Impetigo

This infection is contagious. As the full name, impetigo contagiosa suggests, this infection spreads very easily - to other parts of the body and to your nearest and dearest. Keep a strict household - don't share towels or bedding, wash hands regularly, and keep open sores covered with bandages. You stop being infective after 48 hours of treatment or after all infected areas have dried up. You should consider staying away from work during this time, avoid preparing food for others and avoid shared areas such as gyms or contact sports.

There are no treatments available from the pharmacy that will treat Impetigo effectively. Impetigo requires treatment with prescription-only medicines prescribed by your doctor. These may include antibiotic creams to be applied topically or systemically with antibiotic tablets, capsules, or suspensions.

You should consider being off work for 48 hours after treatment has started or - if you do not get treatment - once the infection has dried out. It is unlikely you feel unwell or even uncomfortable with this condition, but absence from work is to avoid passing this contagious infection on to co-workers.

Book an urgent appointment with your doctor, who will assess this and may give antibiotic cream or tablets. Occasionally impetigo can go beyond the top-most layers of skin, causing cellulitis or ecthyma, where ulcers develop, so it is worth getting checked if treatment is not helping or your condition is worsening.