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Conditions

Impetigo

Impetigo (Photo courtesy of CDC)

Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the skin, of which there are two types: bullous impetigo (which causes large, painless, fluid-filled blisters), and the more common non-bullous impetigo (which accounts for over 70% of cases and causes sores that quickly rupture leaving a yellow-brown crust.) The condition is most common in children, normally occurring between the ages of two and four. However, it can also affect adults, especially if they are living in a confined environment such as an army barracks…or the Big Brother house! Channele Hayes, the Wannabee WAG from BB8, expressed concern in the diary room that the unhygienic conditions in the famous house could lead to an outbreak of impetigo. And even troubled singer Amy Winehouse has reportedly been diagnosed with the condition (maybe she picked it up in the confines of rehab?) A seven-day treatment of antibiotic creams will usually do the trick, but oral antibiotics can also be used if the creams are ineffective.

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What the Men in White Coats Say

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I am 16 years old and i have impetigo after or during a bad cold. i went to my local docters he said that he can do nothingn it will go on its own. he did not give me nothing to treat it can you get anything from your chemist without having a priscription?





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Hi my son gets impetigo quite alot. Last year i read that Tea tree oil helps. Now when ever he gets the tingling before the rash appears he puts tea tree oil on it and the impetigo never appears. It is over a year now since he has had it.





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Hi i got imetigo a couple months ago now went doctors and they gave me some oitment which worked but then a little while after it came back went back doctors and they gave me a week worth of antibiotics and said to use the oitment again worked for a few months and back to square 1 again just wont go away anyone no how to get rid of it completely





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I am a 31 year old male whom has been getting impetigo my whole life. I shower every day, wash my hands regularly and I'd like to say I keep myself pretty well kept. I only get it on my face. As a child I got it near my eyes, nose and mouth. As an adult it's strictly near my mouth and nose. I have found the best way to GET RID OF IMPETIGO is: Once the blisters form, take a piece of toilet paper and literally scrub it. I usually take my finger and scrub in a circle. Yes it hurts, but the end result is worth it. I'm a pro and I can get the infectious part of this ordeal done within 3-5 days. The point of the scurbbing is to get the centers out of the boils to prevent it from spreading. After that I pat it down with a paper cloth, use alcohol to help dry it out, and then use Dr. prescribed BACTROBAN. Repeat this process until the blister is dry, then just apply the Bactroban, or whatever else you were prescribed. I live and die by this method when I get this horrible problem. Hope this helps.





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carrie, i had a small patch of imptigo on my arm about 6 months ago. im a hairdresser so recognised the symptoms quickly and i was given fucidin cream for it. its an acid cream so i believe it works by basically burning away the diseased flesh. i found my skin a bit sensitive while it was on but it cleared up very quickly and hasnt returned. hope this helps.





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I was prescribed Fucidin before but it didnt seem to help much. I was then prescribed Fucibet cream and also vaseline to get rid off the dry flaky scabs and after using it twice it had already started to clear up. After two weeks it was completly gone and it only occasionally flares up if i've had a coldsore. Apart from that my skin is fine now





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i have recently got impetigo and was prescribed flucloxacillin and after a week it still hadnt had any impact and it got worse so went back to the doc and she put me on fucidin and i have no idea how this is meant to work as it just makes the area slimey and looks even worse !!! and also clarithrmycin 1000 mg per day i started taking them yesterday but my condition doesnt seem to be going anywhere fast its extremely depressing and upsetting me alot i just want this to clear up and do one!!! what can i expect from this treatment and when will it go and what else can i do ??? please help as its distressing me a lot as it is on my forehead i don't know whether im putting too much cream on whether i should put it on or around the scab ??? i know im meant to put it on 4 times aday but the first lot hasn't disappeared and if i keep piling it on i will end up with an inch of lard on my head!!!





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I repeatedly get outbreaks of bullous impetigo on my right buttock. Each time it leaves a scar. Is there anything that i can do to prevent the outbreaks and mitigate against the scaring?





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I got impetigo and couldnt understand why because im not an unhygenic person.. just happened one day when i picked a spot on my chin. it went away but there is still alot of redness on the area and ever since i feel there is a lump that is constantly moving around my face under my skin. my doctor just prescribes me a cream whenever i express my concerns but it doesnt work. helpppp i used to have such perfect skin





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I have had impetigo since I was a small child,I am nearly 30 now.. I must have tried every lotion and potion on the market,I have found Fucidin to be the most effective, some treatments can be very drying on the skin. Gentian violet even dyes the skin purple, just what you need, when you feel selfconcious enough lol. The problem is they only work for a while and I tend to get flareups, it's very annoying..





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It looks like no one else has asked this question, so please fill in the rest of your details below.





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Content supplied by NHS Choices

Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial infection of the skin. There are two types of impetigo: Read More »

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