{"id":2445,"date":"2018-08-10T03:01:44","date_gmt":"2018-08-10T03:01:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=2445"},"modified":"2021-10-12T04:58:30","modified_gmt":"2021-10-12T04:58:30","slug":"10-things-youll-never-guess-that-cause-cellulitis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/10-things-youll-never-guess-that-cause-cellulitis\/","title":{"rendered":"10 Things You’ll Never Guess That Cause Cellulitis"},"content":{"rendered":"

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According to clinical studies, cellulitis is a medical condition that\u2019s known to affect approximately 200 in every 100, 000 patients. That might not sound like much, but consider the fact that the average doctor sees an average 2, 160 patients in private practice alone and the condition starts to look a lot more commonplace.<\/p>\n

Simply defined, cellulitis is a bacterial infection that affects the skin\u2019s inner layers. Your symptoms might include swelling, redness, and heat along the affected area, along with redness along with the body\u2019s lymphatic system. These bacterial infections most commonly enter the body through small lesions in the skin, which might not even be visible to the naked eye.<\/p>\n

Other symptoms of the condition can include running a high fever and feeling tired and lethargic. In extreme cases, it can even affect the deeper layers of the skin.
\nAre you at risk? Here are 10 things you didn\u2019t know could be the cause behind your cellulitis.<\/p>\n

1. Diabetes<\/h3>\n

Diabetes<\/a> is a health condition that affects the way the body produces and regulates a hormone known as insulin; this hormone is responsible for breaking down sugar in the body and converting it into energy. When your body isn\u2019t breaking down or processing sugar in the right way, the glucose levels in the blood can go dangerously high \u2013 and lead to a wide variety of symptoms including tiredness and blurred vision that can, in extreme cases, lead up to unconsciousness, more commonly known as a \u201csugar coma.\u201d<\/p>\n

There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. In Type 1 diabetes, the body doesn\u2019t produce its own insulin at all, and those who suffer from diabetes will need to take insulin shots every day. Sometimes, gestational diabetes also shows up in pregnant women \u2013 though is most commonly Type 2 instead.
\nWhile diabetes is not a direct cause of cellulitis, it can be a risk factor. Why does it put you at risk of cellulitis? Both the compromised immunity and circulation problems that come with diabetes can put you at a higher risk of developing this condition.<\/p>\n

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2. Small Cuts in the Skin<\/h3>\n

Small cuts and abrasions to the skin happen every day, more frequently to people who are in careers where they work with harsh terrain \u2013 or have to do hard or precise work with their hands. Most people wouldn\u2019t think much of a small cut or abrasion in the skin. After all, most people would just figure it\u2019s a small cut and forget about it \u2013 but did you know it\u2019s one of the highest risk factors for developing cellulitis?<\/p>\n

As you might have already guessed, cellulitis<\/a> is a skin condition whereby a bacterial infection \u2013 usually Streptococcus or Staphylococcus \u2013 enters the body through a small cut like this in the skin. It might start off looking like a small cut or abrasion, but if the area becomes swollen, red, and warm to the touch, then you could be suffering from cellulitis.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s recommended that you make an appointment with a doctor or dermatologist if you should notice that this is the case.<\/p>\n

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3. Improper Injections<\/h3>\n

Improperly performed injections<\/a> can also be a direct cause of cellulitis. Again, the bacterial infection would enter the system through the broken skin and travel through the body from there. Cellulitis is a skin condition that mostly affects the dermis, though it can penetrate further or travel to other parts of the body if the infection is left to rage untreated.<\/p>\n

A little discomfort from an injection can be normal, and even a little itching can be chalked down to a simple reaction to the skin being irritated. You should look for any signs of redness, swelling, warmth, pain, or itching \u2013 especially if it doesn\u2019t go away in a few minutes to hours. If this is combined with a fever, then it could be cellulitis.
\nOf course, it\u2019s not just injections performed by untrained medical staff that can trigger cellulitis: It is also often seen in cases where people have shared dirty needles.<\/p>\n

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4. Chickenpox<\/h3>\n

Chickenpox<\/a> is also known as the varicella-zoster virus, and most people are vaccinated against chickenpox in childhood. According to the CDC, some people are still susceptible to the chickenpox virus even if they have been vaccinated against it. And, even if you have been vaccinated against the disease, you can still act as a carrier and pass it on to someone else even if you don\u2019t show any of the symptoms yourself. There are an unlucky few people who can even get chickenpox more than once.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s not a direct cause for cellulitis, people with chickenpox will be at a higher risk of developing cellulitis due to their compromised immunity, especially if they are children or the elderly.
\nOne of the most common pieces of advice for people suffering from chickenpox is that they do not scratch their skin. Scratching can expose the skin to further infection, which can in turn cause cellulitis to develop.<\/p>\n

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5. Tattoos<\/h3>\n

When it\u2019s done by a properly trained tattoo artist under the right conditions, a tattoo should carry little to no risk to the person getting the tattoo \u2013 but it\u2019s a known fact that there are thousands of tattoo parlors out there, with many of them known as \u201cscratch artists\u201d, or in layman\u2019s terms, those who perform terrible quality tattoos and place their clients at unnecessary risk.<\/p>\n

