What should you know about impetigo bulosa?

Impetigo bulosa is the blistering form of impetigo. The blisters contain clear or cloudy fluid, enlarge, and then break to leave a moist, tender area. They often occur on the torso, arms, legs or warm skin folds. The loose surface can look alarming, but the appearance is not enough to identify the cause. Contact with blister fluid may spread infection to another person or to another part of the same body.

Crusting may appear later, while some lesions mainly peel. A clinician can compare the pattern with other blistering conditions and decide whether testing or prescription treatment is appropriate.

Avoid rubbing, scratching, popping or peeling the blisters. Gently clean the skin, pat it dry, and cover broken areas with a clean non-stick dressing. Wash hands carefully and launder towels, clothes and bedding that contact the lesions. Do not share personal items. Depending on how many areas are involved, a clinician may recommend topical antibiotic therapy or antibiotics for skin infection taken by mouth. Use only the medicine prescribed for this episode.

Contact a clinician promptly when blisters are multiplying, breaking repeatedly or becoming painful. Urgent assessment is needed for fever, rapidly spreading redness, severe tenderness, extensive skin loss, or lesions near the eyes or inside the mouth. Seek early advice for a young child, an older person or anyone with a weakened immune system. Keep the affected person from close skin-to-skin contact until medical advice is obtained.

Could another blistering condition look like this? How should I clean and cover the broken skin? How long should I avoid shared towels and close contact? What change would show that treatment is not working?