Impetigo treatment

A MinuteClinic provider can discuss your symptoms and health history. They can examine you and prescribe medication if necessary. They can also create a personalized treatment plan.

1. You may have to answer a few questions about symptoms to help us prepare for your visit prior to scheduling your appointment.

2. Check-in varies depending on how you scheduled your appointment:

   If you made your appointment online:
   Check in using the email or text message we sent to confirm your appointment. If you prefer to check in using the electronic kiosk, make sure you have your confirmation code.

   If you made your appointment in the clinic:
   Sign in at the electronic kiosk.

   If you made a MinuteClinic Virtual Care® appointment:
   To join your virtual visit, use the link in the email or text message we sent you to confirm your appointment. Please join 15 minutes before your scheduled visit time. You will need your date of birth and zip code to join the visit.

3. When it's time for your appointment, a provider will call your name.
4. Your provider will conduct a thorough examination based on your reason for visit, presenting symptoms and health history. Charges will be based on examination and services provided during the visit.
5. At the end of your visit, you are provided with a visit summary, receipt and educational material about your diagnosis. At your request, we can send your primary care provider information about your visit.

Impetigo is typically treated with a topical antibiotic ointment or cream that you apply directly to the sores. Crusts can prevent the antibiotic from getting to the skin. You may need to soak the affected area in warm water or use wet compresses first to help remove the crusts.

If you have many sores, oral antibiotic medications may also be prescribed. Always finish the entire course of antibiotics, even if the lesions heal completely before the prescription is finished. This helps prevent the infection from returning and makes developing antibiotic resistance less likely.

With proper treatment, impetigo usually heals in 7 to 10 days. If there is an underlying condition or skin infection, the infection may take longer to heal completely.

A provider will conduct a visual exam of the infected area and assess the symptoms.

Prescription antibiotic medication is the primary treatment for impetigo. Placing a non-stick bandage over the area may help prevent the infection from spreading until you’re able to see a health care provider. Over-the-counter antibiotic creams or ointments that contain bacitracin may help with minor, localized infections that have not spread to other areas.

Impetigo is highly contagious. It can spread by touching infected skin or items that have been in contact with infected skin (such as bed linens, clothes and towels). When you scratch the infected area, you can infect other areas of your body by scratching them afterward. Keep fingernails short on children to minimize skin abrasion.

Keeping skin clean helps prevent impetigo. Children should wash their hands thoroughly, and bathe or shower regularly. Pay particular attention to skin injuries like bug bites, cuts and scrapes as well as areas with eczema and rashes. Clean and cover affected areas with non-stick dressing and tape.

To help prevent impetigo from spreading:*

• Avoid sharing personal items, such as bedding, clothes, razors, soap and towels.
• Collect the bed linens, clothes and towels from anyone with an infection and wash them in hot water.
• Keep the hard surfaces of your home clean.
• Wear gloves when applying antibiotic ointment and wash hands thoroughly afterward.