Understanding Cellulitis
What is it? Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the skin. Everyone carries bacteria on their skin all of the time without causing infection. However, a bigger infection can grow when there’s a break in the skin that allows bacteria to get to the lower layers and grow, such as with a cut or bug bite, and this is what we call cellulitis.
Common Types
- Cellulitis can be anywhere on the body and is indicated by redness, and most often swelling, sometimes pain, warmth, drainage, or fever
- If there is drainage from the site or a fluid like feeling then there is often an abscess.
- We worry most about cellulitis over a joint affecting function, or red streaking away from the site itself (which can indicate a blood stream infection). Both of these need to be seen in person immediately by a health care provider.
When to Manage at Home
✅ You can manage your child's cellulitis at home when:
- There is minimal redness/swelling and discomfort that just started in the last 24-48 hours
- There is no drainage, red streaking away from the main site, fever, or loss of joint function
How to Treat at Home
🏠 Home remedies for Cellulitis:
- Keep the site clean and dry, if able you can do warm water soaks for 15 minutes twice a day (for example on a toe or finger).
- Apply Bacitracin or Neosporin to the site -both are over the counter and can be used twice a day for 5-7 days.
- Circle the area of redness with a washable marker so you can tell whether the site is getting bigger / redness is spreading
Safe Medications
- Bacitracin or Neosporin
- Tylenol or Motrin for comfort if needed - however only use for minor discomfort, if pain is severe or effecting function then it should be seen in person by a medical provider
- Keflex or Mupirocin may be prescribed by Poppins or a medical provider depending on the stage of cellulitis
When to Contact Poppins
📱 Contact us again when:
- Redness is spreading
- A white head like a pimple forms
- Any questions!
When to Visit Your Pediatrician or Urgent Care
🩺 Go to an in-person appointment when:
- If a medical provider has started your child on antibiotics and symptoms are worsening instead of staying the same or improving
- There is pus or drainage
- There is red streaking or severe/rapid spread in < 24 hours
- Fever
- Loss of function if cellulitis is over a joint
If your gut tells you something is wrong, don't hesitate to reach out. Need help? Reconnect with our on-demand team of medical staff available 24/7.
