Impetigo

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What is Impetigo?

Impetigo is a common bacterial infection caused by Staphylococcus aureus or Streptococcus pyogenes that mainly affects the outer layer of the skin. It usually begins as red sores or blisters that break open and form a yellow-colored crust around the nose, mouth, hands, or diaper area. 

Is it Contagious?

Very! It spreads through direct skin to skin contact, touching contaminated items, and scratching, which spreads the bacteria to other parts of the body. A person is contagious until lesions heal, or 24-48 hours after starting antibiotics. 

Who's at Higher Risk?

It can affect anyone, but children ages 2-5 are at highest risk. This is because their immune system is still developing, they have closer exposure at daycare/pre-school. Children typically have more cuts, scrapes, bug bites, runny noses, and skin irritation, making easier entry points for bacteria. Children also have less consistent hand-washing and frequently rub and scratch their nose.

Conventional Treatment

For mild cases, treatment often involves a prescription antibiotic ointment applied directly to the affected areas of skin. If the infection is more widespread, appears in several locations, or keeps coming back, oral antibiotics may be recommended instead. When antibiotics are started, most children begin to improve quickly and are usually no longer contagious within 24 to 48 hours.

Do You NEED Antibiotics?

Some very mild cases may clear on their own as the immune system fights off the infection. However, because it spreads easily and quickly (both on the child’s body and to others) antibiotic treatment is typically advised. 

If left untreated, impetigo can linger for weeks, spread to others areas of the body, return repeatedly, or increase the chance of complications and secondary infections. 

Hygiene Care

• Clean the affected skin gently 1-2x daily using warm water and a fragrance free soap, then pat dry with a clean towel.

• Keep fingernails short and hands clean to help prevent the infection from spreading to other areas of the body.

• Wash any towels, bedding, or clothing that come into contact with the affected skin in hot water, and do not share personal items until the infection has fully healed.

Topical Support

I am going to reference a lot of studies below. You can find those studies here.

Topical colloidal silver may help lower bacterial levels in mild surface skin infections. 

Aloe vera: a 2015 study tested aloe extract in a cream alongside neem oil, which showed activity against staph. aureus.

Chamomile. A 2011 review discussed chamomile’s use against Staphylococcus. You can make chamomile tea and use it as a skin wash, or apply a cooled tea bag directly to the stores.

Manuka honey is a type of honey from New Zealand made by bees that pollinate the manuka bush. It has naturally strong antibacterial properties due to its high methylglyoxal (MGO) content. When applied topically, it can help inhibit bacteria like Staphylococcus aureus and support wound healing. 

Coconut Oil with Oregano and Calendula

When researching for this guide I came across a comment from a real life mom who said coconut oil with a touch of oregano and calendula was life saving during their impetigo journey. Just remember oregano is a very hot oil, so I would start with just 1-2 drops in a good bit of coconut oil.

Ginger. A 2012 study found that some of the components of ginger worked against Staphylococcus. Place a slice of ginger on sores. Or juice ginger root and make a poultice to apply topically. *May sting, can cause skin irritation in children. 

Grapefruit seed. A 2011 study of grapefruit peel extract showed it had antimicrobial activity against Staph. You can get this as a liquid tincture or extract; dilute with water and apply mixture to sores.

Eucalyptus. A 2016 lab study found it had inhibitory bioactivity effects on Streptococcus pyogenes. You can get this as an essential oil, dilute a few props in coconut oil and apply to sores.

Neem. Neem oil is extracted from an Indian tree closely related to mahogany. It’s usually used for insect-related skin issues, but also appears to be effective against certain bacteria that cause impetigo. 

Tee Tree. Tea tree can help treat a number of bacterial skin conditions, including impetigo. It is one of the most widely used alternative natural skin treatments. *Dilute, especially if using on children

Turmeric. Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and has antimicrobial properties. A 2016 study found that turmeric could fight against Staphylococcus and Streptococcus.

Nature's Antibiotic

Garlic. A 2011 study showed garlic had some effectiveness in the lab against Staphylococcus. Cut a slice of garlic and place it directly on the sores. *May sting, can cause skin irritation in children. You can also press garlic cloves and apply topically, as well as incorporating into your diet as nature’s natural antibiotic. 

Preparing Oral Garlic

Finely chop, mince, or grate a clove of garlic and let it sit for 10–15 minutes so its beneficial compounds can fully form.

• mix into a cup of water or juice and take it like a shot, or

• if your stomach can’t handle that you can grate it into soup, or

• grate it into olive oil and spoon into a baked potato, or

• grate into olive oil or butter and spread onto sourdough

Do this 3x a day (so 3 cloves total) while symptoms are acute, and continue for about 7-10 days - the same you would for an antibiotic.

source: the legendary Barbara O’Neill 

Supporting the Skin Barrier & Microbiome

Healthy skin requires a strong skin barrier and diverse, balanced microbes. When the barrier is weakened (ie from eczema, repeated irritation, ongoing infections, etc.), then the skin’s natural defense systems become disrupted and can slow the healing process.

Because of this, probiotics are being studied for their potential to support skin health by helping restore microbial balance and create a more stable environment for healing.

A daily probiotic can be beneficial for many on so many levels, but if you are prone to chronic skin infections this is something I would highly consider as you you navigate nailing down the root cause.

View my probiotic guide.