Impetigo Treatments

Impetigo is generally treated with topical or oral antibiotics. A visit to the doctor will be necessary as over the counter antibiotics will have almost no effect on impetigo.

Topical antibiotics

• Mupirocin (Bactroban)
• Retapamulin (Altabax)

These are popular topical antibiotics that are applied to the sores directly. The sores should be washed and the crusts removed so that the creams can better penetrate the area.

Oral antibiotics

• Varies widely depending on the type of infection
• Usually reserved for rare complications or ecthyma, a severe case
• Prescribed doses should be completed as antibiotic resistance is much less likely to occur if the bacteria is completely eliminated

Preventing Transmission to family and friends

As impetigo is a bacterial infection, it can spread to other members of the family. In daycare settings, it is not uncommon for impetigo to quickly spread to other children, as they come into contact with each other. To minimize the chance of infection, these measures are recommended if you or your child has impetigo.

• Wash the affected areas using soap and water
• Cover the affected area with a bandage or a gauze to prevent contact as much as possible
• Wash your hands thoroughly after coming into contact with the infected area
• Cut your children's nails if they have impetigo as it will help reduce damage to the skin by scratching
• Keep your child at home while they have impetigo as they can easily spread it to other children in school or daycare