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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, usually. Photo and video assessment, prescription when appropriate.
- Impetigo’s honey-coloured crusts are highly recognisable in clear photographs; most cases clear with a short antibiotic course, topical or oral.
- Impetigo is most common in young children and takes hold where skin is already broken by grazes, bites or eczema.
- Impetigo spreads easily by direct skin contact and shared towels or bedding, even in scrupulously clean households.
- Children can go back to school once the sores have crusted over, or 48 hours after starting antibiotics.
Online care suits localised impetigo in an otherwise well child or adult. A newborn baby with blisters, impetigo spreading quickly with fever, or a child who is drowsy, not drinking or clearly unwell needs in-person care instead. See the referral criteria below before booking.
Can an online doctor treat impetigo?
Often, yes. Impetigo produces distinctive golden, honey-coloured crusts, so clear photographs plus a video consultation can usually provide enough information to recognise it and prescribe a topical or oral antibiotic.[3] Widespread or blistering impetigo, a newborn baby, a child who is unwell, and infection that keeps coming back need in-person assessment, and prescribing rules vary by country.
Listen: Impetigo Treatment Online
The audio version of this topic from the Mobi Doctor podcast. Open the episode.
How an online consultation helps with impetigo
? Photograph the sores in daylight with no cream on them: one close-up of a crusted or blistered spot and one wider shot showing how many areas are involved. Note whether you can see fluid-filled blisters or only golden crusts, because that changes the treatment. Our short guide, how to photograph a skin problem for an online doctor, shows the angles that help most.
? Photograph the sores in daylight with no cream on them: one close-up of a crusted or blistered spot and one wider shot showing how many areas are involved. Note whether you can see fluid-filled blisters or only golden crusts, because that changes the treatment. Our short guide, how to photograph a skin problem for an online doctor, shows the angles that help most.
the crusted, honey-coloured sore, most often around the nose and mouth, is one of the more identifiable patterns in skin medicine, and a sharp close-up usually carries the assessment.
a few sores are often treated with a cream, while widespread or blistering impetigo needs tablets. The doctor matches route to spread, and prescribes only after assessing you.
impetigo is very contagious, so you leave knowing when a child can go back and the hygiene steps that stop it looping through the household.
a poorly baby, spreading redness with fever, or repeated bouts are flagged for in-person care rather than another cream.
What the doctor checks in an online impetigo consultation
The assessment is structured around the features that decide cream versus tablets, and impetigo versus its look-alikes. In an impetigo consultation, the doctor will typically assess:
- Crusts or blisters: golden crusts point to non-bullous impetigo, while fluid-filled blisters that leave a raw, shiny base suggest the bullous form, which is more common in babies and usually needs oral treatment.[3]
- How much skin, and where: a couple of spots near the nose behave very differently from crusts scattered across the face, trunk or limbs.
- Age and how the person is in themselves: a well toddler with two sores is straightforward; a newborn, or any child with fever, poor feeding or drowsiness, is not an online problem.
- Whether it sits on other skin trouble: impetigo often complicates an itchy rash or eczema, and both the infection and the underlying skin then need treating.
- Recurrence and contacts: repeated bouts, and other affected household members, which change advice and sometimes prompt swabs in person.
- Allergies: penicillin allergy in particular, because it steers the choice of oral antibiotic.
- Look-alikes: cold sores (herpes), a fresh eczema flare, scabies or a fungal patch can all mimic early impetigo, and the doctor checks the story fits before treating.
What does impetigo look like?
Impetigo is a common, very contagious bacterial infection of the surface of the skin, caused mainly by Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes. It is most frequent in young children but happens at any age, and it favours warm weather and skin that is already broken by a graze, a bite or eczema.[1] It is not a sign of poor parenting or a dirty home; it spreads easily even in scrupulously clean households.
Non-bullous impetigo (the common type)
This starts as tiny red spots or blisters that quickly burst and dry into the classic golden-brown, stuck-on crust, usually around the nose and mouth but anywhere the skin has been scratched. It is often itchy rather than painful, and scratching carries the bacteria to fresh sites, so new patches appear nearby.[3] On darker skin the redness can be subtle and the crust is the clearest sign.
