We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How do I Treat Impetigo?

Tricia Christensen
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 30,387
Share

Impetigo is an infection of the skin caused by Streptococcus or Staphylococcus aureus. It can be very contagious, especially among children, and it needs proper treatment right away. There are many incorrect suggestions for how to treat the condition, some of which even suggest leaving it alone or simply soaking the infection regularly in various substances. Due to its potential for complication, however, it is not recommended that people attempt methods that don’t involve some form of antibiotic treatment. Under some circumstances, especially in kids, a rare complication that can harm the kidneys may develop when people fail to treat the infection.

People who think they might have impetigo should see a medical professional to get a clear diagnosis. The main symptom of the disease is a rash that appears on the face or on the hands, where it can create blisters that eventually ooze and then crust over. The rash can show up elsewhere, but any blistery rash could indicate other illnesses too, like chicken pox. The scab or crust part will look different than chicken pox scabs, but in the blister stage, one might be mistaken for another. Patients should alert their healthcare provider when heading to the medical office to let them know about the blisters, as there may be different protocol if chicken pox are suspected.

Medical professionals usually take one of two approaches to treat this infection. They may recommend an oral antibiotic to kill the bacteria, or they could recommend a topical antibiotic, with instructions to return if it isn’t clearing up the problem. If the rash is on the hands, it’s usually advised people cover it with loose bandages — gauze and tape works well — to minimize the chances of passing the condition to others. It may be harder to cover rash on the face, and it’s strongly advised people don’t touch or scratch the exposed rash. People may need to keep their hands in their pockets, wear mittens, or tape gauze on the affected part of the face, but they should try to avoid touching the rash. It's especially important for patients to avoid scratching it, since this may make it worse or spread the rash elsewhere.

Since impetigo does itch, there are some helpful hints for reducing the irritation. Oatmeal baths or soaks may reduce some of the discomfort, as can using vinegar. Some anti-itch creams with diphenhydramine may be useful, and oral diphenhydramine can help too, though it will usually make the patient very sleepy.

Given the contagious nature of impetigo, patients need to be isolated from large groups of people, so they should not go to school or spend time in public areas where many other people gather. The infection usually clears up in a few days with proper treatment, but medical professionals usually advise that children not attend school while a case is still infectious. Even a covered rash may weep and spread to others. Schools and other groups may include people who are medically vulnerable or have impaired immune systems, and while the infection is only a transient and annoying illness for many, for the medically vulnerable, it may be very severe.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Tricia Christensen
By Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia Christensen is based in Northern California and brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her writing. Her wide-ranging interests include reading, writing, medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion, all of which she incorporates into her informative articles. Tricia is currently working on her first novel.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
By discographer — On Jan 25, 2013

Vitamin deficiencies can cause impetigo. My impetigo was treated when I started taking vitamins.

By ysmina — On Jan 25, 2013

@feruze-- I'm not a doctor but as far as I know, herpes blisters usually show up around the mouth, on the lips and sometimes inside the mouth. Genital herpes will also cause blisters in the genital area. Impetigo blisters can appear anywhere on the face, and on the rest of the body, not just at the mouth so that's one way to differentiate. I don't think impetigo causes blisters in the genital area but I'm not sure.

Also, impetigo is a bacterial infection and requires a treatment with antibacterials. Herpes is a viral infection and so antibacterial medications will not be effective for it. A blood test or a sample from the blister will give a definitive answer as to which type of infection it is.

That's why it's important to have a doctor diagnose this and prescribed medication rather than doing home remedies to treat it. Because it can easily be misdiagnosed as something else.

By bear78 — On Jan 24, 2013

@dega2010-- Do you have a rash or blisters?

The article says these are the main symptoms and I do have blisters. The problem is, I don't know if the blisters are caused by impetigo or something else. From what I understand, blisters can be caused by many viral conditions. For example, they could be caused by the herpes simplex viruses as well. And herpes blisters and impetigo blisters sound very similar in characteristics.

How do we tell them apart? Does anyone know?

By StormyKnight — On Dec 28, 2010

@dega2010: Impetigo usually starts as red sores on your face, nose or mouth. It often occurs when bacteria enter the skin through insect bites or cuts but it can also develop in healthy skin as well. Impetigo sores may rupture and ooze for several days. After that, it usually forms a honey-colored crust.

There is also what is called Bullous impetigo. It causes fluid-filled blisters, usually on the arms and legs of infants of children 2 and under. The skin will usually be itchy and red but not normally sore.

The most common form of impetigo is nonbullous, also known as impetigo contagiosa. Normally, you will not have a fever with this type but it is highly contagious.

By dega2010 — On Dec 26, 2010

What are the impetigo symptoms? How would I know if I had impetigo?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
With a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and years of experience as a WiseGeek contributor, Tricia...
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-do-i-treat-impetigo.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.