Dr Ranj appeared on BBC Morning Live to warn viewers to look out for an unusual sign on their legs.
It can be life-threatening, the doctor warns on BBC Morning Live (Image: BBC Morning Live)
A BBC doctor has issued a stark warning on Morning Live about an unusual sign that could appear on your legs, which if left untreated, could become ‘life threatening’.
Cellulitis, not to be confused with cellulite, is a skin infection that requires antibiotic treatment and can pose serious risks if not addressed promptly, according to the NHS.
Dr Ranj, a regular contributor to the show, explained: “it makes a skin painful, hot, and inflame. It can look completely different on different types of skin. It can look red but on darker, black and brown skin, it may look slightly discoloured. You can also get blisters as well.”
The doctor highlighted that it “can give you associated symptoms so you might feel flu-like, you can have swollen and painful glands, and occasionally it can become life-threatening if it’s spreading and getting worse, but fortunately most people will recover.”, reports the Mirror.
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While it’s commonly found on the legs, it can affect any part of your body. He said: “For instance you might get cellulitis on your hands that can cause your fingers or your hand to swell up. You can also get on your feet sometimes near your toes – it can even happen in and around the eye.”
BBC Morning Live spoke to Dr Ranj about the condition (Image: BBC Morning Live)
Dr Ranj cautioned that while “cellulitis can affect your legs, it tends to be one leg at a time. It tends not to be both. If it is both then you sometimes need to check if anything else is going on.”
If cellulitis occurs in the eye, it’s a medical emergency that requires immediate attention as it can be “dangerous for your vision. One of the things we look out for is that you may get redness on the whites of your eyes”.
Another symptom is the “eyeball sticks out”. If it happens around the eye, it’s a “bit more common and less serious”, according to the doctor.
You might be able to manage it at home, but you still need a professional to examine it to ensure it hasn’t spread.
It may look different depending on your skin (Image: BBC Morning Live)
Ranj explains that ‘most commonly it’s caused by a bacterial infection’ with the bacteria infiltrating the ‘deep layers of the skin’, usually through a cut, insect bite or if your skin is cracked from an infection or dry from a condition like eczema.
As a result, the ‘barrier breaks down and it can get in’, leading to cellulitis. If you’re susceptible to these issues, you are at a higher risk, with the doctor emphasising that you might not even notice a cut on your skin.
Fortunately, it’s not contagious.
If you suspect you have it, you need to seek treatment immediately, warns the GP. “If cellulitis is not treated properly then it can get worse and sometimes get serious.”
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If you can’t secure a GP appointment, the doctor advises “these are the reasons that I want you to call 999” if you have these symptoms along with cellulitis:.
These are symptoms of sepsis, with the doctor cautioning that extreme care is necessary.
The doctor states that antibiotics are the treatment. He mentions that it may take a few days for them to start working, but recovery should occur within 7 to 10 days.
However, this applies to mild cases. If you have a severe case, possibly coupled with underlying health issues, you may require intravenous antibiotics and consequently, hospitalisation may be necessary
