Impetigo

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Impetigo is a bacterial infection that causes sores to appear on the face, arms, legs or abdomen. Although it’s mostly harmless, it is highly infectious, so early treatment is recommended.

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Here’s what's included in the price:

Consultation

Answer a few questions about your health so we can get to know you better.

Free 24h delivery

Your treatment delivered in secure packaging, the very next day.

Aftercare

We’ll check in with you regularly to see how your treatment is going.

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Impetigo: essential info
Causes and symptoms
What are my options?
FAQ

What is impetigo?

Impetigo is a bacterial infection that causes red, itchy sores with yellow scabs. It’s caused by one of two bacteria: group A Streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus. This bacteria tends to get into breaks in the skin like cuts, insect bites or other injuries (primary impetigo), or into sores caused by existing conditions like eczema (secondary impetigo). It’s a relatively harmless condition that tends to clear up on its own after a few weeks, but treatment is usually recommended to speed up recovery and reduce the risk of spread. This usually involves topical antibiotic creams for mild cases, or oral antibiotics (tablets) for more severe or widespread cases.

Although impetigo isn’t usually serious, it is very contagious. And in rare cases it can cause complications, especially for people who have a weakened immune system. It tends to affect children more than adults, and is more common in warmer, humid climates (such as the tropics and subtropics). In milder climates such as the UK, it’s more commonly seen in the summer months.

Who gets impetigo?

Anyone can get impetigo, but it’s more common in children and people who live in hot and
humid climates. It’s also more common in crowded conditions, such as schools, nurseries and military barracks.

It’s likely more common in children due to poorer hygiene and an increased close physical contact, such as during play. There’s also a theory that it’s more common in warmer, humid climates because insect bites are more common in these regions, which can serve as a starting point for the infection.

How common is impetigo?

Because it’s highly transmissible, impetigo is a pretty common skin condition, making up around 10% of all skin conditions in children. The global prevalence of impetigo is thought to be around 11.2%, which breaks down to around 12.3% in children and 4.9% in adults. This data is contested, though, as it’s thought to be based heavily on data from developing countries, where the condition spreads more easily.

By comparison, in the UK, it’s estimated to affect 2.8% for children under four and 1.6% for children aged 5-15 every year. Other global estimates suggest that around 162 million children have impetigo at any given time.

Medically reviewed by

Dr Daniel Atkinson

GP Clinical Lead

on July 03, 2023.

Meet Daniel

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead on July 03, 2023. Next review due on July 03, 2025.

How we source info.

When we present you with stats, data, opinion or a consensus, we’ll tell you where this came from. And we’ll only present data as clinically reliable if it’s come from a reputable source, such as a state or government-funded health body, a peer-reviewed medical journal, or a recognised analytics or data body. Read more in our editorial policy.

What causes impetigo?

Impetigo is usually caused by one of two kinds of bacteria (group A Streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus) infecting a break in your skin, but it can infect unbroken skin too. When it infects a cut, bite or other injury in your skin it’s called primary impetigo, and when it infects skin broken by an existing condition, such as eczema or head lice, it’s called secondary impetigo.

Because impetigo doesn’t normally cause any symptoms for around 4-10 days, it can be easy for you to spread it without knowing through close contact or shared fabrics like towels, flannels and clothes.

Risk factors that make it more likely for you to get impetigo include:

skin conditions that cause breaks in the skin, such as eczema, scabies and chickenpox
skin injuries that cause breaks in the skin, such as cuts, grazes, bites and burns
a weakened immune system, which can be caused by certain conditions like HIV or diabetes, or certain treatments, such as chemotherapy
living in a warm, humid climate
poor hygiene
crowded environments

What are the symptoms of impetigo?

There are two kinds of impetigo: bullous and non-bullous. Non-bullous is the most common type, and the symptoms usually go like this:

First, red sores appear (usually around the nose and mouth, but other areas of the face or limbs might be affected).
These sores then burst, leaving behind thick, golden crusts around 2 cm across. (The appearance of these crusts is sometimes likened to cornflakes.)
After the crusts dry, they leave behind a red mark that usually fades without scarring.

These sores typically aren’t painful, but they may be itchy. Other symptoms like a fever or swollen glands might occur but only in rare, severe circumstances.

Bullous impetigo first appears as fluid-filled blisters called bullae, normally around the abdomen, face and legs. These bullae tend to be around 1-2 cm across, and they can quickly spread before bursting after several days. This usually leaves a yellow crust that heals without scarring.

With bullous impetigo, sores caused may be painful as well as itchy, and swollen glands and fever are more common.

Can impetigo lead to other problems?

It’s quite rare for impetigo to lead to any other problems, but it can happen.

Some complications associated with impetigo can include:

cellulitis: a potentially life-threatening infection of deeper-lying skin and tissue
scarlet fever: a rare bacterial infection that causes a pink rash
guttate psoriasis: a non-infectious skin condition that causes small, drop-shaped sores
septicaemia: a bacterial infection in your blood
Staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS): a serious skin condition that makes your skin look like it’s been scalded by boiling water
post-streptococcal glomerulonephritis: a condition that causes the small blood vessels in your kidneys to become infected

Impetigo doesn’t tend to leave scars, but it can happen in rare cases (especially if you scratch and pick at the sores).

Medically reviewed by

Dr Daniel Atkinson

GP Clinical Lead

on July 03, 2023.

Meet Daniel

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead on July 03, 2023. Next review due on July 03, 2025.

How we source info.

What medications are there for impetigo?

Primary impetigo is normally treated with antibiotics, while secondary impetigo might be approached by treating the underlying cause (such as eczema) first. Antibiotic creams are usually prescribed for mild cases of impetigo, whereas tablets might be recommended for more severe or widespread cases, or for cases where cream hasn’t worked to clear up the infection.

