Patient Instructions for Keflex and Aquaphor Use in Cellulitis
Taking Keflex (Cephalexin)
Take Keflex 500 mg by mouth four times daily (every 6 hours) for 5 days. 1, 2
- Space your doses evenly throughout the day—for example, at 8 AM, 2 PM, 8 PM, and 2 AM, or adjust to your schedule while maintaining the 6-hour intervals 2
- Take each dose with or without food 2
- Complete the full 5-day course even if you feel better before finishing all the pills 1
- If you miss a dose, take it as soon as you remember, then continue with your regular schedule 2
- Store the medication at room temperature away from moisture and heat 2
When to Extend Treatment Beyond 5 Days
- Only continue taking Keflex beyond 5 days if your cellulitis has NOT improved by day 5—meaning the redness, warmth, swelling, or tenderness has not decreased at all 1
- If you see any improvement by day 5 (less redness, less pain, less swelling), stop the antibiotic after 5 days 1
- Contact your doctor if there is no improvement or worsening after 2-3 days of treatment 1
Applying Aquaphor to Dry Skin
Apply a thin layer of Aquaphor ointment to the dry areas of your arm 2-3 times daily. 1
- Gently wash the dry area with mild soap and pat dry before applying 1
- Use enough to create a protective barrier over the dry skin without excessive thickness
- Do not apply Aquaphor directly over the red, inflamed cellulitis area—only use it on the surrounding dry skin 1
- Continue moisturizing even after the infection resolves, as treating dry skin and skin barrier problems reduces recurrence risk 3, 1
Essential Supportive Measures
Elevate your affected arm above heart level for at least 30 minutes three times daily. 1
- Prop your arm on pillows while sitting or lying down to promote drainage of swelling 1
- This significantly hastens improvement and is often the most neglected part of treatment 1
Warning Signs Requiring Immediate Medical Attention
Go to the emergency department immediately if you develop any of these symptoms: 1, 4
- Fever over 100.4°F (38°C) 4
- Rapidly spreading redness (expanding more than 1-2 inches in 24 hours) 1
- Severe pain that seems worse than the appearance of the infection 4
- Numbness or loss of sensation in the affected area 4
- Blisters, black spots, or skin that looks purple or dusky 4
- Confusion, dizziness, or feeling extremely ill 4
- Pus or drainage developing from the area 1
Common Side Effects of Keflex
- Mild diarrhea, nausea, or upset stomach may occur 2
- Stop the medication and seek immediate care if you develop severe diarrhea, rash, hives, difficulty breathing, or facial swelling 2