Everyday Health
Impetigo Consultation and Treatment
A quick, local assessment for a very contagious skin infection, so it can be treated and contained fast.
Available from 1 October 2026 – register your interestBook a consultation Call 01453 810316
- Available
- From 1 October 2026
- Assessment
- Assessed and treated on the day
- Who
- Children and adults
- Included
- School and nursery advice included
About this service
Impetigo is a bacterial infection of the surface of the skin, and it is one of the most contagious common skin conditions. It spreads easily between children in the same household, class or nursery, which is why a quick assessment and good hygiene advice matter. The usual form starts as small red sores or blisters, most often around the nose and mouth but possible anywhere, which quickly burst and dry into distinctive honey-coloured or golden crusts. It is often itchy but not usually painful.
A less common form causes larger fluid-filled blisters that take longer to burst. Impetigo frequently starts where the skin is already broken, for example in eczema, after a cut or graze, or around a cold sore or insect bite. Treatment depends on how widespread it is: localised patches are usually treated with something applied to the skin, while more widespread or persistent infection may need treatment taken by mouth. In England, the NHS Pharmacy First service already covers impetigo from one year of age, and we will always use that route where you are eligible rather than charging you.
What impetigo is and why it spreads so easily
Impetigo is a bacterial infection of the surface of the skin and one of the most contagious common skin conditions. It spreads easily between children in the same household, class or nursery. The usual form begins as small red sores or blisters, often around the nose and mouth, which burst and dry into honey-coloured or golden crusts. The area may be itchy but is not usually painful.
A less common form causes larger fluid-filled blisters that take longer to burst. It often begins where the skin is already broken, such as in eczema, after a cut or graze, or around a cold sore or insect bite. Hygiene measures matter as much as the treatment itself, because they are what stop it spreading through the family. We can also help you tell the difference between impetigo, cold sores and an eczema flare.
Who this service is for
Suitable for
- Children and adults with the typical crusted sores of impetigo
- Families where one child has it and others are showing early signs
- People with eczema who have developed weeping, crusted patches
- Anyone who needs it dealt with quickly because of school, nursery or work
- People who would rather have it looked at than guess between impetigo, cold sores and eczema
Not suitable for
- Babies under one year, who need medical assessment
- Anyone who is systemically unwell, with fever, spreading redness, swelling or severe pain, which may indicate a deeper infection
- Very widespread infection
- People with a significantly weakened immune system
- Repeated episodes of impetigo, which need investigation for an underlying cause
- A rash that turns out not to be impetigo, which we will explain and redirect
How it works
A simple, consistent process for every service at Berkeley Pharmacy.
Get in touch
Call us or use our contact form to arrange a consultation.
Consultation
A private, face-to-face appointment with our pharmacist in our Berkeley consultation room.
Clinical assessment
We review your medical history and confirm whether the service is suitable for you.
Treatment or referral
If it is suitable we treat you the same day; if not, we explain why and advise on the best next step.
What to expect at your appointment
Your consultation includes a proper look at the affected skin and a clear conversation about how it started and how it has changed. We will explain what we think is happening and what to do next, without asking you to guess at the diagnosis yourself.
- A consultation with a proper look at the affected skin
- Questions about when it started, how it has spread and whether anyone else at home is affected
- A check for underlying eczema or a recent cut, graze, cold sore or insect bite
- A check of medical history, allergies and current medicines
- Where the NHS Pharmacy First service applies, treatment through that route
- Where private treatment is appropriate, a discussion of the options
- Clear, practical advice on stopping it spreading, with referral where it is widespread or the person is unwell
Aftercare and stopping the spread
Hygiene measures matter as much as the treatment itself. Keep the affected skin clean and, where advised, gently soak off crusts before applying treatment, because treatment does not work well through a thick crust. The aim is to stop the infection spreading to new sites and to other people in the household.
- Keep the affected skin clean and, where advised, gently soak off crusts before applying treatment
- Wash hands thoroughly and often, especially after touching the area
- Do not share towels, flannels, bedding, clothing or razors, and wash them hot
- Keep fingernails short and try to stop children scratching, as this is how it spreads to new sites
- Keep children away from school or nursery until the sores have crusted over and healed, or until 48 hours after starting treatment
- Cover the area where practical
- See us or your GP if it is not improving within a few days, or sooner if it is spreading or the person becomes unwell
Frequently asked questions
How contagious is impetigo?
