People with severe cellulitis or those not improving with antibiotic tablets may need to be treated in hospital with antibiotics given straight into a vein.

In rare cases, the cellulitis may cause complications such as blood poisoning (septicemia), by spreading through the bloodstream.

Although rare, if left untreated cellulitis can cause other complications including:

• An abscess forming (a ball of pus in the infected area).
• Muscle or bone infections.
• A cellulitis around an eye can spread to infect the brain.
• Infection of the heart valves.
• Damage to lymph drainage.
• Dead tissue may need to be removed.

Some forms of severe cellulitis may require surgery and leave a person with scarring.