The risks that go with tattooing are the same ones that go with an injection with a dirty needle: The skin is broken, and infections and bacteria can enter the skin. You are especially at risk if the tattoo artist in question didn\u2019t properly sterilize their equipment or the tattooing environment, or if the skin wasn\u2019t cleaned properly before the tattoo \u2013 a tattoo needle can \u201cforce\u201d any minuscule dirt particles deep into your skin.
\nIf you experience symptoms similar to a rash<\/a> or the rejection of a tattoo \u2013 itchiness, hotness, redness, and swelling that we\u2019ve mentioned above \u2013 then you might have cellulitis.<\/p>\n

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6. Spider, Snake and Insect Bites<\/h3>\n

Spider, snake, and insect bites are nasty enough on their own, but they can also put you at an increased risk of developing an infection. If you have been bitten by a spider, snake or insect, the single most important thing that you can and should do is to stay calm: Many people hype themselves up so much that they die from a heart attack<\/a> brought on by shock, not venom!<\/p>\n

The second thing you should do is to identify the spider, snake, or insect that you have been bitten by, if possible. This helps you to rule out venom as the cause of the redness, swelling, and discomfort. If you are dealing with a venomous snake or spider, then you will need to know what type of venom so that you can convey this information to medical professionals.<\/p>\n

Any kind of bite, whether snake or human, is rarely sterile. Infections are common even in many non-venomous bites. This is another possible way for cellulitis to enter the skin.<\/p>\n

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7. Varicose Veins<\/h3>\n

Varicose veins<\/a> are a health condition that makes the veins appear large, bloated, and spidery; this is why the condition is also often referred to as spider veins. In many cases, the underlying cause of varicose veins is not known, but it\u2019s believed that the amount of pressure felt by the legs and the veins in them are a huge part of what causes the condition to occur.<\/p>\n

Some of the treatments for varicose veins include wearing compression stockings to improve circulation and reduce instances of clotting, a medication that makes the instances of varicose veins decrease, or other treatment options \u2013 like treating high blood pressure that could be behind varicose veins.
\nThere are several things that can worsen the condition, including high temperatures and changes in blood pressure.<\/p>\n

If you are suffering from varicose veins, then you could be at an increased risk of developing cellulitis \u2013 especially if you develop a small bruise, cut, or abrasion in the skin which gives the infection a place to enter the skin and bloodstream.<\/p>\n

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8. Compromised Immune System<\/h3>\n

Your immune system<\/a> is the body\u2019s first line of defense against viruses and bacteria entering your body; it kicks at the moment your body is exposed to any kind of infection or bacteria, and it\u2019s what ensures that you don\u2019t catch every single bug out there when you go out of the house. But in many cases, the immune system can be compromised \u2013 either temporarily or permanently.<\/p>\n

There are many health conditions out there that can affect the immune system \u2013 just some of these include HIV, many connective tissue disorders, and conditions such as TB. The elderly and children can also be considered immuno-compromised and at a higher risk of developing diseases.
\nIf any cuts, breaks, or abrasions in the skin were to develop while your immune system is compromised, then you are at a much higher risk of picking up cellulitis, among a range of other infections and illnesses. <\/p>\n

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9. Post-Surgery Infections<\/h3>\n

Surgery<\/a> can be an extremely traumatic event for the human body to undergo; even minor surgeries are able to take a considerable toll on the body, especially when the surgery is performed on a patient that already has a compromised immune system, to begin with. In most cases, surgeries go off without a hitch \u2013 but in some cases, complications can arise during and after surgery.<\/p>\n

When we\u2019re talking about after surgery, it\u2019s post-surgery complications. One of the most common is developing an infection at the operation site: It starts with swelling and redness and might start to feel hot and ooze pus. It could also start to show any of the symptoms of cellulitis that we\u2019ve mentioned here, meaning that the infection is no longer just restricted to the wound but has now been allowed to enter the skin. If this happens to you, revisit the operating doctor, or seek a second opinion.<\/p>\n

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10. Dental Infection<\/h3>\n

Surgery isn\u2019t just restricted to the body, of course. While there are a lucky few old people who still have all their original teeth in mint condition (in their mouths, and not on a jar by their desk), most of us will start experiencing tooth degeneration at some point \u2013 some people much sooner than others. This is dependent on a few factors, including how well you have been taking care of your dental hygiene<\/a> over time.<\/p>\n

If you have recently undergone dental surgery, then your doctor will be strict about the aftercare: No smoking, no drinking, no eating for a while afterward. Depending on the severity of the surgery, this could last several hours to weeks! If you don\u2019t, then you could harm the open wound(s) in your mouth, and give the infection a chance to enter the body.<\/p>\n

Cases of dental cellulitis happen when bacteria enter through a wound in the mouth, and symptoms are more or less the same as regular cellulitis. If you are experiencing symptoms, make an appointment with your medical professional.<\/p>\n\r\n

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