Infections in the leg are varied in nature and affect the various parts of the leg. Some conditions are skin based, which may range from a simple rash to cellulitis. Conditions deeper under the skin could mean that you are suffering from deep vein thrombosis or varicose veins.
The first step in diagnosing a rash or inflammation on the skin is to eliminate any kind of allergy as the cause of the rash. Some dusty environments or some types of food may cause the rash. If the rash comes and goes under particular conditions, try and avoid these to see if the rash disappears completely. This will confirm that the rash is being caused by particular conditions, such as a dusty environment or using a particular type of skin treatment, and so on.
Cellulitis is a condition where an inflammation occurs in the skin and sub skin layers of the leg. This appears in the form of a red colored rash on the surface of the skin. Cellulitis has no connection with cellulite which is a cosmetic skin disorder. Cellulitis can be caused either by micro-organisms residing in the skin or by any externally present bacteria. A person is vulnerable to cellulitis when the skin has a cut or lesion in it. This cut may be caused by an external injury, an insect bite, excessively dry skin, or some other reason why the skin may have been punctured. At this time, the wound gets infected by the bacteria and the inflammation begins to set in. In the case of cellulitis, the cut may not be visible to the naked eye. Diagnosing cellulitis is challenging as the rash may appear over a small area and disappear. There could also be a confusion over whether the rash is caused by cellulitis or by deep vein thrombosis. Some of the symptoms of the two conditions, such as inflammation or pain are common and therefore may lead to confusion over the diagnosis. For this reason, doctors may suggest testing the wound or the patient’s blood.
Cellulitis is also known to occur in conditions where living and bathing quarters are shared, such as in military camps or dormitories.
If the condition is treated with antibiotics, it should take no more than a week to be cured. If left untreated, cellulitis might penetrate deeper into the skin and become potentially life threatening. In this case it is essential to immediately visit a doctor. Other pre conditions to curing cellulitis include washing the area thoroughly, keeping it dry, using clean sanitized bandages and changing/cleaning the bandages twice a day.