Impetigo: What You Should Know

Impetigo is a skin infection that is caused by staph and/or strep bacteria. There are two kinds of impetigo and both are more common in children than they are in adults.

The first kind of impetigo is called non-bullous impetigo. This is the most common type of impetigo and is caused by both strep and staph bacteria. The infection will often present itself as small blisters or scabs that form yellow colored crusts around them. These sores start around the nose and on the face most of the time, but can also affect the arms and legs. The glands near the sores may be swollen.

The second kind of impetigo is called bullous impetigo. This type is less common and is caused by staph bacteria. The staph bacteria can produce toxins that cause a breakdown in the top layer of the skin and the layers beneath. Blisters form on the skin, commonly on the buttocks. The blisters break easily and will leave behind a raw, red area with a ragged edge.

Both types of impetigo are contagious. The most common way to catch impetigo from someone is with direct contact with a person that has the infection. It can also be transmitted from handling towels, toys, clothes, or other household items in which the bacteria are on. Impetigo can easily spread to other parts of the body. Most often, impetigo bacteria will enter the body through an open wound or break in the skin, but it can appear without there being any apparent cause or carrier nearby.

To diagnose impetigo, a doctor will look at the sores or blisters, their location on the body, any oozing that comes from them, and if necessary, will do a culture test to be certain.

Antibiotic cream is used to treat mild cases of impetigo. Severe or widespread cases are normally treated with an oral antibiotic. In these cases, a bacteria culture is likely to be done to determine which antibiotic should be used to treat the impetigo.

Impetigo rarely leaves any scars once the blisters heal. The affected skin may appear red and raw once the crust goes away, but the red color fades in a few days.

Impetigo is a common and contagious disease in children, and not as common in adults. It is easily diagnosed and treated. It presents itself with blisters or sores that ooze and will have a yellow crust to them. Although uncomfortable, impetigo will not leave any scars once the blisters ands sores heal.