Impetigo

Impetigo is a skin infection that’s very contagious but not usually serious. Anyone can get it, but it’s more common in young children. With treatment, impetigo often gets better in a few days.

Check if you have impetigo

Impetigo starts with red sores or blisters, but the redness may be harder to see on brown and black skin.

The sores or blisters quickly burst and often leave crusty, golden-brown patches.

The patches can:

• look a bit like cornflakes stuck to your skin
• get bigger and spread to other parts of your body
• be itchy and are sometimes painful