Impetigo on dark skin: signs and care

Impetigo is a contagious infection affecting the surface of the skin. On darker skin, redness may be subtle or look purple, dusky, grey, or deeper than the surrounding skin. Clear or cloudy blisters, wet sores, yellow-brown crust, tenderness, warmth, and swelling can be easier clues. After healing, the area may temporarily look lighter or darker without meaning the infection is still active. Check the texture and symptoms as well as colour, and compare the affected area with nearby skin. [Crusting Skin](/symptoms/skin-crusting/) can have several causes, including irritation and [Atopic Dermatitis](/conditions/atopic-dermatitis/).

Have a clinician assess a new oozing or crusted patch, especially on the face. Clean gently with lukewarm water and a mild cleanser, then pat dry. Avoid bleaching products, harsh antiseptics, exfoliation, and steroid creams unless prescribed for this specific problem. Wash hands after applying treatment, avoid sharing towels or pillowcases, and launder items that touch the lesion. Depending on the number and location of sores, a clinician may recommend [Topical Antibiotic Therapy](/treatments/medical-dermatology/topical-antibiotic-therapy/) or [Antibiotics For Skin Infection](/treatments/medical-dermatology/antibiotic-therapy-for-skin-infection/). Do not use leftover antibiotics.

Contact a clinician promptly if the patch is enlarging, increasingly painful, hot, swollen, or producing more fluid. Seek urgent help for fever, rapidly spreading colour change, severe facial swelling, eye pain, vision changes, or a person who becomes very unwell. Arrange follow-up when sores keep returning, the skin breaks down widely, or the area does not improve after the prescribed course. Do not judge recovery by colour alone; ongoing warmth, tenderness, drainage, or new blisters are more concerning signs.

Ask what features support impetigo on your skin tone, how to tell active infection from post-inflammatory colour change, and whether a sample is needed. Ask how to apply treatment without irritating surrounding skin, which products to pause, and when a changing mark should be reviewed.