When your skin turns red, swells up, and feels hot to the touch, it’s often cellulitis, a common bacterial skin infection that spreads beneath the surface. Also known as bacterial skin infection, it doesn’t always start with a cut—you can get it from a tiny crack in your skin, a bug bite, or even dry, cracked heels. Left untreated, it can turn serious fast. That’s why picking the right antibiotics, medications designed to kill or stop the growth of bacteria causing infections isn’t just about feeling better—it’s about stopping something that could land you in the hospital.
Not all antibiotic treatments, the specific drugs prescribed to target bacterial infections like cellulitis are created equal. Doctors usually start with penicillin-based drugs like amoxicillin-clavulanate or cephalexin because they target the most common culprits: strep and staph bacteria. But if you’re allergic to penicillin, alternatives like doxycycline or clindamycin kick in. The problem? Antibiotic resistance is real. Some strains of staph, especially MRSA, don’t respond to standard pills. That’s why your doctor might ask about recent hospital visits, IV drug use, or even if you’ve been swimming in a contaminated pond. These details change the game.
And here’s the part most people miss: antibiotics alone won’t fix cellulitis if you don’t manage the root cause. If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or swollen legs from heart failure, the infection keeps coming back. You need to elevate the leg, keep the area clean, and control blood sugar—not just swallow pills. Some patients get better in three days. Others take two weeks. And if the redness keeps spreading after 48 hours on antibiotics? That’s not normal. It’s a red flag.
There’s no magic bullet, but there are smart choices. Knowing which antibiotics are first-line, understanding why some fail, and recognizing when to push back on a prescription can save you time, money, and risk. Below, you’ll find real-world insights from patients and doctors—what worked, what didn’t, and what no one told you about treating this common but dangerous infection.
Impetigo and cellulitis are common skin infections with different causes, symptoms, and treatments. Learn how to tell them apart and which antibiotics actually work - based on current UK and international guidelines.