Online Cellulitis Treatment in Florida for Adults (Mild Skin Infection)
MD-only cellulitis evaluation by secure video visit for adults in Florida, $49 flat-fee, no insurance required.
Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that can cause redness, warmth, swelling, and tenderness, often after a cut, scrape, insect bite, or irritated skin. TeleDirectMD can help stable adults with mild cellulitis when there are no signs of severe infection, rapidly spreading redness, or deep infection. If symptoms suggest an abscess or a dangerous infection, we will recommend urgent in-person evaluation.
- $49 flat-fee visit
- MD-only evaluation and prescribing
- Evidence-based antibiotic selection when appropriate
- Clear screening for MRSA and severe infection red flags
- Adults only, you must be in Florida at the time of the visit
Last reviewed by Parth Bhavsar, MD on 12/24/25.
Clinician note: TeleDirectMD is MD-only and evidence-based. For cellulitis, we prioritize safety screening for abscess, rapidly progressive infection, and systemic illness. Severe pain out of proportion, rapidly spreading redness, high fever, or immune compromise requires urgent in-person evaluation.
Urgent Red Flags
- Fever, chills, or feeling severely ill
- Rapidly spreading redness over hours
- Severe pain out of proportion
- Swelling with pus or a fluctuant abscess
- Face or eye involvement
If you have rapidly worsening symptoms, severe pain, confusion, or shortness of breath, seek urgent in-person evaluation.
Quick Answers
- Cellulitis causes redness, warmth, swelling, and tenderness in the skin
- Telehealth is best for mild cases without fever, rapid spread, or abscess
- Abscesses often require drainage in person
- Antibiotics are selected based on typical bacteria and MRSA risk factors
- You must be physically located in Florida at the time of the visit
What Is Cellulitis?
Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and the tissues just beneath it. It usually occurs when bacteria enter through a small break in the skin, even if the break is not obvious. Common causes include minor cuts, insect bites, shaving irritation, athlete’s foot cracks, and eczema flares that disrupt the skin barrier.
Mild cellulitis can often be treated with oral antibiotics and supportive care. TeleDirectMD is appropriate when symptoms are mild, the area is limited, and there are no red flags for deeper infection or sepsis.
Cellulitis Symptoms and Red Flags
Video visits work best for mild cellulitis. Use this table to understand when telehealth may be appropriate and when in-person evaluation is safer.
| Finding | What it suggests | Telehealth appropriate? | Red flag requiring urgent in-person care |
|---|---|---|---|
| Localized redness, warmth, mild swelling, tenderness | Mild cellulitis | Often yes | Rapid spread over hours or very large area |
| No fever and stable vital symptoms | Lower risk of systemic infection | Often yes | Fever, chills, confusion, fainting, shortness of breath |
| Skin break, scratch, bite, or eczema nearby | Entry point for bacteria | Often yes | Severe pain out of proportion or skin turning purple or black |
| No pus, no fluctuant lump | Less likely abscess | Often yes | Pus, fluctuant lump, or “boil” suggesting abscess needing drainage |
| Recurrent boils or known MRSA history | Higher MRSA risk | Sometimes | Immunosuppression, uncontrolled diabetes, or rapidly worsening infection |
| Redness on face around the eye | Higher-risk location | Often no | Eye pain, vision changes, fever, or eyelid swelling worsening rapidly |
What Else Can Look Like Cellulitis?
- Abscess: localized pus collection, often needs drainage.
- Contact dermatitis: itchy rash after exposure, often sharply bordered.
- Venous stasis dermatitis: chronic lower leg redness and swelling.
- Gout flare: hot, red, painful joint that can mimic infection.
- DVT: unilateral swelling and pain, requires in-person evaluation.
- Insect bite reaction: can cause redness and swelling without bacterial infection.
When a Florida Video Visit Is Appropriate vs. When to Go In-Person
When a Video Visit Is Appropriate
- Adult 18+ located in Florida at the time of the visit
- Localized mild redness, warmth, swelling, and tenderness
- No fever or systemic symptoms
- No abscess or significant pus
- No severe pain out of proportion
- Able to follow up if symptoms do not improve within 24 to 48 hours
Red Flags Requiring In-Person or ER Care
- Fever, chills, confusion, fainting, or shortness of breath
- Rapidly spreading redness or severe swelling
- Severe pain out of proportion or skin discoloration
- Abscess, pus, or rapidly worsening wound
- Face or eye involvement
- Immunosuppression or uncontrolled diabetes with worsening infection
Cellulitis Treatment Options
TeleDirectMD treats mild cellulitis in stable adults with an evidence-based approach. Antibiotic choice depends on location, severity, allergy history, and MRSA risk factors. If an abscess is suspected, in-person evaluation for possible drainage is recommended.
