Cellulitis treatment, diagnosis & prescriptions

Yes, in most cases a doctor from Maple will be able to offer a cellulitis diagnosis by observing your condition and discussing your symptoms. Once you describe your symptoms and the doctor has had a chance to evaluate your condition, they will recommend a course of treatment, including any necessary prescription

If the doctor believes the cellulitis infection is spreading into your bloodstream, they will request that you visit a clinic to have blood tests done.

Yes, our physicians can prescribe medications online during your consultation. Once you accept a prescription, you’ll have the option to pick it up from any pharmacy or to have it delivered right to your door at no additional cost.

You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

Cellulitis is a common bacterial infection of the skin, or the soft tissues beneath the skin. Bacteria enter through breaks in the skin and begin to multiply and spread. This leads to an infection, which can become serious if left untreated.

While this is most frequently seen in hands, feet, arms and legs, cellulitis can occur in most other areas, including facial cellulitis.

Common cellulitis symptoms include:

• Pain or tenderness
• Redness
• Inflammation
• Warmth
• Red spots or blisters
• Fever or chills
• Blisters
• Leaking clear or yellow fluid, or pus

Typically, cellulitis is caused by an injury that results in a tear in the skin where bacteria are able to enter your body.

Other common cellulitis causes include:

• Foreign objects lodged in the skin
• Post-surgery infections
• Bone infections from exposure due to serious injury
• Long-term skin conditions (psoriasis, eczema, etc.)

In minor infections, a doctor from Maple may suggest resting the area, elevating the infected area to reduce swelling and discomfort, or taking over-the-counter pain relievers (such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen) to help manage fever and pain.

If the doctor believes the infection is becoming serious, or you’re experiencing recurrent cellulitis, they may suggest a prescription antibiotic to help stop the infection. These are typically given in 7-14 days courses.

Always take a full course of antibiotics if they are prescribed to you, even if you start to feel better after a few days, to prevent the infection from returning.

Yes. While it’s not of the common cellulitis symptoms, in some cases where blisters or pimples form over the infection, the skin can become irritated and itchy.

Preventing a cellulitis infection can be managed by taking steps both before there are tears in the skin where bacteria can enter, and after a tear has formed.

Before an injury has occurred, you can help prevent cellulitis by:

• Practicing good hygiene, washing all high-risk areas regularly with antibacterial soap and water
• Wearing properly fitting shoes and socks, to avoid chafing and blisters
• Wearing protective gloves while using knives or sharp tools
• Not walking around barefoot outdoors

No, cellulitis is not contagious. It’s typically not spread from person to person.

While it is a bacterial infection, because it’s an infection of the soft tissues in the deeper layers of skin, the top layer of skin (epidermis) provides a cover over the infection.

With Maple, you can start talking to a doctor about your symptoms in a matter of minutes. We’re a healthcare app for fast, convenient 24/7 access to Canadian doctors.

You simply log in, tap a button to request a consultation, and we’ll immediately connect you to a doctor via live chat or video. You can visit our How it Works page to learn more.

Our doctors can assess symptoms, and provide treatment, including prescriptions as necessary.