Cellulitis care means prompt antibiotics from a clinician, leg elevation, rest, wound hygiene, and close monitoring for red-flag symptoms.
Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection of deeper skin layers. It often follows a cut, cracked heel, insect bite, athlete’s foot, or any skin break. The area turns red, warm, swollen, and tender. Quick, steady care speeds healing and lowers relapse risk. This guide shows how to care for cellulitis at home and when to get help.
At-Home Cellulitis Care Checklist
| Action | How | Why It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Start antibiotics | Take exactly as prescribed; don’t skip doses | Stops the infection from spreading |
| Elevate limb | Raise above heart level whenever you rest | Reduces swelling and throbbing |
| Rest the area | Limit standing and long walks until redness fades | Less strain on inflamed tissue |
| Clean the skin | Gentle wash with soap and water; pat dry | Lowers surface germs and irritation |
| Cover if weeping | Light, dry dressing; change when damp | Keeps clothing from rubbing the skin |
| Mark the edge | Draw a line around the redness once | Makes spread or improvement easy to spot |
| Pain relief | Use paracetamol or ibuprofen unless advised not to | Eases pain and helps sleep |
| Hydrate | Drink water spaced through the day | Helps recovery and avoids dehydration |
| Watch for red flags | See the section below | Catches severe illness early |
What Cellulitis Is And Why It Needs Prompt Care
Bacteria—often streptococci or staphylococci—enter through a small break and spread under the skin. Fluid builds up as the body reacts. Legs and feet are common, but arms, face, and other areas can be involved. Antibiotics treat the cause, while elevation, rest, and skin care ease swelling and soreness.
Most mild cases respond to tablets at home. If you feel unwell, pain surges, or the red patch races ahead of the pen line, you need urgent review. Delays raise the risk of sepsis or abscess. Read the CDC cellulitis overview for warning signs and safety tips.
Caring For Cellulitis At Home: Safe Steps
Take Antibiotics Exactly As Directed
Start the first dose as soon as you have a prescription. Keep the schedule steady—set phone reminders. Many regimens run for around five days, though some last longer if the area improves slowly or if the site is tricky, like near the eye. Do not stop early even if the redness shrinks fast. Report drug allergies, pregnancy, or kidney problems to your prescriber.
Elevate And Rest
Raise the limb above heart level when you sit or lie down. A stack of pillows works. Aim for long stretches of elevation through the day and at night. Keep walks short while the area is sore and warm. Once the heat and swelling settle, you can build activity back in.
Clean, Cover, And Leave Blisters Intact
Wash the area gently with soap and clean water once daily. Pat dry. If the skin weeps, cover with a simple non-stick dressing and tape at the edges. Change when damp. Skip ointments unless your clinician told you to use one. Don’t puncture blisters. If a blister opens, trim loose skin with clean scissors and cover with a fresh dressing.
Control Pain And Swelling
Use paracetamol for pain relief. Ibuprofen can help with pain and swelling if you have no stomach, kidney, or bleeding risks. Read the label and follow local dosing guidance. Cool compresses can feel soothing: place a clean cloth soaked in cool water on the area for 10 to 15 minutes, up to three times daily. Do not apply ice directly to skin.
Track Progress
Check the area twice daily in good light. A fading edge, less warmth, and easier walking point to recovery. Take a photo at the same distance each day. If the red zone spreads beyond your line, if swelling jumps, or if new streaks climb up the limb, contact care urgently. Keep a simple diary of pain scores.
When To Seek Urgent Care Or Emergency Help
Go to emergency care or call local services if any of these appear: fever or chills, fast heartbeat, fast breathing, dizziness, confusion, cold or pale skin, or collapse. Seek fast care if the skin turns purple or black, blisters widely, or pain is severe and out of proportion. Face cellulitis, infection near the eye, genitals, or a joint, a weak immune system, or diabetes with a foot wound all need rapid review. If there is no clear improvement within 24 to 48 hours of tablets, get reassessed.
These signs aim to keep you safe. They point to deeper infection or sepsis, which needs urgent care in hospital. Do not drive yourself if you feel faint or confused. Use emergency numbers if needed.
