It’s sometimes tricky to know when to see a doctor for skin changes, but if you suddenly develop a swollen rash that spreads or is associated with other symptoms, such as a fever and chills, it would be wise to call your primary-care physician, an urgent care center, or the emergency department.
It’s important to treat cellulitis early, before it spreads through the body.
In most cases, you won’t need a diagnostic test, says Anna Guanche, MD, a board-certified dermatologist at the Bella Skin Institute in Calabasas, California. Most doctors are able to diagnose this condition by looking at your skin.
Your doctor may examine the skin to pinpoint where the bacteria entered your body. “Occasionally, it’s a surgical site, but it can also be from an insect bite or a scrape of any kind — anything that introduces bacteria into the skin,” says Dr. Guanche.
A broad-spectrum antibiotic, which is effective against different types of bacteria, may be prescribed for cellulitis. You should start to feel better within about three days of starting treatment with antibiotics, although you’ll need to take your prescribed antibiotics for 10 to 14 days, or else risk a recurrence of the infection. If your cellulitis doesn’t clear up with oral antibiotics, your doctor may admit you to the hospital so you can receive antibiotics intravenously.
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