Impetigo is an extremely contagious and often painful skin infection, that starts off as red sores and blisters. Previously, those suffering with impetigo would have needed to book an appointment to see their GP. However, with the NHS Pharmacy First scheme, instant advice and treatment is now available at any pharmacy, like us. 

What does impetigo look like?  

Impetigo blisters, unlike cold sores, spread beyond the mouth and the fluid inside of them appears yellowish in colour. Yuck!  

For those who are squeamish, here is a brief description of what this skin infection looks like:  

• Red sores and blistering that quickly bursts, leaving the skin crusty 
• When the skin crusts, it develops into golden-brown patches, looking like cornflakes

Not only does impetigo look unpleasant but it can feel extremely painful, as it spreads to other parts of the body and becomes irritably itchy.  

Who can be affected? 

Anyone can be exposed to this infection however, impetigo mostly affects younger children (particularly this who are school-aged). 

It is crucial for those dealing with impetigo to:  

• Avoid work or school  
• Avoid close contact with others, particularly those with diabetes and weak immune systems 
• Not exercise in public, like the gym or contact sports 
• Not share towels, blankets, and flannels  
• Not prepare food for other people 

Why do I have impetigo? 

The culprit to all of this is the germ, bacterium. The three types of bacterial infections that cause impetigo are known as staphylococcus aureus, streptococcus pyogenes and meticillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus.  

No matter how hard you try to rid your skin of bacteria, impetigo can attack both healthy and ‘broken’ skin, for example eczema and psoriasis.  

When does impetigo go away? 

With treatment, impetigo tends to improve between seven to ten days, however, this may stop being infectious before then. 

Here are a couple of signs that indicate impetigo is no longer infectious:  

• Treating the skin with hydrogen peroxide cream (this will only happen after 48 hours of use) 
• When the patches start to dry out and crust over (this happens if you decide to not use treatment)  

How can Pharmacy First help? 

Because of Pharmacy First, professional, and personalised advice along with treatment is accessible to anyone aged 1 year and above.  

Furthermore, with Pharmacy First, the frustrating wait to see your GP is over, as you no longer need to schedule an appointment. This allows you to access the help you need as soon as possible. 

Where do I go for help? 

Wherever you are, whether it be at home or the park, you can easily find your nearest Allied Pharmacy on our website by typing in your postcode. Once you have entered in your location, our map will zoom in and show our nearest pharmacy to you. There is no need to worry about booking an appointment or giving us a heads up before your visit, as with Pharmacy First, our pharmacists will be ready to assist you.