Cellulitis is relatively common, with a crude incidence rate of approximately 259.2 cases for every 10,000 person-years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In most cases, a lower extremity is affected.Cellulitis is a type of bacterial infection usually caused by Streptococcus pyogenes, but some infections are the result of Staphylococcus aureus. In recent years, cases of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) causing cellulitis has increased in incidence. MRSA is a more serious infection caused by Staphylococcus bacteria that is resistant to many of the commonly used antibiotics that are prescribed to treat ordinary Staphylococcus infections.
The bacteria can get in due to a break or crack in your skin. Common issues that can create a risk for this infection include recent surgery, puncture wounds, athlete’s foot, cuts or scrapes, a skin ulcer or dermatitis. To a lesser degree, dry skin can also put you at risk for cellulitis.Cellulitis usually affects one side of the body. The following symptoms are possible:

- Skin redness that usually expands
- Tenderness or pain
- Fever
- Blisters
- Swelling
- Warmth
- Red spots
- Skin dimpling