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.
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.
Private Dermatology
Consultant dermatologist assessment.
Mole & Skin Cancer Check
Expert mole checks and skin cancer screening.
Minor Surgery
Removal of moles, cysts and lumps under local.
Allergy & Patch Testing
Find triggers for eczema and reactions.
Private GP
Same-day GP for skin infections & rashes.
Skin Treatments
Evidence-based treatments for skin concerns.
Simple & reassuring
Seen today, in three easy steps
Book in a minute
Book online any time or call reception — no GP referral needed for most skin appointments.
Seen quickly
One of our GMC-registered doctors examines your skin in clinic and explains what it is — for dermatology appointments, our dermatologist joins by secure video.
Diagnosis & plan
You leave with a diagnosis, a prescription or procedure where needed, and a clear plan.
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.
Our hybrid dermatology service. At Tower Bridge Hospital, dermatology appointments usually combine an in-person skin examination by one of our doctors with a secure video consultation with our dermatologist. HD skin analysis and clinical photography may be used where appropriate. This approach provides convenient specialist advice without always requiring a separate face-to-face dermatologist appointment.
Consultation: £150 — includes both the onsite doctor examination and dermatologist video consultation, with no additional GP fee. If a biopsy or minor surgical procedure is required, this can be arranged separately at our clinic.
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.
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.