What Is Impetigo?
Impetigo (pronounced: im-peh-TY-go) is a very common bacterial skin infection, especially in young kids. But anyone can get it. It can cause blisters or sores on the face, hands, and legs.
What Causes Impetigo?
Two types of bacteria — Staphylococcus aureus and group A streptococcus (which also causes strep throat) — usually cause impetigo. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is also becoming an important cause of impetigo.
Someone can be more likely to develop impetigo when their skin is already irritated by another problem, such as eczema, poison ivy, insect bites, and cuts or scrapes. Bacteria that usually live harmlessly on the skin can get into the body through the area of broken skin, leading to symptoms of impetigo. Scratching a sore or a rash is a common cause — for example, poison ivy can get infected and turn into impetigo. It also happens more often in warm, humid environments.
Washing your hands and face well and often can help prevent it.
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Impetigo?
Impetigo may affect skin anywhere on the body, but is most common around the nose and mouth, hands, and forearms.
The three types of impetigo are non-bullous (crusted), bullous (large blisters), and ecthyma (ulcers):
- Non-bullous or crusted impetigo is most common. It begins as tiny blisters that eventually burst and leave small wet patches of red skin that may weep fluid. Gradually, a yellowish-brown or tan crust covers the area, making it look like it has been coated with honey or brown sugar.
- Bullous impetigo causes larger fluid-containing blisters that look clear, then cloudy. These blisters are more likely to stay longer on the skin without bursting.
- Ecthyma (pronounced: ek-THY-muh) impetigo looks like "punched out" ulcers with yellow crust and red edges.