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Dermatology · Cellulitis · Private clinic in East London

Private cellulitis clinic in London, same-day dermatology.

Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection causing spreading redness, warmth, swelling and pain — it needs prompt antibiotics and can occasionally become serious. Our private dermatology clinic in East London offers same-day cellulitis assessment with a private dermatologist, diagnosis and a clear treatment plan — usually without a referral and often the same day.

Book a private appointment Call 020 7916 0029
Same-day
dermatology
Specialist-led
private dermatologist
No referral
needed

Seek same-day care — and 999 if you feel very unwell with a high fever, confusion, or fast-spreading redness. Cellulitis near the eye needs urgent assessment.

The condition

What is cellulitis?

Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection causing spreading redness, warmth, swelling and pain — it needs prompt antibiotics and can occasionally become serious.

  • Leg & limb cellulitis
  • Facial cellulitis
  • Recurrent cellulitis
  • Antibiotic treatment
  • Wound-related infection
  • Diabetes-related infection

Understanding cellulitis

Cellulitis: symptoms, causes, tests & treatment

Go to an emergency department or call 999 if

  • the redness is spreading quickly, or has spread well beyond the line you marked;
  • the pain is severe and out of proportion to how the skin looks, or is worsening rapidly;
  • the skin blisters, turns dark, purple or black, or areas start to break down;
  • you feel increasingly unwell — shivering, vomiting, confused, drowsy, very fast breathing or heart rate;
  • you develop a swelling of the face or around the eye;
  • you have swelling of the face, throat or mouth, difficulty breathing, or a red itchy rash after taking your antibiotic — stop the medicine and get help immediately.

Cellulitis can occasionally lead to sepsis or to a rapidly spreading deep infection, which is why these signs matter. In an emergency call 999, or go to the Royal London Hospital Emergency Department, Whitechapel Road, London E1 1FR.

Mark the edge, and write the time on it

Draw a line around the outer edge of the redness with a ballpoint or marker pen, and write the date and time next to it. It is the single most useful thing you can do at home.

It turns a vague impression into a fact: at your next check you can see immediately whether the infection is retreating inside the line, sitting still, or spreading past it. Take a photograph each day as well.

Antibiotics

  • You will normally be given a course lasting five to seven days, sometimes longer if the infection is slow to settle.
  • Finish the whole course, even once the skin looks better. Stopping early lets the infection return and encourages resistant bacteria.
  • Take the doses evenly spaced through the day, and space them out again if you miss one — do not double up to catch up.
  • Mild nausea or looser stools are common. If side effects become severe, or you develop diarrhoea that is watery or persistent, contact us rather than simply stopping.

Tell us before you start if you are allergic to penicillin

Many cellulitis antibiotics belong to the penicillin family. If you have ever had a reaction to penicillin or any other antibiotic — even years ago, and even if it was only a rash — say so before taking the first dose. There are effective alternatives.

Rest and elevation

This part is genuinely as important as the antibiotics and is the part most often skipped. Swelling slows healing and helps the infection spread.

  • A leg: lie down with the leg raised on pillows so the foot is above the level of your heart. Not just up on a footstool — properly above heart level, as much of the day as you can manage in the first few days.
  • An arm: rest it on pillows across your chest, or use a sling for short periods, keeping the hand higher than the elbow.
  • Keep moving the joints gently while resting the limb, and get up and walk about periodically. Complete immobility raises the risk of a blood clot.
  • Drink plenty of fluids.

What normal progress looks like

Cellulitis often looks slightly worse for the first day or two after starting antibiotics before it starts to improve. That is expected and is not a sign the treatment has failed. What we look for by 48 hours is that you feel less unwell, the pain is easing, and the redness is no longer advancing past your mark.

The redness may take a week or two to fade completely, and can leave the skin looking dry, flaky or discoloured for some weeks after the infection has gone. Some swelling can persist for longer still.

Antibiotics and the contraceptive pill

Older leaflets advise extra contraceptive precautions while taking antibiotics. That advice has changed. Ordinary antibiotics such as penicillins do not reduce the effectiveness of the pill, the patch, the ring or any other hormonal contraception, and no additional precautions are needed. A small number of specific medicines do interact — if you are unsure which you have been given, ask us or your pharmacist rather than assuming.

Stopping it coming back

Cellulitis has a habit of recurring in the same limb. Reducing the chance means closing the doors the bacteria came through:

  • Treat athlete's foot. Cracked, itchy skin between the toes is one of the commonest entry points for cellulitis of the leg, and is easily treated with a cream from the pharmacy.
  • Moisturise dry or eczema-prone skin daily so it does not crack.
  • Clean and cover any cut, scratch, bite or graze promptly.
  • Manage swelling. If you have long-term swelling of a leg, compression stockings and elevation reduce the risk — ask us about this once the infection has cleared.
  • If you have diabetes, check your feet daily and keep your blood glucose well controlled.

Come back for review as arranged, usually at 48 hours, or sooner if the redness passes your mark. We can reassess the skin, take swabs or bloods if needed, change the antibiotic, and arrange intravenous treatment or admission if the infection is not responding. Call 020 7916 0029 — we are open 7 days a week.

Dermatology services we offer

Expert skin care under one roof

From same-day GP treatment to consultant dermatology, mole checks and minor surgery — with a clear plan the same visit.

