How effective is topical antibiotic therapy for impetigo?

Impetigo is a contagious bacterial infection that often creates itchy sores, blisters, or golden-brown crusts. A topical antibiotic acts directly on a small number of accessible lesions and can help the skin recover. It is less suitable when many areas are involved, lesions are spreading quickly, or infection extends beyond the surface.

Crusts may make medicine harder to apply. Gentle cleansing as advised by a clinician can expose the skin without tearing it. Avoid judging treatment only by the colour of a remaining crust; new lesions, increasing pain, or expanding redness are more useful warning signs.

Wash hands before and after applying the medicine, cover sores when practical, and avoid scratching. Do not share towels, face cloths, clothing, razors, or cosmetics; launder items that touch the affected skin. Use the full prescribed course and do not use someone else’s antibiotic, even if the sores look similar.

Arrange prompt medical review if sores are numerous, painful, rapidly spreading, near the eyes, or not improving during the planned treatment. Seek urgent help for fever, marked swelling, facial involvement, unusual sleepiness, or feeling significantly unwell. Repeated episodes may require checking for an underlying trigger and household spread.

Ask whether the infection is limited enough for a topical medicine, how to soften or clean crusts, when the person can return to school or work, and how to protect close contacts.