Impetigo (im-puh-TIE-go) is a common and highly contagious skin infection that mainly affects infants and young children. It usually appears as
reddish sores on
the face, especially around the nose and mouth and on the hands and feet. Over about a week, the sores burst and develop honey-colored crusts.
How do you treat impetigo around the mouth?
Impetigo is treated with
antibiotics
that are either rubbed onto the sores (topical antibiotics) or taken by mouth (oral antibiotics). A doctor might recommend a topical ointment, such as mupirocin or retapamulin, for only a few sores. Oral antibiotics can be used when there are more sores.
What does impetigo look like when it starts?
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.
What causes impetigo around the mouth?
Causes of impetigo
Impetigo occurs when
the skin becomes infected with bacteria
, usually either Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes. These bacteria can infect the skin in two ways: through a break in otherwise healthy skin, such as a cut, insect bite or other injury – this is known as primary impetigo.
What does severe impetigo look like?
Impetigo causes
red bumps to form on your skin
, often on your face, arms, or legs. These bumps then become blisters. These blisters burst and scab over, forming a yellow-brown crust. The skin may also look reddish or raw where the blisters have popped open.
Can impetigo make you feel unwell?
Impetigo can make the skin red, sore and itchy. There may be swollen glands. It
is unusual to have a fever or feel very unwell
.
How can I get rid of impetigo fast?
Impetigo is treated with prescription mupirocin antibiotic ointment or cream applied directly to the sores two to three
times a day for five to 10 days
. Before applying the medicine, soak the area in warm water or apply a wet cloth compress for a few minutes.
Does Vaseline help impetigo?
Dr. Friedler recommends applying Vaseline, Bactroban (mupirocin), or Bacitracin to the bite or cut and then covering the area with a bandage to help promote healing. You also want to treat any underlying skin conditions — and quickly.
What is the best cream for impetigo?
If you have impetigo in only a small area of your skin, topical antibiotics are the preferred treatment. Options include
mupirocin cream or ointment
(Bactroban or Centany) and retapamulin ointment (Altabax).
Can Neosporin treat impetigo?
Mild impetigo can be handled by gentle cleansing of the sores, removing crusts from the infected person, and applying the prescription-strength antibiotic ointment mupirocin (Bactroban). Nonprescription topical antibiotic ointments
(such as Neosporin) generally are not effective
.
How do you stop impetigo from spreading?
- Gently wash the affected areas with mild soap and running water and then cover lightly with gauze.
- Wash an infected person’s clothes, linens and towels every day with hot water and don’t share them with anyone else in your family.
How do you clean your house after impetigo?
Cleaning the infected areas with
soap and water
. Loosely covering scabs and sores until they heal. Gently removing crusty scabs. Washing your hands with soap and water after touching infected areas or infected persons.
Why does my daughter keep getting impetigo?
Kids can be more likely to develop impetigo
when their skin is already irritated by another problem
, such as eczema, poison ivy, insect bites, and cuts or scrapes. Scratching a sore or a rash is a common cause — for example, poison ivy can get infected and turn into impetigo.
Does impetigo look like a pimple?
Symptoms of Impetigo
Starts as
small red bumps
. These change quickly to cloudy blisters or pimples.
How long is impetigo contagious for?
How long is a person considered infectious? A person with impetigo is probably no longer infectious after
24 hours
of adequate antibiotic treatment.
What is the incubation period for impetigo?
The incubation period of impetigo, from colonization of the skin to development of the characteristic lesions, is
about 10 days
. It is important to note not everyone who becomes colonized will go on to develop impetigo.
