Impetigo is a very common skin infection that makes your skin red, itchy, and covered in tiny blisters or honey-colored crusts (they kind of look like dried syrup).It’s contagious, which means it spreads easily from person to person.
It usually starts with:
Red spots or small blisters , raw skin and can spread.
Sometimes blisters may be pus filled and can burst easily. The fluid may be yellow or tan and may seep out and form a crust.
Swollen lymph nodes may develop near the infected area.
Then, a yellowish-brown scab forms (kind of looks like dried honey)
It usually shows up around the mouth, nose, hands, or legs, but it can appear anywhere on the body.
Mostly young children, but adults can get it too.
Impetigo is usually caused by bacteria called Staphylococcus or Streptococcus.
These germs can get into the skin through small cuts, scrapes, bug bites, or even dry, cracked skin.
Once the bacteria get in, they grow and cause redness, swelling, and infection in the top layer of the skin.
Sometimes, kids get impetigo by scratching something that’s already itchy, like chickenpox or eczema. Scratching can break the skin and let bacteria in.
Impetigo can also happen even if the skin doesn’t have a cut. It might start after other skin problems like:
Head lice
Scabies
Eczema
No, stress doesn’t cause impetigo. However, stress can weaken your immune system. With a weakened immune system, it’s easier for bacteria to infect you and harder for your body to fight them.
You can get Impetigo by:
Touching someone who has it
Sharing things like towels, clothes, or toys
Scratching and spreading it from one part of your body to another
It’s super easy to spread, especially in places like schools, daycare centers, and sports teams.Impetigo is highly contagious. Most people get it through direct skin-to-skin contact. You can get impetigo by coming into contact with sores, mucus or nasal discharge from someone who has it.
Without treatment, impetigo can be contagious for weeks. After starting impetigo treatment, the condition is contagious until:
The rash disappears. Even if the sore looks dry, the bacteria can still be alive and contagious for a little while!
Scabs fall off.
You’ve finished at least two days of antibiotics.
Myth: Only dirty people get impetigo.
Wrong!
Anyone can get impetigo even people who are very clean!
All it takes is a tiny cut or scrape for the bacteria to sneak in.
Myth: Impetigo only happens to little kids.
Wrong!
While kids get it more often (because they are always bumping into things and sharing stuff), adults can get impetigo too, especially if they have a cut or weak immune system.
Myth: Scratching the sores helps them heal.
Wrong!
Scratching actually makes it worse!
It can spread the infection to other parts of your body — or to other people.
(Plus, it can leave scars!)
Myth: You can catch impetigo from animals.
Wrong!
Impetigo is a human-to-human infection.
You don't catch it from pets like dogs or cats.
Myth: Once you get impetigo, you can’t get it again.
Wrong!
Sadly, you can get impetigo again if you're exposed to the bacteria and have a cut, scrape, or skin irritation.
Good hygiene helps lower the chances though!
You can help prevent impetigo by doing a few easy things
Keep your hands clean: Wash your hands often. If you don't have soap and water, use hand sanitizer.
Practice good hygiene: Trim your (and your child's) fingernails so you don’t scratch yourself too much. Cover your mouth with a tissue or your elbow when you sneeze, and throw the tissue away. Try to take a bath or shower every day, especially if you or your child has sensitive skin.
Avoid scratching: Try not to scratch cuts or wounds. If your child gets a cut, help them avoid scratching it.
Clean wounds: Wash cuts and scrapes with soap and water. Then put an antibiotic cream prescribed by your doctor on them to help prevent infection.
Wash clothes and sheets: Clean clothes, towels, and bedsheets in hot water to kill germs.
You still need medicine from a Dermatologist to kill the bacteria.
If your dermatologist diagnosed you or your child with impetigo,here’s how you can help it heal:
Cover the sores: Use bandages or wear long sleeves and pants.
Take all the medicine: Make sure to use the antibiotics for as long as the doctor told you, even if the skin looks better to prevent re-infection.
Keep clean: Gently wash the sore areas a few times a day with antibacterial soap to clean off any crust or pus. Use saline compresses to clean the crust.
Don’t touch the rash: Try not to touch the sores. If you do, wash your hands and the area with soap and water right away.
Keep your child home: If your child has impetigo, keep them away from other kids for at least 48 hours after starting treatment. They shouldn’t go to school or daycare during this time.
Stay out of pools and hot tubs: The rash can spread easily if others touch your child’s skin, swimsuit, or towel.
Impetigo might go away on its own after a few weeks, but doctors still recommend treating it. Here's why:
It lowers your chance of getting complications.
It helps stop the infection from spreading to other people.
Without treatment, the infection could get worse and cause more sores or blisters.
Don’t touch the rash: Try not to touch the sores. If you do, wash your hands and the area with soap and water right away.
Keep your child home: If your child has impetigo, keep them away from other kids for at least 48 hours after starting treatment. They shouldn’t go to school or daycare during this time.
Stay out of pools and hot tubs: The rash can spread easily if others touch your child’s skin, swimsuit, or towel.
Doctors usually give:
Antibiotic creams to put on the sores
Sometimes, oral antibiotics (pills or syrup) if it’s more widespread
With the right treatment, it usually clears up in about a week.
Disclaimer: This article is only for general patient information and is not intended for self medication. There is no legal liability of IADVL arising out of any adverse consequence to the patient. Subsequent to its use for self treatment of the disease images adjust for the depiction of the condition and is not to be used for any other purpose.
Explore articles in this section to gain a deeper understanding of various skin diseases and conditions. Each article provides detailed information on symptoms, causes, and treatment options, helping you to manage and address these dermatological issues effectively.
Psoriasis is a skin condition where new skin forms at a faster rate, showing up as red rashes with whitish scales, commonly over elbows, knees, and other body parts.
Dandruff is a common scalp condition in which small pieces of dry skin flake off from the scalp and is usually associated with itching. The exact cause of Dandruff and Seborrhoeic Dermatitis is unknown.
Dermatophyte infection is a superficial fungal infection of skin, hair and nails. It is also known as ringworm. In Hindi it is termed as Daad and in Marathi it is termed as Gachkaran.
