Impetigo

Impetigo is a skin infection that's very contagious but not usually serious. It often gets better in 7 to 10 days if you get treatment. Anyone can get it, but it's very common in young children.

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Check if you have impetigo

Impetigo starts with red sores or blisters, but the redness may be harder to see in brown and black skin.

The sores or blisters quickly burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches.

The patches can:

• look a bit like cornflakes stuck to your skin

• get bigger

• spread to other parts of your body

• be itchy

• sometimes be painful

Sores (non-bullous impetigo) or blisters (bullous impetigo) can start anywhere – but usually on exposed areas like your face and hands.

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Credit:

DR P. MARAZZI/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY https://www.sciencephoto.com/media/258826/view

The sores or blisters burst and form crusty patches.

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If you're not sure it's impetigo

 

Non-urgent advice: See a Pharmacist if you or your child:

• might have impetigo

• had treatment for impetigo but the symptoms change or get worse

• had impetigo before and it keeps coming back

Impetigo is very infectious. Check with the Pharmacist before you go into the pharmacy. They may suggest a phone consultation.

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Treatment for impetigo from our Pharmacist

A GP will check it's not something more serious, like cellulitis.

If it's impetigo, they can prescribe hydrogen peroxide cream to speed up your recovery, or antibiotic cream or tablets if it's very bad.

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If your impetigo keeps coming back

A GP can take a swab from your skin to check for the bacteria that causes impetigo. They may also take a swab from inside your nose.

They might prescribe an antiseptic body wash, nasal ointment, or both, to try to clear the bacteria and stop the impetigo coming back.

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Important:Make sure you finish treatment

Do not stop taking the antibiotic tablets early, even if the impetigo starts to clear up.

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Stop impetigo spreading or getting worse

Impetigo can easily spread to other parts of your body or to other people until it stops being contagious.

It stops being contagious:

• 48 hours after you start using hydrogen peroxide cream or antibiotics prescribed by your GP

• when the patches dry out and crust over (if you do not get treatment)

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To help stop impetigo spreading or getting worse while it's still contagious:

Do

• stay away from school or work

• keep sores, blisters and crusty patches clean and dry

• cover them with loose clothing or gauze bandages

• wash your hands frequently

• wash flannels, sheets and towels at a high temperature

• wash or wipe down toys with detergent and warm water if your children have impetigo

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Don’t

• do not touch or scratch sores, blisters or crusty patches – this also helps stop scarring

• do not have close contact with children or people with diabetes or a weakened immune system (if they're having chemotherapy, for example)

• do not share flannels, sheets or towels

• do not prepare food for other people

• do not go to the gym

• do not play contact sports like football

 

How to avoid impetigo

Impetigo usually infects skin that's already damaged.

To avoid spreading the infection to other areas of your body and to other people:

• keep cuts, scratches and insect bites clean – for example, by washing them with warm water and soap

• get treatment for skin conditions, like eczema