What Is Cellulitis?

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Staph Blood Culture
Staphylococcus aureus colonies grow on blood. (Image credit: Wikimedia Commons)

Cellulitis is a common skin infection typically caused by Staphylococcus or Streptococcus bacteria.

The human body is covered by a wide array of different bacteria, and these microbes don't typically cause any issues while on the surface of the skin. However, bacteria can cause cellulitis if they get into the body through a break in the skin, such as from cuts, burns, surgical wounds, insect bites, cracked or peeling skin, ulcers and certain skin problems, including eczema, psoriasis and athlete's foot.

Obesity, intravenous drug use and conditions that weaken the immune system — such as liver disease, diabetes and HIV/AIDS — increase a person's risk of developing cellulitis, according to the Mayo Clinic.

Cellulitis begins as a red, swollen area of skin, which feels warm, tender and sometimes painful. These infections can occur anywhere on the body, but are most frequently found on the legs, face and arms. People with cellulitis may also experience fever, chills, muscle aches, nausea and fatigue, according to the National Institutes of Health.

If left untreated, the skin infection can spread to the lymph nodes or blood. This bodily invasion can lead to a severe — and potentially deadly — blood infection called sepsis. Untreated facial cellulitis can cause bacterial meningitis, which is an infection of the membranes surrounding the brain and spinal cord.

A 2012 study published in the medical journal The Lancet found that cellulitis caused nearly 27,000 deaths across the globe in 2010.

Physicians treat cellulitis with antibiotics. When the infection is mild and localized to the skin, physicians may prescribe oral antibiotics that can be taken at home. However, if the infection has spread, antibiotics injected straight into the bloodstream may be necessary.

Though they may sound similar, cellulitis is not at all related to cellulite, which is a dimpling of the skin caused by fatty deposits.

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Joseph Castro
Joseph Castro
Live Science Contributor
Joseph Bennington-Castro is a Hawaii-based contributing writer for Live Science and Space.com. He holds a master's degree in science journalism from New York University, and a bachelor's degree in physics from the University of Hawaii. His work covers all areas of science, from the quirky mating behaviors of different animals, to the drug and alcohol habits of ancient cultures, to new advances in solar cell technology. On a more personal note, Joseph has had a near-obsession with video games for as long as he can remember, and is probably playing a game at this very moment.