What should you know about impetigo how to treat at home?

Home measures can reduce irritation and the chance of passing bacteria to other people, but they may not clear the infection on their own. Impetigo can appear as red sores, blisters or yellow-brown crusts, and the same appearance can occur with other skin problems. An itchy condition such as atopic dermatitis may need separate attention if scratching has damaged the skin.

Do not scrape crusts, squeeze blisters, apply someone else’s medicine, or use leftover antibiotics. Harsh products may inflame the area and make assessment harder. A clinician can decide whether topical antibiotic therapy or treatment taken by mouth is needed.

Wash your hands before and after care. Use warm water and a clean cloth to soften and gently cleanse the sore, then pat it dry. Cover it with a clean dressing when practical and replace the dressing if it becomes wet or dirty. Keep nails short, discourage scratching, and avoid shaving over lesions. Use separate towels, bedding, clothing and face cloths, and launder items that touch the affected skin. Follow any prescribed treatment exactly as directed.

Arrange prompt assessment if sores are spreading, painful, warm, swollen, draining heavily or not improving with prescribed care. Seek care quickly for fever, lesions near the eyes, or infection in someone with reduced immune defenses. Urgent help is needed for severe facial swelling, confusion, breathing difficulty or rapid deterioration.

Ask whether the rash is impetigo, how to clean and cover it, which treatment to use and for how long, when activities can resume, and what to do if new sores appear during treatment.