Supportive Care
- Elevate the affected area when possible
- Mark the border of redness with a pen to track spread
- Warm compresses can reduce discomfort in selected cases
- Keep the skin clean and avoid picking or shaving over the area
Medication Table
| Medication | Dose | Duration | When used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cephalexin | 500 mg by mouth QID | 5 days to 7 days | Mild nonpurulent cellulitis when appropriate |
| Amoxicillin-clavulanate | 875 mg by mouth BID | 5 days to 7 days | Selected cases depending on location and risk factors when appropriate |
| Doxycycline | 100 mg by mouth BID | 5 days to 7 days | Selected cases with MRSA risk factors when appropriate |
| Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole DS | 1 tablet by mouth BID | 5 days to 7 days | Selected cases with MRSA risk factors when appropriate |
| Topical mupirocin 2% | Apply TID | 5 days | Selected superficial skin infections or small localized lesions when appropriate |
TeleDirectMD does not prescribe controlled substances. For cellulitis, we treat stable adults and avoid unnecessary antibiotics when an infection is not likely. Abscesses often require drainage in person.
Home Care and Return to Work
Many adults can return to work if they feel well, do not have fever, and the affected area can be covered. Improvement is often seen within 24 to 48 hours after starting appropriate treatment. If redness expands beyond the marked border, fever develops, or pain worsens, seek urgent in-person care.
- Keep the area clean and covered if draining
- Avoid sharing towels and personal items if there is drainage
- Follow up urgently if symptoms worsen or you develop systemic symptoms
What to Expect From Your TeleDirectMD Cellulitis Visit in Florida
TeleDirectMD provides adult-only, MD-only virtual care by secure video. Visits are $49 as a flat cash fee with no insurance required. If your symptoms fit mild cellulitis and telehealth is appropriate, we can send an electronic prescription to your preferred pharmacy in Florida.
Adults only. You must be physically located in Florida at the time of your visit.
Florida Cellulitis Telehealth FAQ
Can TeleDirectMD treat cellulitis online in Florida?
Yes, for selected stable adults in Florida with mild cellulitis and no red flags such as fever, rapid spread, severe pain, or abscess concerns.
How do I know if I have an abscess?
Abscesses often feel like a tender, fluctuant lump and may drain pus. Many abscesses require in-person drainage. If an abscess is suspected, we recommend urgent in-person evaluation.
How quickly should cellulitis improve with antibiotics?
Many patients notice improvement within 24 to 48 hours, but redness can look worse briefly early on. If symptoms are rapidly worsening, fever develops, or pain increases, seek urgent in-person care.
Do you treat MRSA-related skin infections?
We evaluate MRSA risk factors and may select antibiotics that cover MRSA when appropriate. Some purulent infections or abscesses require in-person drainage.
Should I mark the border of the redness?
Yes. Marking the border can help track whether redness is spreading or improving over time.
Can I return to work?
Many adults can work if they feel well, do not have fever, and the area can be covered. If the area is draining, keep it covered and practice good hand hygiene.
When should I go to urgent care or the ER?
Go urgently for fever, rapid spread, severe pain out of proportion, confusion, shortness of breath, face or eye involvement, or suspected abscess.
Do you prescribe opioid pain medication for cellulitis?
No. TeleDirectMD does not prescribe controlled substances.
Is TeleDirectMD available across Florida?
Yes. As long as you are physically located in Florida at the time of the video visit, you can be evaluated.
Can cellulitis come from eczema or athlete’s foot?
Yes. Any skin barrier breakdown can allow bacteria to enter. Treating the underlying skin condition and keeping skin intact reduces recurrence risk.
What if I do not improve?
If you do not improve within 24 to 48 hours, or if you worsen at any time, you may need in-person evaluation, imaging, labs, or IV antibiotics depending on severity.