Symptoms
Symptoms of impetigo
Honey-coloured crusts on a small area in someone who is otherwise well are typical. Rapidly spreading redness, facial swelling, or fever needs urgent review for cellulitis.
Treatments
Impetigo Treatment Online
Get impetigo treatment online after a private consultation. A UK-registered clinician reviews antibiotics if suitable, with discreet UK delivery.
Introduction
Treatment overview
Impetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection, common around the nose and mouth, with honey-coloured crusts. It spreads easily in households and schools.
We will review topical or oral antibiotics after checking that it is not a more serious skin infection.
The condition
What is impetigo?
Impetigo is a contagious bacterial skin infection, usually caused by Staphylococcus aureus or streptococci. It often starts around the nose and mouth as red sores that weep and form golden-yellow crusts. It is common in children but adults can get it, especially where the skin is already broken by eczema, cuts or cold sores.
There is a non-bullous form (crusts) and a less common bullous form with larger blisters. The infection spreads on fingers, towels and pillowcases. You should not go to school, nursery or work involving close contact until crusts have dried or you have been on antibiotics for 48 hours, following current NHS guidance.
Private Pharmacy Care may review topical or oral antibiotics when this service is open. A clinician decides. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a prescription. Fever, spreading hot redness, or a very unwell child is not a remote-only problem. Always read the patient information leaflet.
Causes
Causes of impetigo
Bacteria enter where the skin barrier is broken. It is not caused by being unclean in a moral sense, but sharing flannels spreads it efficiently.
Treatments
Available treatment options
This is a guide to UK-recommended options. A clinician decides between hydrogen peroxide cream, a topical antibiotic, or an oral antibiotic. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a prescription. Resistance to topical fusidic acid is a concern, so it is not always first choice.
Products
Clarithromycin 250mg Tablets
Clarithromycin 250mg tablets — alternative antibiotic when flucloxacillin is unsuitable (e.g. allergy). £9.50. Pharmacist review required.
Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml Oral Suspension
Clarithromycin 250mg/5ml oral suspension (or solution) × 70ml — alternative when flucloxacillin is unsuitable. £18. Pharmacist review required.
Crystacide® 1% Cream
Crystacide (hydrogen peroxide 1% cream) — antimicrobial for bacterial skin infection such as impetigo. Up to three times…
Flucloxacillin 125mg/5ml Oral Solution
Flucloxacillin 125mg/5ml oral solution × 100ml for impetigo. £9.50. Pharmacist review required.
Flucloxacillin 125mg/5ml Sugar-Free Oral Solution
Flucloxacillin 125mg/5ml sugar-free oral solution (or suspension) × 100ml for impetigo. £9.50. Pharmacist review required.
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml Oral Solution
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml oral solution × 100ml for impetigo. £9.50. Pharmacist review required.
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml Sugar-Free Oral Solution
Flucloxacillin 250mg/5ml sugar-free oral solution (or suspension) × 100ml for impetigo. £9.50. Pharmacist review required.
Flucloxacillin 500mg Capsules
Flucloxacillin 500mg capsules — oral penicillin antibiotic for moderate to severe impetigo or when topical treatment is not…
Fusidic Acid 2% Cream
Fusidic acid 2% cream — topical antibiotic for mild to moderate impetigo. Up to three times a day.…
Benefits
Benefits and uses
Prompt treatment shortens infectivity. Hygiene measures stop household spread.
Targeted antibiotics
Topical treatment may be enough for small areas; oral antibiotics are used if it is widespread.
Return-to-school advice
Children are usually kept off until crusts have dried or 48 hours of antibiotics, following current UK guidance.
Household measures
Towels, pillowcases, and not sharing flannels.
Safety netting
Spreading redness, fever, or facial swelling needs urgent review.
Eligibility
Eligibility
Typical localised impetigo in otherwise well people may be suitable. Cellulitis or a very unwell child is not a remote-only problem.
May be suitable if
- Golden crusts on a small area of skin
- You can keep the area clean and complete antibiotics
- Contacts can avoid sharing towels
- You will seek help if it spreads rapidly
May not be suitable if
- Fever, spreading hot redness, or a very swollen face
- A baby who is unwell
- You think it may be eczema herpeticum or shingles
- MRSA or repeated infections needing swab-guided care
A clinician decides whether treatment is appropriate. Completing a consultation does not guarantee a prescription.
Start a consultation
Ready to check if Impetigo treatment is right for you?
Start a confidential consultation. Seek urgent care if redness is spreading fast or you have a fever.
