Cellulitis is an acute infectious process of the skin, affecting the dermis and the subcutaneous tissue. Although it can be quite common and generally straightforward to treat, cellulitis can also lead to serious complications, if left untreated.
As an overview, cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin, occurring when a lesion in the skin allows bacteria to enter the skin barrier. Afterwards, the skin becomes red, it swells, causing pain and warmth when you touch it. If not properly diagnosed and treated, this skin infection can spread to the nearest lymph nodes, entering the lymphatic system and turning into a seriously dangerous condition that requires immediate medical assistance.
Cellulitis symptoms
Usually, the most common symptoms include redness of the affected area of the skin, swelling and tenderness, as well as warmth when touching the skin. More severe symptoms include fever, chills, skin dimpling. If you’re asking yourself “is cellulitis painful?” the answer is yes, given the fact it is basically a local skin inflammation, that ends up being extremely uncomfortable to patients. Also, the cellulitis rash can turn into cellulitis with blisters and scab which could also be painful.