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Impetigo: the sores, treatment, and keeping it from spreading at home
For anyone with red, itchy sores that break open, leak and form a honey-colored crust, or a child with them. Impetigo is a common skin infection caused by bacteria; it is most common in young children and spreads easily at home, at school and in shelters. This page passes on, by name, what CDC’s group A strep pages say and what the MedlinePlus summary on impetigo says (from the National Library of Medicine): what it looks like and how it spreads, how it is treated, when to go back to school, daycare or work, the rare kidney problem to watch for weeks later, and how to keep it from spreading. It builds the words to say to a pharmacist, a doctor, a school, work or shelter staff, and prints a care record to keep.
Right now
- See a healthcare provider. CDC says impetigo is treated with antibiotics, an ointment for a few sores or medicine by mouth for more. Use the prescription exactly as the provider says.
- Cover the sores with clean, dry bandages, don’t pick at the scab, and wash your hands often (CDC).
- Wash the clothes, sheets and towels of the person with impetigo every day, and don’t share them (CDC).
- Back to school, daycare or work once antibiotics have started, with the sores covered (CDC).
- About 3 weeks later: dark or reddish-brown pee, less pee, or a puffy face or eyes? CDC says a rare kidney problem can follow impetigo. Ours: contact a provider. Any emergency: call 911 (that line is ours too).
More help
- Another rash or itch: A rash, an itch, or something going around at home: find the right page · Scabies · Ringworm · Head lice.
- Cuts and scrapes: First aid cards. No insurance: When you need a doctor and can’t pay.
- A place to stay, a shower, laundry: A place to stay.
- All our free tools.
A rash or an itch, and not sure this is the right page? The pages on this site for a rash, an itch or something going around at home, on one list.
This page and its wording were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast (our AI policy). No doctor or nurse has reviewed it. The facts were read on October 14, 2026 on government pages: CDC’s group A strep pages on cdc.gov, About Impetigo (reviewed August 6, 2025), Preventing Group A Strep Infection (updated January 12, 2026), About Group A Strep Infection (reviewed July 31, 2025) and About Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis (reviewed August 7, 2025); and the summary of the MedlinePlus health topic Impetigo, from the National Library of Medicine. Ours: the 911 line (CDC says impetigo is in general a mild infection), and the line to contact a provider about the kidney signs (CDC’s page lists the signs only). Medicines: this page names none and gives no amount. What we left out: medicine and brand names, home remedies, and CDC’s page for clinicians. This page saves nothing and loads no trackers.