Facial cellulitis is a skin disease which occurs as a result of bacteria entering the body through cracked or damaged skin. It could be a potentially serious condition if not looked into immediately. This article provides some information about this disorder.
Cellulitis is a medical term referring to a bacterial infection. It mostly affects the skin and the tissues directly under it. There are some conditions which lead to the susceptibility of cellulitis. Leg ulcers, lymphedema or gravitational eczema, are the other skin disorders which are favorable for this bacterial infection. This mostly occurs on the arms and legs. One of the areas, though, where this can have a disastrous impact is the face.
Causes
There are 3 types of bacteria causing this medical condition. These are Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Any break or crack in the skin provides a pathway for the bacteria to enter the skin. If there are other skin-related conditions like eczema and skin ulcers, these bacteria damage the skin further. As far as facial cellulitis in children is concerned, it is mostly caused by staphylococcus aureus. In addition to this, one should be aware that this medical condition can affect the young and old equally. Furthermore, it is also possible that this medical condition may have occurred in some other area of the skin and then it got transmitted to the face. The occurrence of this infection directly on the face is rare. The bacteria causing it may be transmitted by bug bites or if there are deep cuts on the face or dermatitis, even that can cause this medical condition.
Symptoms
The most explicit symptom is swelling and redness of the face, especially around the cheeks. The redness manifests itself in red lines running from the infected area towards lymph nodes and through the lymph vessel lines. In addition to this, there might be a burning or itchy sensation in the area affected by the infection. Unfortunately, even one’s tongue may be affected. The tongue might seem to be swollen and very sensitive. A fever and warm sensation in the infected parts of the skin always follows. A few other possible symptoms are chills, muscle ache, appetite loss, vomiting, confusion, and nausea. Furthermore, blisters, scabs, rash, and fatigue are also indicators of the skin being affected by this medical condition.
Treatment
The treatment as in any disease would depend on the severity of the symptoms. To start off, the doctor would mark the area infected to monitor it for spreading. Then the first course of action is antibiotics. However, these can be taken in the period of around 2 weeks. The other very important aspect of this treatment is to prevent the bacteria from entering the body again. This can be ensured by covering the scrapes or the cuts on the body and following a good skin care regime. Apart from this, the intake of vitamin supplements would increase the body’s immunity and would prevent the infection all together. In fact, it is believed to be beneficial in fighting this infection or any other infection for that matter. This would also strengthen the body a great deal. It is necessary that one keeps the affected area clean, in order to get rid of this infection faster. The herbal cures like echinacea too can help in dealing with this medical condition. However, it is not unfortunately always that one undergoes a treatment and one is hale and hearty. There are some complications that one should keep in mind. This infection may spread to deeper layers of the skin and then the bacteria can enter the blood stream infecting the lymph nodes and vital organs. Ear infection, tooth infection, or upper respiratory system infection too can increase the risk of this medical condition.
On observation of the aforementioned symptoms, one should consult the concerned doctor. Eventually, prevention is better than cure. Thus keeping the skin clean, protecting the wounds properly in case they happen, and a hygienic lifestyle would help in keeping this disorder at bay.
Disclaimer: This HealthHearty article is for informative purposes only, and should not be used as a replacement for expert medical advice.
