Diagnosing and managing lower limb cellulitis.

The diagnosis of lower limb cellulitis requires careful and structured assessment. This article looks at the assessment, diagnosis and management of cellulitis, focusing on the lower limb. Assessment should include good skin examination as active skin disease, such as venous stasis eczema and athlete's foot (tinea pedis), is often overlooked as a primary cause of lower limb cellulitis and recurrent episodes.

Skin care in the older person: a focus on the use of emollients.

This article gives an overview of pathophysiological changes in the older person's skin, with particular focus on dry skin and the important use of emollient therapy. This includes guidance on emollient choice, function and application. Education is emphasized as an important factor in patient/carer concordance, with additional advice also recommended to extend education to other health care professionals in terms of correct usage and prescription amounts.