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Symptoms of staph infections can be found on the legs and face. Understanding your skin infection symptoms is the beginning to treating a bacterial skin infection.
Staph Infections
One common form of infection is called a staph infection. Staphylococcus aureus is the technical term for the bacteria infects the skin. Staph infections can grow from cuts, wounds, or insect bites on the skin or the infection can grow on healthy skin.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis is a bacterial infection that can be caused by staphylococcus aureus. Cellulitis often occurs on the lower legs and may happen on the face. The severity of the infection depends on if it is on the surface layers of the skin, or if it goes down into the deeper layers of your skin.
Symptoms of Cellulitis
The symptoms of this leg and face bacterial skin infection sound a lot like sunburn. If you have this type staph infection you may experience some of the following symptoms:
- Red skin
- Swollen skin
- Warm skin*
- Tender skin
- Blistering
*Warmth of the skin is a very strong indicator that the infection is cellulitis. Symptoms of cellulitis are most likely to occur on the shins and ankles.
Risks Factors
There are a number of risk factors that may make you more susceptible to a cellulitis staph infection. Anything involving broken and/or wounded skin should be watched carefully. Additional risk factors include: - Poor circulatory systems
- Diabetes
- Weakened immune system
- Viral diseases that cause blisters – chicken pox and shingles
- Chronic swelling
Prevention and Treatment of Cellulitis
Taking care of wounds or broken skin injuries is among the best ways to prevent bacterial skin infections. Cleaning, covering and regularly changing bandages on wounds will help prevent cellulitis. Prompt treatment of other infections, such as athlete’s foot, can also prevent a bacterial skin infection. Cellulitis is usually treated with an oral antibiotic prescribed by a doctor. If your fever is very high or if your symptoms don’t improve within a few days, IV antibiotics may be needed. |
Cellulitis 
