulitis,” says Dr. Mostaghimi.

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He or she can show you what types of bandages or dressings you should use, and how to clean your skin thoroughly before covering it.Any time a person is injured or sick, getting enough rest—and practicing relaxation and stress reduction—can also be important parts of the recovery process.

“This can make the skin tight and red and hot, and sometimes pus can form beneath the skin, as well.”Cellulitis can occur anywhere on the body, but it most commonly appears on the arms or legs. Since then, his work has been featured in numerous medical journals, on CNN and in "The New York Times" and "USA Today." Once cellulitis is diagnosed, doctors usually recommend the following courses of treatment.The “vast majority” of cellulitis cases can be treated with a short course of oral antibiotics prescribed by a doctor—usually one to two weeks, says Dr. Mostaghimi. Cellulitis is often caused by the common bacteria Most of the time, people start to feel better within a few days of their first antibiotic dose; their skin starts to look better, as well. According to Dr. Mostaghimi, other types of infections are sometimes “Our research show that when people go to the emergency room or to their primary care doctor and the diagnosis is cellulitis, probably about a third of those cases are incorrect,” says Dr. Mostaghimi.

People who are obese or who have chronic illnesses (and weakened immune systems) may also be at increased risk for skin infections. Is This an Emergency? “The job of the skin is to keep bad things out of your body,” says Arash Mostaghimi, MD, director of dermatology inpatient service at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Cellulitis can occur almost anywhere on the body although most infections involve the legs.

There are several ways to tell if cellulitis is healing.

// Leaf Group Lifestyle

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In these cases, doctors should make sure that they are treating those

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Doctors can usually diagnose this condition by identifying its symptoms and trademark characteristics; lab tests aren’t typically needed unless treatment has been already attempted and hasn’t worked.

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