Impetigo is a bacterial skin infection that primarily
affects infants and young children but can occur at any age. It typically
begins as small red spots or blisters around the mouth, nose, or extremities
that quickly rupture, ooze fluid, and develop a golden-yellow crust. The two
main bacteria responsible are Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus
pyogenes.
Impetigo is highly contagious and can spread through
skin-to-skin contact, shared towels, or contaminated surfaces. Although it’s
not serious in healthy individuals, untreated impetigo can spread rapidly or
lead to complications.
Children with
impetigo should avoid daycare or school until 24 hours after beginning
antibiotics. Charlotte Dermatology also helps families prevent future outbreaks
by educating on skin care, wound care, and minimizing transmission risks within
households.
Treatment
depends on the extent and severity of the infection. For localized impetigo,
topical antibiotic ointments like mupirocin are usually effective. More
widespread cases may require oral antibiotics such as cephalexin or
dicloxacillin. Maintaining skin hygiene, hand-washing, and avoiding scratching
are critical to controlling the spread.
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