How to Get Rid of Impetigo: Treatment Options - Everyday Health

Oza says if the impetigo is confined to a small area and doesn't seem to go deep into the skin, he'd recommend treating the area with a topical antibiotic. Unfortunately, while over-the-counter options can be helpful to apply to abrasions in the skin to lessen the chances of impetigo developing, they won't do much to heal the impetigo itself. (3)

Instead, a doctor will likely recommend a topical antibiotic, such as ozenoxacin (Xepi), mupirocin (Bactroban), retapamulin (Altabax), or fusidic acid. (1) It should be applied directly to the sores on the body. Your doctor might suggest soaking the scab first so the antibiotic can really get down into the skin. (4)

The goal is to keep the impetigo contained and prevent it from spreading to other parts of the body and to other family members in the household. That's where good hygiene comes into play. Be diligent about thoroughly cleaning towels and sheets, for instance, to reduce the risk of impetigo spreading, Oza says. Set the washer to hot water, and dry the laundry on high heat to kill as many germs as possible. (5) "Also, as is the case with most illnesses, washing your hands is key to prevention," Denike says.

Maintaining short, trimmed fingernails is another way to keep impetigo from spreading. Children with eczema (or atopic dermatitis) are more prone to developing impetigo because of the itch-scratch-itch cycle that is common in this skin condition. Often, if a child scratches the infected area, the bacteria can get into the fingernails and then spread easily when he or she touches other people or other parts of the body.

In general, a mild case of impetigo isn't much to worry about, and it'll usually go away two to five days after starting treatment, Denike says. "It's usually a small, localized infection in a small area, and it's very easily treated with a topical antibiotic," Oza says.

There are some reports that home-based remedies, such as tea tree oil, coconut oil, and Manuka honey, also work to treat impetigo. (1) But evidence backing them up is weak, and Oza cautions not to rely on them. "If it's truly impetigo, that means it's a bacterial infection in the skin, and you need to use an antibiotic to treat the bacteria," he says. "We don't have any data to support natural-based oils being an effective agent to kill bacteria and therefore treat the infection."