What is Cellulitis

Last update : August 01, 2010
 
What is Cellulitis

Cellulitis is one of the most commonly found skin infections that are caused by the inflammation on the skin and its related to connective tissues. It is found to be infecting the skin with cuts, burns, sores, animal bites, wounds of operations and the skin which is chapped due to some reason. It does not affect the outer skin rather damages the internal soft tissues. Its formation starts when a bacterium enters the broken skin and penetrates the skin underneath. The inflammation occurs when immune system works to kill the external germs and bacteria by bringing the white blood cells in contact with the invading bacteria. When the inflammation occurs in the skin with cuts and injuries, the ellulitis starts to form.

The people who are diabetic have higher chances of developing this diffused inflammation infection. It can occur on any part of body but it usually infects the face and legs of people with health problems. The reason for this may be the weak immune system of diabetic individuals. But this infection is in fact curable. The medical doctors recommend several antibiotics for its treatment. This infection usually appears with another skin infection named as Erysipelas. Sometimes it is difficult to differentiate between the two due to the similar appearance and coexistence in most of the cases. The major cause of these two infections is the invasion of bacteria in the skin tissues through sores and cracks. It also occurs when insects bite so the itching may cause it to spread. Now a day, people are increasingly getting tattoos on their body which also led to this infection. The bacteria enter the skin through the insertions made for inking the body. The tattoos are done to make the body decorated with colored photos and artistic designs but it can lead to many skin infections. Moreover, the injections on the arms can also become a reason for inflammation as the germs can enter into the body through the needle made break. The formation of this infection usually takes place with itching on a rash which leaves red marks. These marks are usually ignored considering it a bite by some insect or allergy. Dry skin mostly gets such infections.

So whenever, you find some red marks forming on your skin, you should immediately see a doctor so he may diagnose and identify the problem accurately and start the treatment. Furthermore, the people with a poor and inadequate blood circulation system also have high chances of developing such infections. But the cleanliness of the skin and regular bathing with anti bacterial soap may prevent you from skin troubles. Also the people with liver infections, eczema, chicken poxes and cirrhosis should adopt precautionary measures to prevent inflammation and invasion of bacteria in the internal tissues. It can be diagnosed with the help of an ultrasound if there is any confusion between Cellulitis and Erysipelas. The infection is quick in the development as it takes hardly 24 hours to infect a particular area of your skin. .