Cellulitis prevention is the best way to reduce the risk of acquiring this type infection. By avoiding an infection you can also avoid the symptoms and discomforts that are associated with it.
Bacterial infections like this can have complications, become serious, and even develop into a life threatening condition. A good place to start to prevent an infection is to wash hands with soap and water when in a high-risk environment or exposed to someone who may have a bacterial infection.
This will also reduce the risk of complications.
Preventing a Skin Infection Like Cellulitis
When the skin under the top layer of the skin becomes infected with bacteria it is called cellulitis. There is a mixture of bacteria that can be found on the skin and it commonly doesn’t cause any problems. Sometimes it can become imbalanced when new bacteria are introduced and result in an infection.
Avoiding this can help prevent a cellulitis infection. When in contact with possibly contaminated surfaces, simple hand washing with soap can prevent an infection (Wash Your Hands – cdc.gov).
Other Ways To Stop This Infection
Using antibacterial products can disrupt the balance of bacteria because it also kills good bacteria. Other ways to prevent a skin infection include the following:
- Clean and cover any open wounds, abrasions, cuts, or other breaks in the skin
- Create a barrier between skin and surfaces when sharing equipment
- Shower regularly, wash thoroughly, and wear clean clothes
- Don’t share personal hygiene items
- Treat health problems like eczema, chicken pox, and allergies that affect the skin promptly
- Keep skin moisturized to avoid drying and cracking
Having a strong immune system will help fight off skin infections and other health problems. Preventing cellulitis means that the symptoms of this type of infection can be avoided.
Avoiding the Symptoms of a Bacterial Infection in Skin Tissue
The only way to avoid cellulitis symptoms is to not get infected with the bacteria. There are times, even when following preventive guidelines, an infection can occur. When this happens and there are one or two symptoms, other problems can be avoided by getting prompt treatment so it doesn’t spread. Some of the symptoms include:
- Redness
- Rash
- Fever
- Warmth
- Swelling
There may also be swollen or enlarged lymph nodes near where the skin infection is. Prompt treatment is important to prevent the spread of the bacteria. When skin tissue infections aren’t treated it can result in complications.
Complications That Occur When Cellulitis is Not Treated
One of the most serious complications that can occur when cellulitis cannot be prevented is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, which is also known as MRSA. These staph bacteria are highly adaptable, durable bacteria that don’t respond to commonly used antibiotics. Other complication of this infection include the following:
- Infection of the lymph nodes
- Deep layer infection
- Abscess
- Gangrene
- Lympadenitis (Lymphadenitis – nlm.nih.gov)
Sepsis is when the bacteria gets into the blood and is circulated throughout the body. This is a very serious complication of this type of skin tissue infection. Prompt treatment of infections can prevent this.
The simple act of hand washing will go a long way in preventing cellulitis and well worth the time to avoid symptoms and complications of this bacterial infection.
