Important: this article is for information only and isn’t a substitute for professional medical advice. If you think you or your child has impetigo, speak to a pharmacist or GP — it’s very treatable, but it does need proper diagnosis.

There’s a particular kind of parental dread that comes with a phone call from the school office, and “we think it might be impetigo” ranks fairly high on the list. The name sounds alarming, the sores look alarming, and then someone mentions it’s highly contagious and you start mentally quarantining the entire household.

Take a breath. Impetigo is one of the most common skin infections in young children, it’s very treatable, and with the right steps it clears up quickly. Here’s what it is, how to recognise it, and exactly what to do about it — based on current NHS guidance.

What Is Impetigo?

Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection, usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes — the same bacteria that live harmlessly on many people’s skin and in their noses. It becomes a problem when the bacteria get into the skin through a cut, graze, insect bite or even just irritated skin like eczema patches.

It’s most common in children aged 2 to 5, though adults can get it too. It spreads easily through direct contact with the sores or with items like towels, bedding and toys that have touched them. That’s why it tears through nurseries and primary schools with such enthusiasm.

How to Recognise It

Impetigo usually starts as red sores or blisters, most often around the nose and mouth, though they can appear anywhere on the body. The sores quickly burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches that look a bit like cornflakes stuck to the skin. It’s not a glamorous description, but it’s accurate and it’s the classic sign doctors look for.

There are two main types:

• Non-bullous impetigo (the common kind): red sores that burst and form the characteristic golden crusts. May be itchy but usually isn’t painful.
• Bullous impetigo: larger, fluid-filled blisters that are less likely to burst quickly. More common in babies and young children.

A related condition worth knowing about: athlete’s foot is also a contagious skin condition, but it’s fungal rather than bacterial, so it’s treated completely differently. Don’t mix up the treatments.

When to See a GP or Pharmacist

The NHS advises seeing a GP if you think it’s impetigo — partly to confirm the diagnosis (several skin conditions can look similar), and partly because treatment depends on how widespread it is. That said, for very mild, localised cases, a pharmacist can often advise on over-the-counter options.

See a GP promptly if:

• The sores are spreading quickly or cover a large area
• There’s swelling, warmth or red streaks around the sores (possible cellulitis)
• There’s a fever or the person feels generally unwell
• It’s a baby under one year old
• Symptoms haven’t improved after a week of treatment
• It keeps coming back

You can also call NHS 111 for advice if you’re unsure, or if it’s out of hours and you’re worried.

How Impetigo Is Treated

Treatment depends on how extensive the infection is. For mild, localised impetigo, the usual approach is:

Antiseptic or antibiotic cream

The first-line treatment for small areas is typically hydrogen peroxide 1% cream, available from pharmacies, applied two to three times a day. If that’s not suitable or not effective, a GP may prescribe an antibiotic cream such as fusidic acid. The cream is applied directly to the sores after gently removing the crusts (more on that below).

Antibiotic tablets or liquid

If the impetigo is widespread, or if creams haven’t worked, the GP will usually prescribe oral antibiotics — commonly flucloxacillin. It’s important to finish the whole course even if the sores look better after a couple of days, otherwise the infection can bounce back.

With treatment, impetigo usually starts improving within a few days and clears completely in about a week to ten days.

Step-by-Step Home Care

Alongside the prescribed treatment, good hygiene makes a real difference to how quickly it clears and whether it spreads:

1. Soften and remove crusts gently. Soak a clean flannel in warm water and hold it against the crusts for a few minutes to soften them, then wipe away gently. Don’t pick or scrub — you’ll damage the healing skin underneath and risk spreading the bacteria.
2. Apply treatment to clean skin. Once crusts are removed, apply the prescribed cream as directed. Wash your hands thoroughly before and after touching the affected area.
3. Keep sores covered where practical. A loose, clean dressing over the sores reduces the chance of spreading it by touch, especially in children who can’t keep their hands off anything.
4. Don’t share personal items. Towels, flannels, bedding, clothes — everything the sores touch should be for the infected person’s use only until treatment has taken effect. Wash them at 60°C.
5. Cut fingernails short. Scratching spreads the infection to new areas and to other people. Short nails do less damage when willpower fails (and with children, it will fail).
6. Complete the full treatment course. Even when it looks better. This is the step everyone is tempted to skip, and it’s the reason impetigo sometimes comes back.

Stopping the Spread: School and Work Rules

This is the question every parent asks, and the NHS guidance is clear: children with impetigo should stay off school or nursery until the sores have dried out and crusted over, or until 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment — whichever comes first. For adults in jobs involving food handling or close contact with others, the same exclusion applies; have a word with your employer or occupational health.

Within the household: don’t share towels or bedding, wash hands frequently (properly — 20 seconds with soap), and try to discourage the infected person from touching the sores. With a four-year-old, “try” is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence, but do your best.

Can It Be Prevented?

Not entirely — it’s one of those childhood rites of passage, like chickenpox used to be. But you can reduce the odds: clean cuts and grazes promptly with soap and water, keep children’s nails short, treat underlying eczema well (broken eczema skin is an open door for impetigo), and don’t share towels. If someone in the house has it, the hygiene steps above protect everyone else.

Recurrent impetigo sometimes relates to bacteria living in the nose — if it keeps coming back, mention it to the GP, as there are treatments that address nasal carriage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is impetigo dangerous?

For most people, no — it’s a superficial skin infection that responds well to treatment. Complications are uncommon but can include cellulitis (a deeper skin infection) or, rarely, kidney inflammation after streptococcal impetigo. This is why getting it properly diagnosed and treated matters rather than just waiting it out.

Can adults get impetigo?

Yes, though it’s much less common than in children. Adults usually catch it from an infected child, or develop it when bacteria enter broken skin. The treatment is the same.

How long is impetigo contagious?

Until the sores have dried and healed, or for 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment. Without treatment, it can remain contagious for weeks — another good reason not to just hope it goes away on its own.

Can I use over-the-counter creams instead of seeing a GP?

For very mild cases, a pharmacist may recommend hydrogen peroxide 1% cream. But it’s worth getting a proper diagnosis first, because eczema, cold sores and fungal infections can all be mistaken for impetigo and need different treatment. When in doubt, see the GP.

The Bottom Line

Impetigo looks worse than it is. It’s common, it’s very treatable, and with prompt treatment plus decent hygiene it clears up in a week or so with no lasting effects. The key steps: get it diagnosed, treat it properly, finish the course, keep things clean, and keep the kids home until the 48-hour mark. Unpleasant for a week, forgotten in a month — which, in the grand scheme of childhood ailments, is about as good as it gets.

For the full NHS guidance, see the NHS impetigo page, and if skin problems are a recurring theme in your household, our guide on avoiding carpal tunnel covers a very different but equally common condition worth knowing about.