- UK-registered clinician review
- Confidential online consultation
- Discreet UK delivery
How it works
How it works
Fusidic acid or similar topical antibiotics are used on limited patches. Oral antibiotics are for more extensive disease. Soak crusts gently if advised so medicine can reach the skin.
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Complete a consultation
Answer a short, confidential questionnaire about your symptoms, medical history and current medicines.
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Clinician review
A UK-registered clinician reviews your answers to check the treatment is safe and appropriate for you.
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Dispensing and delivery
If a prescription is issued, our pharmacy dispenses the medicine and sends it in discreet UK packaging.
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Support if you need it
Questions after you start treatment? Contact the team and we will help you with next steps.
Safety
Safety information
Impetigo is contagious. Follow exclusion guidance for school and work.
Rapidly spreading infection can become cellulitis.
- Wash hands after touching sores.
- Do not scrape crusts off aggressively.
- Complete the antibiotic course.
- Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with a medicine. This page is general information and is not a substitute for personalised clinical advice.
Side effects
Side effects
Topical antibiotics can sting. Oral antibiotics may cause gut upset or rash.
- Local stinging Usually brief.
- Nausea or diarrhoea (oral treatment) Seek help if severe.
- Rash Stop and get advice. Breathing difficulty is urgent.
- Thrush Can follow oral antibiotics.
Always read the patient information leaflet supplied with a medicine. This page is general information and is not a substitute for personalised clinical advice.
Using treatment
How to take or use the treatment
Always read the patient information leaflet and complete the antibiotic course if one is prescribed. The steps below are general.
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Clean then apply cream as directed
Wash hands, dab sores gently, apply a thin layer of hydrogen peroxide or antibiotic cream, then wash hands again. Keep the product out of the eyes.
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Take oral antibiotics on time if prescribed
Flucloxacillin is often taken on an empty stomach. Finish the course even if crusts look better after 2 days.
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Stay off school or close-contact work as advised
Typically until lesions are crusted and dry, or 48 hours of antibiotics, matching current NHS and school guidance.
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Wash towels and pillowcases hot
Do not share flannels. Treat household contacts if they develop sores rather than using leftover cream “just in case”.
Safety netting
When to seek medical advice
Local stinging from cream is common. Rapidly spreading infection and allergy to penicillin are the main emergencies.
Seek urgent help (A&E) if
- Spreading hot redness, severe facial swelling, or a high fever — go to A&E if the person is very unwell.
- A baby or young child who is drowsy, not feeding, or has a non-blanching rash — go to A&E.
- Difficulty swallowing or opening the mouth with facial impetigo — urgent care.
- Wheeze, facial swelling, or collapse after an antibiotic — go to A&E.
Contact a clinician or NHS 111 if
- Sores are spreading despite 48 hours of treatment, or new household members are affected.
- You keep getting impetigo — a GP may swab the nose or review eczema care.
- You are not sure it is impetigo (cold sores, shingles and angular cheilitis can look similar).
- You have a penicillin allergy — tell every clinician before an oral antibiotic is chosen.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Tap a question to see the answer. If you still need help, our team is ready to assist.
Is this service available now?
Yes. Start an online consultation. See a GP or pharmacist now if you need treatment for a contagious rash.
When can my child go back to school?
Follow current NHS / school guidance — often after crusts have dried or 48 hours of antibiotics.
Can I cover it?
A light dressing can help reduce spread. Do not share dressings.
Is it the same as cold sores?
No. Cold sores are viral. Impetigo is bacterial. They can look similar — a clinician decides.
Why choose us
Why choose Private Pharmacy Care?
A regulated UK pharmacy service with clinician review, discreet delivery and support if you have questions after treatment is supplied.
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UK-registered clinicians
Every request is reviewed by a UK-registered clinician before a medicine can be prescribed.
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Confidential consultations
Complete a private questionnaire from home. Your information is used to check that treatment is safe and appropriate.
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Discreet UK dispensing
If a prescription is issued, our pharmacy dispenses it and sends it in plain packaging.
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Clear safety checks
We ask about your symptoms, medical history and other medicines. Completing a form does not guarantee a prescription.
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Support after you order
Questions about side effects or how to take a medicine? Contact the team and we will help you with next steps.
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Regulated pharmacy care
Private Pharmacy Care is a UK pharmacy service. Named clinicians and public register details are listed on our clinical team page.
Sources
References and medical sources
This page is general information for UK patients. It is not a substitute for the patient information leaflet or personalised clinical advice.
- NHS: Impetigo Patient-facing NHS guidance.
- NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries UK clinical reference used by healthcare professionals.
- Electronic Medicines Compendium (emc) UK Summaries of Product Characteristics and patient information leaflets.
- MHRA UK medicines regulator.
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