Pharmacy First – Impetigo Treatment
The new NHS Pharmacy First service allows patients to access impetigo treatment from a Kamsons Pharmacist without a GP appointment (patients 1 year and over). Impetigo is a skin infection that’s very contagious but not usually serious. It often gets better in 7 to 10 days if you get treatment. Anyone can get it, but it’s very common in young children.
What are the symptoms of impetigo?
Impetigo starts with red sores or blisters, but the redness may be harder to see in brown and black skin. The sores or blisters quickly burst and leave crusty, golden-brown patches. The patches can:
- look a bit like cornflakes stuck to your skin
- get bigger
- spread to other parts of your body
- be itchy
- sometimes be painful
Impetigo Treatment at Kamsons Pharmacy
Impetigo treatment is available under the NHS pharmacy First service. From 31st January 2024, pharmacists are able to provide a larger range of treatment options including antibiotics where appropriate. You can speak to your local Kamsons Pharmacist for impetigo advice and treatment without booking an appointment or seeing your GP.
Stop impetigo spreading or getting worse
Impetigo can easily spread to other parts of your body or to other people until it stops being contagious.
It stops being contagious:
- 48 hours after you start using hydrogen peroxide cream or antibiotics prescribed by your GP
- when the patches dry out and crust over (if you do not get treatment)
More information about impetigo can be found on the NHS website.