Antibiotics: What To Expect
Common first-line tablets for non-purulent cellulitis include penicillin-class drugs and cephalosporins. Clinicians choose based on allergy history, local patterns, and the site of infection. Typical courses last around five days, and then extend if the skin has not quieted. If you need intravenous medicine at first, staff often switch to tablets within two days once you stabilise and can swallow pills. Take tablets with water and space doses evenly through the day.
You should see early signs of response within one to two days: pain eases a bit, swelling softens, and the border stops advancing. Redness can take longer to settle, and skin may flake during healing. If new pus forms, if fever starts, or if the limb gets harder, you may need a change in plan. Keep the course complete unless you are told to stop. NICE sets out oral first line choices and when to switch from IV to tablets; see the NICE recommendations.
Side Effects And Safety
Nausea, loose stools, or a mild headache can occur with many antibiotics. A rash, swelling of the lips or tongue, wheeze, or trouble breathing needs urgent care. Severe diarrhoea with belly cramps or blood needs urgent review. Space tablets away from antacids and iron unless your prescriber says otherwise. Skip alcohol if it worsens nausea. Share a list of your medicines at each visit.
Wound Care, Dressings, And Skin Hygiene
Keep toenails trimmed, moisturise dry heels, and treat athlete’s foot to remove entry points for germs. Choose a mild, fragrance-free cleanser. After washing, pat dry between toes. If you shave the area, pause until healed. Loose, breathable clothing helps reduce friction over tender skin.
If lymphoedema or leg swelling lingers after recovery, a clinician may suggest compression once redness fades. Start only after heat and pain settle. Fit matters; a trained fitter can measure your leg for the right grade. Slide stockings on in the morning when swelling is lowest.
Recovery Timeline And Daily Plan
Day 1 to 2: start tablets, mark the border, elevate a lot, and use pain relief. Day 3 to 4: walking feels steadier; keep the foot up when resting. Day 5 to 7: finish the course if set for five days; some need longer. Keep the skin clean and covered if it still weeps. Plan a follow-up if swelling lingers or if work needs a clearance note.
Who’s At Higher Risk And How To Lower It
Risk climbs with athlete’s foot, broken skin between toes, eczema flare, ulcers, cracked heels, obesity, diabetes, poor circulation, or lymphoedema. Foot care, steady moisturising, nail care, and prompt care for tinea pedis lower repeat episodes. Well-fitting shoes and clean socks help. Use gloves when gardening or doing chores that nick the skin. Break cycles by treating skin breaks early and keeping feet dry each day.
Prevention After You Heal
Check feet and legs each day if you have diabetes, leg swelling, or poor sensation. Treat breaks fast: wash, dry, and cover. Use a plain emollient to stop cracking. Manage athlete’s foot with an over-the-counter antifungal as the carton directs. If flares keep coming, ask about a longer plan for leg swelling.
Quick Reference: Course Lengths And Care Milestones
| Scenario | Typical Approach | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mild, non-purulent | Oral antibiotics | Course often around five days; extend if slow response |
| Eye, face, genitals, or joint nearby | Urgent review; may need IV | Early specialist input keeps risks low |
| No change by 48 hours | Reassess plan | Check drug, dose, adherence, and alternate causes |
| Marked swelling after healing | Compression after redness clears | Fit by a trained person |
| Repeat episodes | Foot care and skin care plan | Treat tinea pedis; moisturise heels |
Smart Extras That Help Daily Life
Safe Movement
Short, gentle walks help keep joints moving and lower stiffness. Use a walking aid if needed to unload the limb. Skip gyms and runs until heat fades and you can walk at a brisk pace without a tug in the skin.
Sleep And Work
Prop the limb on extra pillows at night. For desk jobs, set a timer to lift the leg every hour. For standing roles, ask for short sitting breaks and a stool. Return to sports only when swelling, warmth, and pain have settled.
What To Avoid
Don’t scratch or scrub the area. Skip tight boots or socks that leave deep marks. Don’t soak open skin. No tanning beds or heat packs on inflamed skin. Avoid sharing towels. Keep pets from licking wounds.
When You’re Ready To Resume Normal Routines
Wait until heat, redness, and pain have settled and you can walk at your usual pace. Ease back in: short chores, then longer walks, then sport. Keep skin care going, keep nails trimmed, and treat athlete’s foot at the first itch. If your job needs heavy lifting or kneeling, ask for a short phased return so the area doesn’t flare again.