Antibiotic cream is applied to the affected area, typically two to four times a day for around a week. Before you apply the cream to your skin, the affected areas should be washed with warm, soapy water to gently clear off any loose scabs, and after application you should wash your hands thoroughly to remove any excess cream (or wear gloves during application).

Similarly, antibiotic tablets (when recommended), should also be taken 2-4 times a day for around a week. It’s important that you take your full course of antibiotics if they’ve been prescribed to you, even if you feel better with some tablets left over.

Common side effects of antibiotic cream can involve irritation and redness, whereas antibiotic tablets may cause nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea.

General measures to follow when treating impetigo are:

gently clean the affected area regularly, and remove any honey-coloured crusts
practise good hand hygiene and keep your fingernails cut short
cover the affected areas with a watertight dressing to prevent spread.

Is there a ‘best’ treatment for impetigo?

Although impetigo tends to get better on its own without treatment, antibiotic cream is usually recommended. This is because impetigo is a very infectious condition, so the quicker it’s dealt with, the less likely transmission becomes. And because antibiotic cream is less likely to cause side effects than tablets, it tends to be the go-to option for milder cases.

Self-help measures are also recommended to ease symptoms and reduce the risk of spreading it. These include making sure that the sores are covered at all times, and that you stay at home from school or work until the sores have dried-up and blistered over (or until at least 48 hours after starting treatment). You should also avoid sharing any towels or flannels, and wash them at a high temperature after use.

Does impetigo always need treatment?

Impetigo doesn’t need treatment (it usually clears on its own in a couple of weeks), but it is still recommended to speed up recovery and reduce transmission risk. If you’re not taking treatment for impetigo, you should make sure to clearly follow clinical advice to avoid spreading or worsening your condition. Making sure the sores are covered at all times, following good hygiene practices such as hand-washing and refraining from touching or scratching the sores as much as possible are all important. You should also make sure you contact a clinician as soon as possible if your condition worsens.

Medically reviewed by

Dr Daniel Atkinson

GP Clinical Lead

on July 03, 2023.

Meet Daniel

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead on July 03, 2023. Next review due on July 03, 2025.

How we source info.

FAQ: Impetigo

Have something specific you want to know? Search our info below, or ask our experts a question if you can’t find what you’re looking for.

How is impetigo diagnosed?

Answer:

Impetigo is usually pretty easy to diagnose without the need for any further tests. Your clinician will just need to perform a physical exam to look at the sores. In rare cases where it’s not responding to antibiotics a clinician may need to take a sample of the fluid produced by the sores to see what kinds of antibiotics will work on it.

Are there different types of impetigo?

Answer:

Impetigo can be categorised by how it develops:

Primary impetigo;

Secondary impetigo;

or its symptom presentation:

Bullous impetigo; or:

Non-bullous impetigo.

Primary impetigo tends to develop from a cut or insect bite, whereas secondary impetigo is usually caused from a break in skin caused by another condition. This doesn’t affect symptoms, but it can affect the way it’s treated.

Bullous is the less common type, and tends to cause more symptoms of pain and fever than non-bullous impetigo. Bullous impetigo also starts as fluid-filled blisters that can appear on the abdomen, whereas non-bullous impetigo tends to affect the face and limbs more commonly, and first-appears as red sores.

Can you get side effects from impetigo treatment?

Answer:

Any medications have the potential to cause side effects, though impetigo treatment may be less likely to incur side effects than other treatments. Topical antibiotics, which are the first-line treatment for mild impetigo, tend to only cause mild side effects (if any), such as redness and itchiness. Antibiotic tablets, which are less likely to be prescribed, may be more likely to cause stomach issues such as diarrhoea, nausea and vomiting.

Does impetigo treatment always work?

Answer:

Impetigo treatment tends to be pretty effective at clearing up the infection, however in some cases it can frequently recur. When this happens, particularly on the face, a bacteria that lives in your nose called staphylococcal bacteria might cause impetigo to reappear. This can be identified and treated with a nose-swab from a clinician, who will prescribe you an antiseptic nasal cream to use for five to ten days to prevent the problem from recurring.

Why should I buy impetigo treatment online with Treated?

Answer:

When it comes to highly infectious conditions like impetigo, it’s better not to take any chances. By ordering impetigo treatment online with us, you can consult, order and receive your treatment, all from home. Our expert team will review your info and give you tailored options to choose from – just pick the one that suits you best. Your chosen treatment will then arrive by secure courier in as early as one working day.

And once you’ve received your treatment you’ll retain access to our expert clinicians, so you can ask them anything you like, whenever you like.

This page was medically reviewed by Dr Daniel Atkinson, GP Clinical Lead on July 03, 2023. Next review due on July 03, 2025.

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Impetigo: Here's what we've got.

Fucidin

N/A

Not available

Flucloxacillin

N/A

Flucloxacillin is an antibiotic that can treat skin infections within a couple of days.

Not available

Clarithromycin

N/A

Antibiotic tablets taken twice daily to clear impetigo infections. Available in two doses.

Not available

Dermol

Contains four active ingredients that fight infections and hydrate your skin at the same time.

Not available

Bactroban

Mupirocin

Topical antibiotic medication available as cream or ointment. Clears skin infections like impetigo and folliculitis.

Starting from £44.95

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Dr Daniel Atkinson

GP Clinical Lead

Registered with GMC (No. 4624794)

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Ms Sanjeda Chowdhury

Superintendent Pharmacist

Registered with GPhC (No. 2202465)

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Mr Craig Marsh

Pharmacist Prescriber

Registered with GPhC (No. 2070724)

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Impetigo

Buy impetigo treatment online.

Fucidin

Flucloxacillin

Clarithromycin

Dermol

Bactroban