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Consultant dermatologist assessment.

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Expert mole checks and skin cancer screening.

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Minor Surgery

Removal of moles, cysts and lumps under local.

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Find triggers for eczema and reactions.

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Same-day GP for skin infections & rashes.

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Seen today, in three easy steps

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Book in a minute

Book online any time or call reception — no GP referral needed for most skin appointments.

2

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A GMC-registered GP or dermatologist examines your skin and explains what it is.

3

Diagnosis & plan

You leave with a diagnosis, a prescription or procedure where needed, and a clear plan.

Book same-day appointment Call 020 7916 0029

Private assessment

See a private dermatologist for cellulitis in London

At our private dermatology clinic on Whitechapel Road in East London, you can see a private dermatologist or cellulitis doctor without a referral — most days, often the same day. A private GP in East London or consultant dermatologist will assess you, arrange the right tests and explain your diagnosis and treatment options clearly. We help patients across East London, Canary Wharf, the City, Docklands and Aldgate who want fast, private answers about cellulitis.

Book a private cellulitis assessment

Local, private, fast

A private dermatology clinic for East London & Canary Wharf

Tower Bridge Hospital is on Whitechapel Road in the heart of East London — minutes from Canary Wharf, the City of London, Docklands and Aldgate. Patients across Tower Hamlets, Wapping, Limehouse and Bethnal Green choose us for a fast, private cellulitis appointment with a dermatologist, without the wait or the referral.

Why choose us

Why choose our East London private dermatology clinic

  • Same-day, no referral — private GP and dermatology under one roof
  • Consultant dermatologists, GMC-registered
  • Dermoscopy & minor surgery on site for moles and lumps
  • Minutes from Canary Wharf & the City of London
  • Medical & cosmetic skin care in one place
  • Transparent pricing and a clear plan

Ready when you are

See a private dermatologist for cellulitis — the same day.

Book a private cellulitis assessment in East London: same-day appointments, dermatologist-led care and a clear plan. No referral needed.

Book same-day appointment 020 7916 0029

Common questions

Cellulitis in London: your questions answered

Where can I find a private cellulitis specialist near me in East London?

Our private dermatology clinic is on Whitechapel Road in East London, minutes from Canary Wharf and the City. You can see a private dermatologist or cellulitis doctor for assessment and treatment, usually the same day and without a referral.

Can I see a private dermatologist for cellulitis the same day?

Yes. We hold same-day private appointments most days, including Saturdays, so you can be assessed by a dermatologist or GP quickly, with tests done in-house where possible.

How much does a private cellulitis appointment cost in London?

We keep pricing transparent — see our fees page or call 020 7916 0029, and we will explain the cost of the cellulitis assessment and any tests before you book.

Do I need a referral to see a private dermatologist for cellulitis?

No. You can book directly with our clinic. If you are unsure whether to start with a private GP or a dermatologist, we will guide you.

How is cellulitis treated?

With antibiotics, elevation and monitoring; a clinician marks the edge to track it and reviews if it spreads.

When does cellulitis need hospital care?

Spreading redness with high fever, feeling very unwell, or cellulitis near the eye needs urgent assessment and sometimes intravenous antibiotics.

Which areas do you serve for private cellulitis care?

We see private patients from across East London, Canary Wharf, the City of London, Docklands, Aldgate, Wapping, Limehouse and Tower Hamlets.

Medically reviewed by Dr Haydar Bolat — Clinical Director, GMC 7138332. Last reviewed August 2026 · next review August 2027. Written in line with our editorial & content-review policy, using guidance from the NHS, NICE and the relevant royal colleges. This information is general and does not replace personal medical advice.

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Dermatology
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Private Dermatology

Consultant-led dermatology in London.

Mole check
Dermoscopy

Mole & Skin Check

Mole checks & skin cancer screening.

Minor surgery
On site

Minor Surgery

Mole, cyst and lump removal.

GP
Same-day

Private GP

Same-day GP in East London.

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In an emergency, call 999. Tower Bridge Hospital London is not an emergency service. Your nearest A&E is The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Road E1 1FR — 5 minutes’ walk from our front door.

Areas we serve

Private cellulitis care in London & East London — Whitechapel, the City & Canary Wharf

Patients visit our Whitechapel clinic for private cellulitis assessment and treatment from right across London and East London, the City and the Docklands — including Aldgate, Bethnal Green, Bow, Shoreditch, Canary Wharf, Stratford, Bermondsey and the surrounding areas. Same-day and walk-in appointments are available and you do not need a GP referral.

Easy to reach — minutes from the Royal London Hospital and Aldgate East, Whitechapel, Aldgate and Liverpool Street stations, and one stop from Canary Wharf on the Elizabeth line.

Private cellulitis treatment near me? If you are searching for private cellulitis treatment near me, a cellulitis doctor or specialist near me, or a private clinic near me in East London, our Whitechapel practice is on your doorstep — walk-in and same-day appointments, no GP referral, and no long NHS waiting list.

Book a same-day appointment or call 020 7916 0029. See our transparent fees. Open 7 days a week, 9am–7pm. Private clinic on Whitechapel Road, London E1 — serving Tower Hamlets, Hackney, Newham, Islington, the City of London and Southwark.

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