PlushCare / Online Doctor / Primary Care / Impetigo
In order to treat your impetigo, consult with one of our board-certified doctors online today to develop a treatment plan to get relief from skin sores. Get a new prescription to treat impetigo or refill an existing prescription today.
Medication services available 24/7 for adults and kids (3+)
Top quality, board-certified doctors
No insurance needed
Same-day prescriptions available*
*Prescriptions provided at doctor’s discretion.
Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less. Otherwise, new patient visits are $129 and follow-ups are only $69 for members.
Step 1
Book a same day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
Step 1
Book a same day appointment from anywhere.
Step 2
Visit with a doctor on your smartphone or computer.
Step 3
We can send prescriptions to any local pharmacy.
How pricing works
To request impetigo treatment and get a new or refill on your prescription, join our monthly membership and get discounted visits.
$14.99/month
First month free
Copay
For all visits
Often the same as an office visit. Most patients with in-network insurance pay $30 or less!
$14.99/month
First month free
$129
Repeats only $69
Initial visits are $129 and follow-ups are only $69 for active members.
If we're unable to treat you, we'll provide a full refund.
Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection that primarily affects infants and young children. In most cases, impetigo appears as reddish sores on the face, especially around the nose and mouth, or around the diaper area. Over the course of a week, the sores pop, turning into yellowish crusty patches.
Although impetigo is a common skin infection among children, it can be easily treated with antibiotics. Antibiotic treatment can also help protect others from developing an infection.
Impetigo can be classified as either primary impetigo or secondary impetigo. Primary impetigo happens when previously healthy skin becomes infected by bacteria. Meanwhile, secondary impetigo happens when an infection forms at a previous wound site.
Impetigo infections are usually caused by a young child getting a cut, scrape, or insect bite that opens the skin leading bacteria to enter the area.
Staphylococcus bacteria can enter the broken skin, causing a bacterial infection (secondary impetigo). You might be exposed to Staphylococcus aureus bacteria if you come into direct contact with someone infected or with items they’ve touched, such as clothing, towels, or toys.
However, impetigo infections can develop even if the affected area isn’t punctured or broken (primary impetigo).
Impetigo treatments usually involve antibiotics , either in the form of an antibiotic cream or oral medication. If your infection has spread to other areas of your body or antibiotic cream isn't working, your doctor may prescribe antibiotic medicine to fight the infection. In most cases, the skin infection will go away in a week with proper treatment. Seeking treatment as soon as possible can help you avoid scarring and serious complications.
Impetigo can easily spread through direct skin-to-skin contact. You can lower your risk of developing impetigo by taking precautionary measures. For example:
Infants and young children should wash their hands frequently and take showers regularly to lower their risk of skin infections. In addition, parents should pay special attention to injuries (cuts, insect bites, scrapes, etc.), rashes, red sores, and any other skin conditions.
Talk to your healthcare provider if you notice any symptoms of impetigo, especially if you’ve come into contact with an infected person. Doctors can typically provide an impetigo diagnosis through a visual exam and prescribe impetigo treatment online if needed.
If you’re already receiving treatment for impetigo, monitor your sores. Be sure to call your doctor if your skin doesn’t start healing after 3 days of treatment or if a fever develops.
If the area around your skin infection becomes red, warm, or tender to the touch, seek immediate medical attention.
Because impetigo is caused by a bacterial infection, doctors typically prescribe antibiotics to treat impetigo. If you only have a few affected spots that don’t penetrate deeply into your skin, your doctor may prescribe an antibiotic cream or ointment to apply to the area.
If you have a more severe infection, your doctor will likely prescribe oral antibiotics. Your healthcare provider may prescribe an antibiotic based on the type of bacteria that caused your skin infection. It’s important to take your antibiotics as prescribed until you finish treatment, even if your infection goes away.
Your healthcare provider may also provide instructions to follow during treatment, such as:
Impetigo can affect any part of the body, but it commonly occurs around the nose, lips, mouth, hands, and forearms. In infants and younger children, bacterial infections can also affect the diaper area. There are three types of impetigo, each with slightly different symptoms:
Non-bullous impetigo, which involves crusted sores, is the most common type of impetigo. It begins as small blisters, which eventually burst and leave small patches of red skin. Over the course of a week, a honey-colored crust covers the area.
With bullous impetigo, large fluid-containing blisters develop around the affected area. These blisters often appear clear, then cloudy. They often stay on the skin longer before bursting.
Ecthyma impetigo appears as “punched out” ulcers with yellow crusty patches and red edges.
Impetigo causes small red sores to form on your skin, often on your face or arms. Soon after, these bumps turn into blisters. These blisters burst and scab over, forming a honey-colored crust. The skin may also appear reddish or raw where blisters have popped open.
For most people, a rash starts in a single spot, but it may spread to other areas of the body. The rash may be slightly painful or itchy.
The most common cause of impetigo skin infections is Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Group A streptococcus pyogenes can also cause impetigo. These bacteria can be found in many environments, and the most common way to develop impetigo is through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person.
Many people have staph or strep bacteria on their body from time to time. Some people may have lifelong (permanent) colonies of bacteria on their skin. These bacteria may grow inside your nose, throat, hands, or other areas of the body.
When staph or strep bacteria are on top of healthy skin, they don’t cause problems, symptoms, or skin infections. However, a small break in the skin allows the bacteria to enter, leading to an infection.
People who have staph or strep bacteria on their skin are more likely to catch impetigo. In particular, children aged 2–5 are most likely to catch impetigo due to poor hygiene habits, contact with infected friends, and touching infected items.
You may also catch impetigo if you have a health condition or skin condition, such as:
Atopic dermatitis (eczema)
Insect bites
Diabetes
Liver problems
HIV/AIDs infection
Skin sores (for example, from a scabies infection)
Immune deficiencies
You may face an increased risk of impetigo if you live or work somewhere where people are in close contact, such as a dorm, prison, or barrack. You’re more likely to develop impetigo if you’ve been in contact with someone colonized with the bacteria.
Impetigo commonly affects the nose, mouth, lips, arms, legs, and diaper area. Impetigo causes red sores that quickly rupture, ooze for a few days, and form a yellowish (or “honey-colored”) crust. Impetigo sores can spread to other exposed areas through touch, clothing, and towels.
The most common places of impetigo infections include Oceania, Australia, and New Zealand. In many cases, impetigo is seasonal, as the strep and staph bacteria responsible for impetigo skin infections tend to thrive in warm, wet, and humid conditions.
According to the CDC, “impetigo is more common in areas with hot, humid summers and mild winters (subtropics), or wet and dry seasons (tropics).” However, impetigo can occur anywhere.
Impetigo also spreads where groups of people gather. For example, if someone has impetigo, it often spreads to other people in the same household. Crowded conditions, such as elementary schools and daycares, can increase the risk of impetigo.
