Any good advice welcome

Reflexologist recommended oregano oil. It worked whereas other remedies I'd tried didn't work or almost worked.

Many years ago I had a rash on my face which was red, shiny, hot and incredibly itchy, apparently caused by a streptococcal infection in my nasal passages. I couldn't take antibiotics because I was pregnant and the itching drove me insane. I had an appointment with a dermatologist and he prescribed some cream which relieved it but I couldn't take the antibiotics until I had stopped feeding the baby.

I remember the itching being indescribably awful.
I had to have a long, slow course of an antibiotic, it may have been tetracycline.

The itchiness seems to be very much 'me' no doctor or person or google has any idea why I am driven mad with this all condsuming itchiness so must be how I ve reacted or some mystery but that has been the very worst part... It all started with an itchy toe that I itched in the night damaging by a tiny puncture of skin ......but as my thigh has got hot and red the itch has consumed that area and it's the sort that just gets worse and worse the more you touch it even a light light touch sets it off to really send you batty Cellulitis doesn't seem to be connected to itching at all I ve had no pain no soreness just a growing very hot redness , a slight swelling (nothing much) and this major irritation

I don't remember it being itchy, it was sore and hot rather than itchy, but the 2nd time I had it I was recommended to take 2 weeks' worth of antibiotics (clarithromycin which does act more slowly than penicillin).
I was also recommended to keep a week's supply in just in case it occurred again because the sooner you can start antibiotics the better.

Thanks everyone haven't been to A and E any more, 2 visits on the trot was enough LOL
The redness is going down my leg not up so the doctor seemed to think it was ok if it kept going down I M amazed at how persistent it is as the amount of antibiotics thrown at it should have wiped out a donkey The massive irritation is following it down too so now around the knee area
Fingers crossed

Every sympathy Bluebelle DH had this recently on his lower leg but fortunately I recognised it immediately from a previous episode on his wrist and arm last year,so I got a Dr. to him the next morning and a week of oral Clarythromycin (sp?) cleared it up. As he is on immunosuppressants it could have been tricky but I really did not want to see him in hospital on IV anti-b's.
Hope you feel much better soon!

BlueBelle That sounds really dreadful. I hope it clears up ok.

I hope the treatment does the trick and it goes soon and you feel much better soon.
You did the right thing going to A&E.

Update the red patch on my thigh quickly turned much bigger and terrible itchy I ended up Sunday morning at A and E as I wasn't happy with how it was increasing even though I was on penicillin I walked into an empty AandE and was seen within five minutes by a very nice Asian doctor who definitely confirmed cellulitis diagnosis Again obs were all normal but he wanted me to have an intravenous shot of antibiotic and then some more to be taken on top of the originals
The little English nurse put the cannula in which really hurt even after she had disappeared the very good looking Portuguese male nurse who came to shoot the anti biotic through it realise and told me it wasn't in right he took it out and put it in the other arm this time not hurting so that was the only blip ....the Doctor drew a black felt tip line around the by now large hot red area and told me to come back if it went out the line This morning it was a good two inches lower and round the back of my thigh so back I went to Aand E Very lucky only two people ahead of me and within fifteen minutes I was seen by the same doctor which was lovely to get the continuity Its a big hospital serving a large area and two big towns so rare to see the same doctor Anyway my obs were still normal and although it had grown down he felt it looked less hot at the top so was happy to draw another line and let me go if my temperature rises or I get any blisters I have to go back immediately .......no sign of athletes foot so can only imagine an insect bite or goodness know what set the original itching off in my foot
I ve had no pain at all just a dreadful irritation that feels like a million insects under my skin and can't be helped or stopped I m on 4000mg penicillin a day for a few more days

I have known two people who ended up on intravenous antibiotics for cellulitis which originated in cracked heels which are more common in summer when wearing sandals. It pays to keep the skin on the feet soft by daily (and nightly) moisturising.

If your skin is broken with the Athlete's Foot that is where the staph infection could have got in and caused the cellulitis further up.

You may need two weeks' worth of antibiotics if it is cellulitis as it is difficult to get rid of and 'lurks' in soft tissue as one GP told me when I had it for a 2nd time.
If it doesn't improve over the next couple of days I would go back or go to A&E.
DH gets athletes foot and needs to use Canestan and I bought him some Athlete's Food Powder to use after a shower (I have to keep reminding him!).

when i had cellulitis it started as a small sore spot, which got bigger very quickly. i outlined the spot with biro, to check how much it increased in size.
if you are on the antiobiotics you will be fine but i was told that cellulitis can return. It did come back a couple of years later but i self diagnosed and had another lot of super strength antiobiotics which solved the problem. cellulitis sounds faintly amusing, but it it isnt, its very painful but will be ok after a day or two of medication. goodluck.

Sounds as though you caught it in time BlueBelle, hope it settles down but do go to A&E as advised if it gets worse.

Thank you merlotgran I m on a high dose of penicillin so hope that will do it but yes I will go if it seems any worse I don't have a temperature so hopeful it won't get any worse fingers crossed

Cellulitis can be very serious, BlueBelle. My Sis-in-law has been hospitalized twice with it and put on an antibiotic drip.

Don't hesitate to go to A&E if you think it is getting worse.

Hope you feel better soon, BlueBelle, and things start to calm down.

Update 111 rang me back at quarter to 12 I had rung at 8 I was asleep they went over all the questions again then told me if it didn't get better over the weekend to go to my GP on Monday ummm ... anyway had a bad night with severe itching on the foot Ths morning red patch a bit puffy and bit bigger ( not much) and a red patchy right ear and side of face So an emergency app at GPS this morning saw a very nice new (young very good looking that helps doesn't it ? Doctor ) He thinks it was original ( 2 days ago) athletes foot and patch on thigh and sore glands in groin are cellulitis so 7 days penicillin He was a bit puzzled by the opposite side ear /face but seemed sure it must be connected if It gets any worse over the weekend to go to Aand E he gave me full ops check and bp oxygen and temperature all normal so hopefully 24 hours and should see a difference

Take that to the GP, bluebelle, before it "turns nasty". DVT's are hot red and achey, so are reactions to bites, which could deteriorate.

If it is red hot and growing larger it could be an infection from a bite, i got cellulitis once and it was very painful requiring strong antibiotics. would be inclined to see the gp if it doesnt calm down in a day or two. Good luck.

Bluebelle, does the red patch look like a "Bulls Eye "? if so could you have been bitten by a Tick? hope you fell better soon. what did 111 tell you to do?

Mycota cream and powder works fine for me when needed.

Well we ve taken a new turn I bought some athletes foot cream at the pharmacy today but before I could use it I noticed my leg was really achey and the glands in the groin of that leg are up I took two ibrufen but tonight I ve developed a hot red patch about the size of an outstretched hand on my thigh just below the groin that is achey and glandy ???? I ve rung 111 just to ask for advice as it all seems to have progressed rapidly otherwise I feel fine no temperature or anything

Thanks Teetime I know all those things about washing and drying and I m pretty ok with that just all seems a bit weird and quick

Chiropodist told me once to put surgical spirit between toes regularly to help prevent it reoccurring
Cotton socks are good idea too.

I use Lamisil cream, which was recommended to me by a dermatologist. You have to apply the ordinary kind repeatedly to get rid of athlete's foot but there's also a stronger version - Lamisil Once- which as the name implies you onlly need to apply once, but to both feet and it's more expensive. Can sympathise BlueBelle, the itch is maddening!