Sometimes this may occur in the affected limb it can be caused by lowered immunity locally in the limb; this can be caused for various reasons.  Common causes could be insect bites and dry cracked skin this is why daily skin care and moisturisation is imperative in cases of Lymphoedema.  It manifests itself as hot, red skin that maybe shows signs of blistering and the patient may become unwell with flu-like symptoms which include a temperature.

A course of antibiotics is needed immediately from your G.P. if you are extremely unwell or unable to get to your G.P. then it may be required for you to go to a local A & E Department to have intravenous antibiotics.  Only until the redness and symptoms subside should you continue on the antibiotics.  Some patients unfortunately experience regular bouts of this condition, so care of the limb and immediate detection is foremost.  I often advise if this is the case that the patients talk to their G.P. about continuous prescription antibiotics.