Impetigo is one of the most contagious common skin conditions and spreads easily through direct contact, scratching and shared towels, clothing or bedding. It can move quickly between children in the same household, class or nursery. Keep the area covered where practical, wash hands thoroughly and often, do not share personal items, and keep children away from school or nursery until the sores have crusted over and healed, or until 48 hours after starting treatment.
How long should a child stay off school or nursery?
Children should stay away from school or nursery until the sores have crusted over and healed, or until 48 hours after starting treatment. Follow the school or nursery policy as well, and speak to us if the infection is spreading or the child becomes unwell.
Is impetigo treatment free on the NHS at a pharmacy?
In England, the NHS Pharmacy First service covers impetigo from one year of age. We will always use that route where you are eligible rather than charging you. We will explain which route applies after assessing the skin and checking the person’s age and situation.
How can I tell impetigo apart from a cold sore or eczema?
Impetigo commonly starts as small red sores or blisters that burst and dry into distinctive honey-coloured or golden crusts. It may begin where the skin is already broken, including in eczema, around a cold sore or after an insect bite. Cold sores and eczema can look similar, so a proper look at the affected skin is useful. We will tell you if it does not look like impetigo and redirect you appropriately.
How do I stop impetigo spreading around the family?
Wash hands thoroughly and often, especially after touching the affected area, keep fingernails short and try to prevent scratching, and cover the area where practical. Do not share towels, flannels, bedding, clothing or razors, wash them hot, and clean the skin as advised. These hygiene measures matter as much as the treatment itself because they stop it spreading through the family.
When is this service available?
This service will be available from 1 October 2026. If someone has fever, spreading redness, swelling, severe pain or feels systemically unwell, seek medical assessment sooner rather than waiting for a pharmacy appointment.
How we can supply treatment without a GP appointment
Some treatments at Berkeley Pharmacy are supplied under a Patient Group Direction, or PGD – a written instruction, signed by a doctor and a pharmacist, that legally allows our trained pharmacists to supply and administer specified medicines to people who meet defined clinical criteria, without a prescription from your GP. If you do not meet the criteria set out in the PGD we cannot supply the treatment, and we will explain why and advise you on the best next step. Our pharmacists also work as independent prescribers where that is appropriate.
Serving Berkeley and the surrounding Gloucestershire villages
Berkeley Pharmacy is on Market Place in the centre of Berkeley, with easy access from junctions 13 and 14 of the M5. We welcome patients from Berkeley, Sharpness, Newport, Berkeley Heath, Alkington, Ham, Stone and Rockhampton, and we are a short drive from Cam, Dursley, Slimbridge, Cambridge, Falfield, Charfield, Tortworth, Cromhall, Oldbury-on-Severn, Wotton-under-Edge, Thornbury, Frampton on Severn and Stonehouse. Patients also travel to us from Stroud, Nailsworth, Yate, Chipping Sodbury, Tetbury and Gloucester.
Safe, regulated care from your local pharmacy team
- Berkeley Pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council. You can check any pharmacy or pharmacist on the GPhC register at pharmacyregulation.org.
- Every consultation is face to face and private, in our dedicated consultation room – not an online questionnaire.
- Serving the Berkeley community for over 25 years.
- This service does not replace care from your GP. With your consent we will inform your GP of any treatment provided. If you are unwell, have new or worsening symptoms, or need urgent care, contact your GP or NHS 111, and in an emergency call 999.
- If you experience a side effect from any medicine you can report it through the MHRA Yellow Card scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk.
Page last reviewed: September 2026. Next review due: September 2027.
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Find out moreSpeak to our pharmacy team about impetigo consultation
Visit us in Berkeley or get in touch to arrange a private consultation with our pharmacist.
Book a consultation Call 01453 810316
Address
14 Market Place, Berkeley, GL13 9BB
Opening hours
Mon–Fri 9am–6pm (closed 1–2pm)
Sat 9am–1pm
Sun Closed