Treating Impetigo: Medications, Home Remedies and Prevention

Understanding Impetigo and Treatment Options

Impetigo is a common bacterial skin infection that often appears around the nose and mouth but can occur elsewhere. While uncomfortable and highly contagious, it usually responds well to medical treatment. Both topical and oral medications may be used depending on severity.

What is Impetigo?

Impetigo typically results from Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes bacteria entering cracked skin or small wounds. Infections cause red sores that weep clear fluid and develop tan crusts after rupturing.

Signs and Symptoms

In addition to reddened areas of broken skin or fluid-filled blisters, symptoms may include:

• Itching or soreness
• Sores that rupture easily
• Honey-colored crusts on lesions
• Cracking skin at infection site

Risk Factors

While anyone can get impetigo, factors that increase susceptibility include:

• Warm, humid environments
• Poor hygiene and skin care
• Pre-existing skin conditions like eczema
• Overcrowding such as schools or sports teams
• Weakened immune systems from illness/medications

Conventional Impetigo Treatment Approaches

Several standard medical strategies are commonly used alone or in combination to treat impetigo. The course chosen depends largely on severity and extent of infection.

Topical Antibiotic Ointments

Applying antibiotic creams or gels directly on affected areas of skin is often the first treatment tried for mild, limited impetigo:

• Mupirocin (Bactroban) - Typical first-line antibiotic ointment
• Retapamulin (Altabax) - Alternative antibiotic cream
• Fusidic acid (Fucidin) -Used in some countries outside US

Corticosteroid Creams

Steroid-based anti-inflammatory creams like hydrocortisone help reduce swelling, redness and itching from impetigo lesions.

Oral Antibiotics

For more moderate, widespread or rapidly worsening impetigo, doctors often prescribe oral antibiotics such as:

• Dicloxacillin
• Cephalexin
• Amoxicillin/clavulanate
• Clindamycin

Daily Wound Care

Keeping sores clean using antibacterial soap and warm water combats infection spread. Loose crusts may be gently removed. Bandaging prevents scratching lesions.

Lancing Firm Blisters

Doctors may lance larger, very firm blisters with a sterile needle or scalpel followed by manual drainage to alleviate discomfort.

Natural and Home Treatment Options

Several at-home or natural supplement strategies also offer relief for mild to moderate impetigo:

Probiotics

Oral probiotic supplements support immune response by promoting healthy gut bacteria needed to overcome superficial skin infections like impetigo.

Topical Manuka Honey

The antimicrobial properties of medical-grade Manuka honey makes it helpful for treating impetigo when regularly applied to affected areas.

Crushed Garlic

Rubbing crushed raw garlic on impetigo lesions is a traditional remedy with antibacterial sulfur compounds that combat Staph and Strep bacteria.

Coconut Oil

Applying coconut oil directly to impetigo lesions and dry crust helps eliminate bacteria while reducing inflammation and itching due to its lauric acid content.

Turmeric Powder

As a powder or paste, turmerics curcumin minimizes impetigo through anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and wound healing benefits.

Colloidal Silver Gel

This suspension of silver particles sold over-the-counter limits bacterial growth in lesions which may help supplementary to other impetigo treatments.

Guidelines for Preventing Impetigo Transmission

Impetigo is extremely contagious. Following hygienic precautions and isolating an active infection reduces spread to others.

Cover All Lesions

Keep sores completely bandaged or covered. These fluid-oozing areas easily spread bacteria through touch.

Frequent Hand-Washing

Meticulously wash hands with antibacterial soap before, during and after caring for impetigo to limit transfer risk.

Sanitize Common Surfaces

Items like tables, sinks, bathroom fixtures, towels and bedding must be regularly disinfected while infection clears.

Avoid Close Contact

Minimize skin-to-skin physical contact with anyone during the highly infectious early blistering stage of impetigo until antibiotic treatment establishes control.

Allow Healing Before Returning to School/Work

Take sick days for complete recovery and non-infectivity before resuming close group settings like school, team sports or workplaces.

Complications of Impetigo If Left Untreated

While impetigo itself is rarely serious with proper treatment, some potential problems from lack of timely care include:

Cellulitis Bacterial Invasion

Deeper subcutaneous skin layer infection causing pain, redness/swelling in surrounding areas beyond lesions.

Scarring From Picking Scabs

Itching and manipulating lesion scabs can result in permanent surface skin scarring that remains after impetigo clears.

Guttate Psoriasis Flare-Ups

Underlying autoimmune reaction can trigger a bumpy reddish rash on trunk, arms and legs in resolving phase.

Post-Streptococcal Glomerulonephritis

Potential kidney inflammation following strep impetigo, especially in children, causes severe abdominal pain, pink urine coloration and edema.

When to Seek Emergency Care

Rapidly progressive impetigo accompanied by fever, nausea or other concerning symptoms warrants prompt medical re-evaluation for possible antibiotic adjustment or resistance.

With supportive wound care and appropriate antibiotics, most cases of impetigo run their course without complications. Maintaining good hygiene remains key to limiting transmission risk. Combining natural remedies and conventional medicine often offers effective symptom relief for an uncomfortable - but treatable - bacterial skin infection.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.