Cellulitis - Wound Care or Dermatologist

Malka

Hi,

I need some help here. I don't know which doctor to take my dad to - Wound Care doctor or Dermatologist. I have an appointment on Friday, but maybe I should call his primary, but I don't know if they would see him that quickly. I want to get him on antibiotics quickly. We are treating it with neosporin and it hasn't gotten worse, but it hasn't gone away either.

Opinions welcome.

Thanks,

M

easy23

My father recently had cellulitis and he was seen quickly by his primary care doctor. The PCP treated the cellulitis without referring him out.

Malka

Thanks, I will try to call his PCP. Very hard to get an appointment to see her.

M

SusanB-dil

I have cellulitis on my arm. If I get any wound, I have to be very careful. When it does act up, my best bet is usually just urgent care. I can get a round of antibiotics and clear it right up.

M1

Malka, some people are allergic to neosporin and it can cause redness that mimics cellulitis. Dermatologists typically don't recommend using it. I would also go with the pcp or urgent care.

harshedbuzz

I would stop the Neosporin immediately-- that stuff is the devil.

I would get him in with his PCP or urgent care-- which ever is quicker/more convenient. They can refer to a wound specialist if needed. We've only ever used the derm office for infections related to dermatological procedures; typically we get turfed to the NP who collects a culture and prescribes antibiotics.

Malka

Hi,

Thanks for your responses. I wasn't able to get to any doctor until Friday (his PCP never returned my calls or my messages in my chart) and I really didn't want to take him to the ER. That night I couldn't sleep and then I remembered my daughter used telemedicine during the pandemic when she had shingles. So I made an appointment for him yesterday morning and she prescribed the antibiotics. I saw him today and the swelling on his hand had gone down, but the other hand hurt. He told me he is ready to go. I don't know if I should call in hospice. I really wish there was a good doctor to talk to. There is such a dearth and I live in a city. I can't imagine the problems people have in the rural areas.

Also, why is Neosporin bad? I will tell his aide to stop using it and just use the moisturizer that the wound doctor had prescribed when he had his first bout of cellulitis years ago.

Thanks,

M

JeriLynn66

Many people have allergic reactions to Neosporin; the more you use the worse the skin gets… red, scaly, itchy.

harshedbuzz

@Malka

If you live in a city, there may be Urgent Care available. Urgent Care, aka Doc-in-a-Box, offers a level of care for emergent conditions-- think UTI, ear infection, cut that needs stitches-- that can't wait but don't need a an ER visit. Some hospital systems offer these while others might be chains. My PCP has one they recommend if you have a need after hours-- your doctor may as well. Ask.

You can self-refer to hospice; you don't need to discuss with his PCP first. If he's not accepted, they'll explain why not and what progression would need to happen before he'd be accepted. There is wiggle room are interpretation, so if one hospice doesn't accept another might.

Neosporin is no better at protecting wounds than Vaseline but comes with a considerable risk of allergic reaction that may actually mimic cellulitis in how it looks. The reaction can be red, hot, itchy and even blister. I was given it once to use after a biopsy, had a very unpleasant reaction and now have a really ugly scar which I blame on the Neosporin. About 10% of the population is allergic to neomycin with the risk going up with age. Poor circulation in the elderly makes it even more likely to cause a reaction.

HB

eaglemom

I was just checking in to see what the physician had said at the appointment. Do let us know.

eagle