Impetigo in teenagers: what to know

Teenagers may notice impetigo after a cut, insect bite, shaving irritation, acne picking, or an itchy rash. It can produce red sores, blisters, fluid, and yellow-brown crusting. Hands, face, arms, and legs are common places, but any broken skin can be involved. Shared sports equipment, towels, clothing, and close skin contact can transfer bacteria; scratching then creates fresh sites. Eczema can increase scratching and skin damage, so [Atopic Dermatitis](/conditions/atopic-dermatitis/) may be useful background.

A clinician usually identifies the pattern by examining the skin. Other infections and inflamed conditions can resemble it, so do not use a friend’s diagnosis or leftover medicine.

Keep sores clean and covered when practical, wash hands often, and avoid picking. Do not share towels, razors, helmets, cosmetics, or clothing that touches the rash. Clean frequently handled sports items and change sweaty clothing. Pause contact sport and swimming until a clinician says returning is appropriate and drainage has stopped.

Treatment may involve a prescribed skin medicine for limited lesions or an oral antibiotic when infection is more widespread. Learn about [Topical Antibiotic Therapy](/treatments/medical-dermatology/topical-antibiotic-therapy/) and [Antibiotics For Skin Infection](/treatments/medical-dermatology/antibiotic-therapy-for-skin-infection/) before discussing options with a prescriber. Never share antibiotics.

Arrange medical advice if sores are spreading, recurring, painful, or not settling with the recommended care. Seek urgent help for fever with marked illness, rapidly expanding redness, severe pain, swelling near an eye, or red streaks moving away from a lesion. A teenager with reduced immune protection or a large area of infection should contact a clinician promptly.

Crusting alone does not identify the cause; [Crusting Skin](/symptoms/skin-crusting/) describes this sign in broader terms.

Ask when school and sport can resume, whether close contacts need advice, how to clean shared equipment, whether acne products should be paused, and what to do if the rash returns after treatment.