Bullous impetigo and ecthyma
Bullous impetigo forms larger, fragile fluid-filled blisters, most often on the trunk of babies and young children; when they burst they leave a raw, glazed area with a thin rim of scale. Ecthyma is a deeper, punched-out, ulcerated form that heals more slowly and can scar. Both usually need oral antibiotics and closer follow-up, and a blistered newborn should be seen in person the same day.[3]
How impetigo spreads, and school or nursery exclusion
How it passes from person to person
Impetigo spreads by direct skin contact and on shared objects: towels, flannels, bedding, clothing, toys and even the hands that touch a sore and then a doorknob. The fluid and crusts are infectious, and scratching moves the bacteria both to other people and to new spots on the same person. Keeping nails short, covering sores loosely where practical, and not sharing towels or face cloths all cut transmission, and handwashing after touching the skin matters more than any deep-cleaning ritual.
When can a child go back to school or nursery?
Guidance is consistent: a child with impetigo should stay away from school, nursery or childcare until the sores have dried and crusted over, or until 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment, whichever comes first.[1][4] The same applies to adults in close-contact jobs. Starting treatment therefore does more than clear the skin faster; it shortens the time off. The doctor will tell you plainly which day counts as day one so you are not guessing.
Which impetigo treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment follows how much skin is involved and whether you or your child are otherwise well. This is the framework our doctors use, aligned with the cited guidance:[2]
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Presentation | Likely first step | Suitable for online care? | When referral or in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| A few crusted spots, otherwise well (localised non-bullous) | Topical treatment: hydrogen peroxide 1% cream, or a topical antibiotic[2] | Usually yes | No improvement after a short course, or the sores keep spreading |
| Widespread crusts, or several separate areas | A short oral antibiotic course (for example flucloxacillin; a macrolide if penicillin-allergic) | Usually yes | Feeling unwell, high fever, or spreading despite oral antibiotics |
| Fluid-filled blisters (bullous), especially in a baby | Oral antibiotics; young infants assessed in person first | Case-dependent; a newborn, no | Newborn or unwell infant: same-day in-person care |
| Impetigo on top of eczema, or recurring bouts | Treat the infection and the underlying skin together | Usually yes | Frequent recurrence may need swabs or a carriage check in person |
| Fever, rapidly spreading redness, or feeling generally unwell | Prompt in-person assessment | No | Always; possible cellulitis or a deeper infection |
Availability of individual medicines and who may prescribe them vary by country; your doctor confirms what applies where you are.
Not sure if it is impetigo? A doctor can tell you in one consultation. €47, exact price shown before payment.
See available times →Treatment options for impetigo
What you can do yourself
Gentle care helps alongside treatment: soak and soften the crusts with warm water, pat the skin dry with a towel used by no one else, and wash that towel hot afterwards. Keep fingernails short, discourage scratching, and wash hands after touching the sores or applying any cream. Cover the area loosely if it is being knocked or touched. Antiseptic care and hygiene reduce spread, but a true impetigo that is not settling needs a prescribed antibiotic rather than pharmacy antiseptics alone.
Prescription treatment after your consultation
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. After assessment, localised impetigo is often treated topically first, with hydrogen peroxide 1% cream or a topical antibiotic, while widespread or blistering infection is treated with a short course of oral antibiotics.[2][5] Antibiotics are used deliberately, not by default: they are prescribed when there are clear signs of bacterial infection, courses are kept short to reduce resistance, and a topical antiseptic is preferred where it will do the job.[2] If you or your child are penicillin-allergic, tell the doctor, because it changes the tablet chosen. Prescriptions can be sent to a pharmacy near you in most EU countries, and your doctor confirms what applies where you are.
Stopping impetigo coming back
Because impetigo takes hold where the skin barrier is broken, preventing the next bout means looking after the skin underneath. Treat eczema and dry skin well, manage the itch that leads to scratching, and clean and cover grazes and insect bites promptly. During an active infection, keep towels, flannels and bedding personal and wash them hot, and do not share razors or face cloths.
