Does cellulitis always have to open up and drain?

No: Cellulitis is an infection of the skin and subcuticular tissues usually resolving with antibiotics and no drainage procedure. If there is drainage this usually indicates an abscess and that could be the original infection that led to developing cellulitis.

Abcess vs cellulitis: Hi NMoss, typically cellulitis does not open and drain. By definition it is a superficial infection of the skin. At times you can have weeping, redness, pain, and swelling. What you are describing is an actual abscess, which is a collection of pus caused by infection. All abscesses should be drained. It is part of what we call "source control" hope that helps.

No: Incision and drainage are not usually required for cellulitis. If cellulitis causes necrosis of tissue or there is circumferential involvement of a limb or cellulitis turning into deeper infection of fascia then surgical intervention is needed.

No: No cellulitis doesn't usually open up and drain. It usually resolves with antibiotics. If not treated in time it can develop a secondary abscess which can then open up and drain. These are two different disease processes