During a skin infection assessment, what abnormal finding might indicate cellulitis?

Warmth of the skin is a critical abnormal finding that may indicate cellulitis, which is a common skin infection characterized by inflammation. When assessing for cellulitis, you would expect to see localized swelling and redness, along with warmth to the touch due to increased blood flow and the body's inflammatory response to the infection. This increase in temperature is a typical response as the immune system works to fight off the infection.

In terms of the other options, the presence of rashes could be more indicative of other dermatological issues rather than cellulitis, and while no drainage can sometimes be noted in cellulitis (as it may not always involve abscess formation), it does not specifically indicate the presence of the condition. Normal color would typically suggest there is no infection, as cellulitis generally presents with erythema (redness) due to inflammation. Therefore, warmth of the skin stands out as a hallmark sign of cellulitis during an assessment.