What condition is indicated by increased warmth and skin tenderness?

Increased warmth and skin tenderness are indicative of inflammation, which is commonly associated with cellulitis. Cellulitis is a bacterial skin infection that typically manifests with symptoms such as redness, swelling, warmth of the affected area, and tenderness. The increased warmth results from increased blood flow to the area as part of the inflammatory response to the infection. This condition usually occurs when bacteria enter through a break in the skin, leading to a localized infectious process, which is recognized by these characteristic signs.

In contrast, normal skin state does not involve any inflammation and would not present with warmth or tenderness. Scar tissue typically appears less sensitive and often lacks the characteristics of inflammation, such as warmth. Dermatitis, while it can present with tenderness and sometimes warmth, is more often associated with itching and is linked to skin inflammation from irritants or allergens, not typically to a bacterial infection like cellulitis. Thus, the symptoms described in the question—the increased warmth and tenderness—strongly align with cellulitis.