Experiences with
ImpetigoCheck if you have impetigo
Impetigo starts with red sores or blisters, but the redness may be harder to see on brown and black skin.
The sores or blisters quickly burst and often leave crusty, golden-brown patches.
The patches can:
- look a bit like cornflakes stuck to your skin
- get bigger and spread to other parts of your body
- be itchy and are sometimes painful
The sores and blisters of impetigo commonly affect the face (around the nose and mouth) and hands.
After the blisters burst, you often have golden-brown crusty patches on your skin.
Sometimes yellow liquid oozes from the blisters and hardens to leave a scaly border around a scab. This is called bullous impetigo.
- might have impetigo
- has had treatment for impetigo but the symptoms have changed or become 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.
Treatment for impetigo
A GP or pharmacist will check if your symptoms are caused by a more serious skin infection, like cellulitis.
If it's impetigo, they can prescribe:
- hydrogen peroxide cream if it's in 1 area
- antibiotic cream or tablets if it's more widespread
- antibiotic tablets if you have bullous impetigo
Babies and people with a weakened immune system may also 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.
Do not stop taking the antibiotic tablets early, even if the impetigo starts to clear up.
How to stop impetigo spreading or getting worse
Impetigo can be easily spread to other parts of your body or to other people through skin-to-skin contact.
You can also get it by touching things that have been infected, like towels and bedding.
Impetigo stops being contagious:
- 48 hours after you start using hydrogen peroxide cream or antibiotics prescribed by a GP or pharmacist
- when the patches dry out and crust over (if you do not get treatment)
There are some things you can do to help stop impetigo spreading or getting worse while it's still contagious.
stay away from work, school or nursery until no longer contagious
wash affected areas with soap and water and dry them thoroughly
wash your hands frequently, particularly before and after using antibiotic cream
wash flannels, towels, sheets and pillowcases at a high temperature
wash toys with detergent and warm water if your children have impetigo
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, towels, sheets or pillowcases
do not prepare food for other people if you have impetigo
do not go to the gym or play contact sports like football
How to avoid impetigo
Impetigo usually infects skin that's already damaged.
You can get it if you have a minor injury like a cut, scratch or insect bite, or a skin condition.
To avoid getting impetigo:
- keep cuts, scratches and insect bites clean – for example, by washing them with warm water and soap
- get treatment for skin conditions, like eczema and scabies
Impetigo causes sores or blisters that burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches. They can look a bit like cornflakes stuck to your skin.
Impetigo is often treated with antibiotics from a GP. If it keeps coming back, you may need an antiseptic body wash, nasal ointment, or both.
You’re more likely to get impetigo if your skin is damaged. Keep cuts, scratches and insect bites clean, and get treatment for skin conditions.
Related links
HealthUnlocked contains information from NHS Digital, licensed under the current version of the Open Government Licence
