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.

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

The lower half of a child's face with red sores and yellow weepy sores on the nose and around the mouth. Shown on white skin. — Sores (non-bullous impetigo) or blisters (bullous impetigo) can start anywhere – but usually on exposed areas like your face and hands.

Impetigo on the chin. The patches are about 2cm wide, red and golden with darker scabs in the middle. Shown on brown skin. — The sores or blisters burst and form crusty patches.

If you're not sure it's impetigo

Non-urgent advice:See a GP 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 GP before you go into the surgery. They may suggest a phone consultation.

A pharmacist can help with impetigo

You can also speak to a pharmacist if you think you or your child have impetigo. They can provide you the same treatments you would get from a GP, if you need it.

Find a pharmacy

Treatment for impetigo

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

If it's impetigo, you may need:

hydrogen peroxide cream if it's in one area
antibiotic cream or tablets if it's more widespread
antibiotic tablets if you have bullous impetigo or feel very unwell

Babies and people with a weakened immune system may need antibiotic tablets to stop the infection causing more serious problems.

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.

Important:Make sure you finish treatment

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

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)

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

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