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Cellulitis

A spreading area of red, warm, tender skin. A bacterial infection that needs prompt care.

Speak to a GP about cellulitisFrom £79

In short

Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that needs prompt antibiotics and monitoring. Caught early, most cases do well, but spreading or severe infection is a medical emergency, so safety-netting matters.

Overview

What is cellulitis?

Cellulitis is a bacterial infection of the deeper layers of the skin and the tissue beneath it, usually caused by bacteria entering through a break in the skin. It causes a spreading area of red, warm, swollen, tender skin, most often on the lower leg. It needs antibiotics, and because it can become serious, it should be assessed promptly.

Symptoms

Common symptoms

  • An area of skin that is red, warm, swollen, and tender
  • Redness that spreads over hours
  • Pain in the affected area
  • Sometimes a fever or feeling unwell
  • Often on the lower leg, but can be anywhere

When to act

When to see a doctor

Book promptly if you have a spreading area of red, warm, tender skin. Go to A&E or call 999 for rapidly spreading redness, severe pain, blistering or dusky skin, a high fever, confusion, or facial/eye involvement.

When to seek urgent help

Seek urgent help if

  • Rapidly spreading redness, severe pain out of proportion, or the skin turning dusky or blistered (possible serious infection, go to A&E)
  • A high fever, shivering, confusion, or feeling very unwell (call 111 or 999)
  • Cellulitis around the eye or on the face (needs urgent assessment)
  • Redness that keeps spreading despite antibiotics

Call 999 for life-threatening emergencies or NHS 111 for urgent non-emergency advice.

Treatment

How a private GP can help

  • A prompt assessment of the skin and how far it has spread
  • Marking the edge of the redness to monitor progress
  • Prescription of oral antibiotics where cellulitis is confirmed and suitable for home treatment
  • Clear safety-netting on when to seek urgent care
  • Advice on elevation, pain relief, and treating any entry point (such as athlete's foot)
  • Referral to hospital for severe cellulitis or when IV antibiotics are needed

What we don't do

  • Intravenous antibiotics and hospital treatment for severe cases (referred urgently)
  • Surgical treatment of abscesses or deep infection (referred on)

Pricing

What it costs

An online consultation about cellulitis starts at £79 for a 20-minute video appointment. In-pharmacy consultations are £129 and home visits are £189. Your consultation includes one private prescription if appropriate, and a sick note for work if needed. You pay the pharmacy separately for any medication.

See full pricing breakdown

FAQ

Common questions about cellulitis

Is cellulitis serious?
It can be, which is why it needs prompt treatment. Most cases treated early with antibiotics improve well, but spreading or severe infection needs urgent or hospital care.
How quickly should antibiotics work?
You should start to improve within 48 hours. If the redness is still spreading, the pain is worsening, or you feel more unwell, you need to be reassessed urgently.
Can cellulitis be treated online?
A clear, mild case sometimes can be, but cellulitis often needs the skin examined in person and close follow-up. We'll direct you to in-person or urgent care when that's safer.
How can I stop it coming back?
Treat any athlete's foot or skin cracks that let bacteria in, keep skin moisturised, and manage swelling (oedema). Recurrent cellulitis sometimes needs preventive antibiotics via specialist advice.
See all conditions we can help with

Ready to talk to a GP about cellulitis?

Message Emily on WhatsApp or book online in under 90 seconds. UK-registered doctors, available today.

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