Cellulitis Specialist
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Nizar A Tejani, MD PC
Primary Care & Infectious Disease Specialist located in Stockbridge, GA
Cellulitis is a potentially fatal infection that often occurs in the legs and feet. If you have this dangerous and complex infection, esteemed infectious diseases specialist Nizar Tejani, MD, MPH, can help at his private practice, Nizar A. Tejani MD PC. With more than 30 years of experience, Dr. Tejani offers the unique approach that you need to recover safely in his Stockbridge, Georgia, office. Call the office or use the provided booking link to make your appointment now.
Cellulitis Q&A
What is cellulitis?
Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that develops in the deepest skin layers. The bacteria that cause cellulitis — namely, streptococcus and staphylococcus — get into your body through any type of break, crack, or wound in the skin. You can get cellulitis from animal bites as well.
The most common location for cellulitis is the lower legs and feet, but it can appear in your arms and other areas also.
Cellulitis can be a very serious infection. If untreated, the infection can move into your lymph nodes and blood and possibly turn deadly.
What are the symptoms of cellulitis?
Some common symptoms of cellulitis are:
- Red skin, which may spread
- Swelling
- Warmth
- Glossy-looking skin
- Skin tightness
- Red spots or bumps
- Blisters
- Pitted or uneven-looking skin
- Skin sensitivity
- Pain
- Fever
- Chills
Cellulitis usually appears on just one side of your body. The symptoms may be similar to those of skin allergies or other conditions, so it's important to see Dr. Tejani for a diagnosis and condition-specific care as soon as possible when you notice any of these symptoms.
Who is at risk for cellulitis?
Any condition that creates an entry point in your skin can increase your risk of cellulitis. This includes skin injuries like cuts, burns, scrapes, diabetic foot ulcers, and nonhealing wounds.
Even conditions that you might not think of as a skin entry point, like eczema, an ingrown toenail, or athlete's foot, can lead to cellulitis.
In addition, people who have a weakened immune system because of diabetes, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or other conditions are more susceptible to cellulitis because they can't fight off bacteria effectively.
Lymphedema — chronic extremity swelling that may happen after surgery — is another risk factor for cellulitis. Studies also show that medically obese people have an increased risk of cellulitis.
How is cellulitis treated?
Antibiotics are the treatment for cellulitis, although not every case of cellulitis responds to the same antibiotic. For example, methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) requires a different antibiotic than most kinds of staphylococcus.
Dr. Tejani is an infectious diseases specialist with decades of experience in cellulitis treatment.
He evaluates your case of cellulitis individually to determine the appropriate antibiotic and then administers the treatment you need to clear the infection.
In most cases, you take oral antibiotics for 5-14 days. In severe cases of cellulitis, you may need intravenous (IV) antibiotics, which Dr. Tejani administers conveniently in the office.
Some cases of cellulitis may also feature foot or leg ulcers or skin abscesses. Dr. Tejani expertly provides in-office wound care to protect you as you heal.
Call Nizar A. Tejani MD PC or book an appointment online for the best in cellulitis care from an infectious disease expert.
