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Cellulitis: How to prevent recurrent episodes
By Mayo Clinic staffOriginal Article: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cellulitis/AN01418
- With Mayo Clinic dermatologist
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
Dr. Lawrence Gibson likens bad health information on the Internet to food poisoning.
Consumers, he says, need to be aware and will find reliable information at MayoClinic.com.
Dr. Gibson, a Covington, Ky., native, has been with Mayo Clinic since 1986 and is board certified in dermatology, dermatopathology and immunodermatology. He is a professor of dermatology at Mayo Medical School and a consultant in the Department of Dermatology.
Dr. Gibson has served as the fellowship director for dermatopathology and as chair of the Laboratory Division in the Department of Dermatology. He is especially interested in inflammatory disorders of the skin, including vasculitis, and in lymphoma affecting the skin.
"Electronic information has become a staple in the diet of a health conscious society," he says. "It's important to avoid misinformation and provide a credible source for health information. Using this analogy, it's critical to avoid 'indigestion' or, worse yet, 'food poisoning' by the ingestion of tainted information."
Definition (1)
- Cellulitis infection: Is it contagious?
Risk factors (1)
- Cellulitis: How to prevent recurrent episodes
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Question
Cellulitis: How to prevent recurrent episodes
My husband has had cellulitis three times in a single year. What can he do to prevent recurrent cellulitis?
Answer
from Lawrence E. Gibson, M.D.
To help prevent recurrent episodes of cellulitis — a bacterial infection in the deepest layer of skin — keep skin clean and well moisturized. Prevent cuts and scrapes by wearing appropriate clothing and footwear, using gloves when necessary, and trimming fingernails and toenails with care.
Factors that may increase your risk of cellulitis include:
- Pre-existing skin diseases, such as athlete's foot
- Puncture injuries, such as insect or animal bites
- Surgical incisions or pressure sores
- Immune system problem, such as diabetes
- Injuries that occur when you're in a lake, river or ocean
- Hot tub use
Cellulitis usually makes the affected skin hot, red, swollen and painful. Your skin may look pebbled, like an orange peel. Seek prompt medical attention at the first sign of a skin infection. Treatment is usually with antibiotics. Some people who frequently develop cellulitis may benefit from long-term antibiotic treatment to prevent recurrent infections.
Next questionCellulitis infection: Is it contagious?
- Cellulitis. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/dermatologic_disorders/bacterial_skin_infections/cellulitis.html?qt=cellulitis&alt=sh. Accessed Jan. 17, 2013.
- Barbara Woodward Lips Patient Education Center. Cellulitis. Rochester, Minn.: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; 2009.
- Goldsmith LA, et al., eds. Fitzpatrick's Dermatology in General Medicine. 8th ed. New York, N.Y.: The McGraw-Hill Companies; 2012. http://www.accessmedicine.com/resourceTOC.aspx?resourceID=740.Accessed Jan. 17, 2013.
- Baddour LM. Cellulitis and erysipelas. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Jan. 17, 2013.
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