Recurrent impetigo sometimes reflects bacteria carried in the nose or in a household member who has mild, unnoticed sores, so repeated bouts are worth a proper look rather than repeated creams. If impetigo keeps returning in the same person or keeps passing between family members, the doctor may suggest swabs and a decolonisation plan, which is arranged in person where local pathways require it.
When we treat impetigo online, and when we refer you
We treat online: localised non-bullous impetigo in otherwise well children and adults; more widespread impetigo that needs a short oral antibiotic course; impetigo complicating a known eczema flare, treating both together; and reviews when a first treatment has not cleared the skin on schedule.
We refer or redirect you: a newborn or young infant with blisters, or any child who is feverish, drowsy, not feeding or clearly unwell, all needing same-day in-person care; impetigo with spreading redness, swelling and pain that suggests cellulitis; ecthyma and slow-healing ulcerated sores; and frequently recurring infection where swabs and a carriage check belong in person. Impetigo is one of many skin conditions our doctors assess online, and the same photo-and-video process helps separate it from look-alikes such as ringworm or an eczema flare.
When to get in-person care
See a doctor in person promptly if impetigo is spreading fast, if the surrounding skin becomes red, hot, swollen and painful, or if a baby or child develops a fever, is not feeding or drinking, or seems drowsy or floppy. If anyone shows signs of a serious infection or allergic reaction, such as a widespread rash with breathing difficulty, swelling of the face or throat, confusion or a very high temperature that will not come down, call 112 immediately.
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: open daily 7am–11pm, often the same day, with the exact price, €47, shown before you pay.
- Upload your skin photos, then speak to a licensed doctor: a private video consultation, from anywhere in Europe.
- Get your plan and school or nursery advice: if treatment is right, the prescription follows the consultation. If we can’t help you online, you get a full refund.
Frequently asked questions about impetigo
Can an online doctor prescribe antibiotics for impetigo in Europe?
Yes, after a consultation. A prescription is never issued without one: the doctor reviews your photos and history by video first, then prescribes a topical or oral antibiotic when treatment fits. Prescriptions can be sent to a pharmacy near you in most EU countries, and your doctor confirms what applies in your country.
How much does an impetigo consultation cost?
A video consultation costs €47. The exact price is shown before payment, and there is no subscription. If the doctor can’t treat you online, you get a full refund and clear directions to the right care.
How quickly can a doctor look at my child’s skin?
Appointments are available daily from 7am to 11pm, often the same day. You choose a slot that suits you and upload clear photos of the sores beforehand, so the doctor can assess them and, if treatment is needed, arrange a prescription in the same consultation.
When can my child go back to school or nursery with impetigo?
Once the sores have dried and crusted over, or 48 hours after starting antibiotic treatment, whichever comes first. Starting treatment shortens the time off as well as clearing the skin faster. The doctor will confirm which day counts as the first day of treatment.
Is impetigo treated with a cream or with tablets?
Impetigo can be treated with either a cream or tablets, depending on how much skin is involved: a few localised sores are often treated with a cream, such as hydrogen peroxide or a topical antibiotic, while widespread or blistering impetigo usually needs a short course of oral antibiotics. The doctor decides after seeing how far it has spread.
How do I stop impetigo spreading around the house?
Keep towels, flannels and bedding personal and wash them hot, discourage scratching and keep nails short, and wash hands after touching the sores or applying cream. Cover the area loosely where practical. The fluid and crusts are contagious until treatment has taken effect or the skin has healed.
Could it be something other than impetigo?
Sometimes: cold sores, a fresh eczema flare, scabies and fungal patches can all resemble early impetigo. Part of the consultation is checking that the appearance and story fit impetigo before treating it, which is why clear photos and a short history matter.
- Impetigo: Clinical Knowledge Summary, NICE Clinical Knowledge Summaries, revised 2024.
- Impetigo: antimicrobial prescribing (NG153), NICE, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, 2020.
- Impetigo, DermNet New Zealand Trust, reviewed 2023.
- Impetigo, HSE, Health Service Executive (Ireland), accessed August 2026.
- Interventions for the skin infection impetigo, Cochrane Review, Cochrane, 2012.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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