Impetigo is a highly contagious skin infection that can spread rapidly through families and schools. At Massinghams Chemist, we offer fast and professional impetigo treatment in our Bethnal Green pharmacy. You don’t have to wait for a GP appointment; as part of the NHS Pharmacy First service, our pharmacists can assess and treat impetigo for adults and children aged 1 year and over.
As a historic London chemist with over 130 years of experience, we provide a caring, clinical environment where you can get the right medication and advice to clear the infection quickly.
Recognizing the early signs is key to preventing the spread. If you are looking for impetigo rash support at a London chemist, our team is here to help you identify the symptoms.
Common signs of impetigo include:
Impetigo is a very contagious skin infection. It is usually not serious and can clear within 7-10 days with treatment. It can affect anyone but it is more common in young children.
Impetigo is caused by bacterial infection. The two main causative bacteria are group A Streptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus. When the skin barrier is broken, it is susceptible to impetigo infection.
It is recommended that you keep any cuts, scratches or insect bites to the skin clean by for example washing it with soap and warm water. Get treatment for any skin condition that can lead to broken skin, such as eczema. Speak with your doctor or pharmacist for further advice.
Impetigo is generally a mild infection that can affect anyone and it can occur anywhere on the body. However, it is most commonly found:
The symptoms start as itchy red sores and blisters. These burst within a few days leaving brown, golden crusty patches.
If you or your child have developed red sores or blisters that burst to leave golden crusty patches, book a private consultation with our clinical team in Bethnal Green.
Don't wait for a GP appointment when you need rapid relief for highly contagious skin infections. Our London E2 pharmacy offers flexible booking slots so you can access professional medical advice without the long wait times.
Every appointment takes place in our private consultation room, where we provide expert advice on preventing the spread of infection to others. Our pharmacists can explain how to keep the skin clean and protected to support the healing process.
At Massinghams, we offer a private consultation to confirm if the rash is impetigo. Our skin infection impetigo pharmacy London service ensures that you receive the most appropriate care based on the severity of the infection.
What to expect from our service:
The Pharmacy First Service is an NHS service designed to offer free advice and treatments to eligible patients for seven common conditions including Impetigo. Patients can access this service at Massingham Chemist in Bethnal Green. The additional six conditions covered by this service are:
Yes. Under the NHS Pharmacy First scheme, our pharmacists in Bethnal Green can assess patients aged 1 year and over for impetigo. If the infection is localized, we can provide antibiotic cream or hydrogen peroxide cream. For more widespread cases, we can provide oral antibiotics all without a GP prescription.
Impetigo is very infectious. You or your child will remain contagious until the sores have completely scabbed over and healed, or until 48 hours after starting the prescribed antibiotic treatment.
To prevent the infection from spreading to other parts of the body or other people:
According to NHS guidelines, children should stay away from school or nursery until 48 hours after they have started their antibiotic treatment, or until the sores have crusted over and healed.
Most cases of impetigo start to clear up within a few days of starting treatment. If the sores are still spreading or haven’t improved after a week of treatment, you should return to our Bethnal Green pharmacy or see your GP, as the infection may be resistant to the initial antibiotic.