Impetigo
Impetigo is a common, contagious bacterial skin infection. It shows up most often around the nose and mouth, but can appear anywhere the skin is broken — cuts, scrapes, insect bites, or eczema. The classic sign is small blisters or sores that ooze and dry into a yellow-brown, honey-coloured crust. It’s usually itchy rather than painful and is more common in children, though anyone can get it. It spreads easily through direct contact or shared towels, cups, and bedding, but mild cases respond well to a topical antibiotic and good hygiene.
Self-care products available in our shop
- Gentle antiseptic cleansers and saline to soak and remove crusts
- Sterile gauze and medical tape to lightly cover draining sores
- Alcohol-based hand sanitizer to prevent spreading the infection
- Soak and gently remove crusts with a warm, damp cloth before applying any antibiotic, keep sores lightly covered, don’t touch or pick at them, wash hands well after each treatment, and launder clothes/towels/bedding daily for the first couple of days. Impetigo is generally no longer contagious after about 2 days of antibiotic treatment.
Treatments our pharmacist can prescribe
For your information only: in Ontario, our pharmacist can assess this condition and, when appropriate, prescribe from the medications listed below. This information is provided for educational purposes — it is not an offer to sell. These are prescription treatments that require a pharmacist assessment, and the right option is chosen for you.
Topical antibacterials: Bacitracin, Fusidic acid (Fucidin), Gramicidin, Mupirocin (Bactroban), Ozenoxacin (Ozanex), Polymyxin B
When to seek further care: See a health-care provider if the skin hasn’t started healing after about 3 days of treatment, the sores are spreading, or the area becomes red, warm, swollen, or painful — and especially if you develop a fever. (Redness can look different on different skin tones, so watch for warmth and pain as much as colour.)