Pharmacy First – Impetigo

Pharmacy First

Written by the Veritas Pharmacy clinical team. Address: 113 Chester Road, Sunderland. Registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council, registration number 9012617.

Impetigo is a common, contagious skin infection, often affecting young children, though it can affect anyone. Through the National Health Service Pharmacy First scheme, our pharmacist can assess and treat impetigo by remote video consultation, at no cost to you, with a secure video link emailed to you around 10 minutes before your appointment.

What is impetigo?

Impetigo is a bacterial infection of the surface of the skin, most often appearing around the nose and mouth, though it can occur anywhere. It typically starts as small blisters or sores, which then burst and form a characteristic golden-yellow crust. It is spread by direct contact, including touching an affected area and then touching another part of the body, or another person.

Because it spreads easily through contact, good hygiene matters alongside treatment, including washing hands regularly, avoiding sharing towels or flannels, and keeping affected skin covered where practical. Children with impetigo are usually kept away from school or nursery until the sores have crusted over or healed, or until 48 hours after starting treatment, whichever is sooner.

Who can be treated for impetigo through this service?

This service is available to anyone aged 1 and over. Impetigo is assessed and treated entirely through our remote video consultation, so you can be seen from wherever you are.

When to seek help elsewhere. Widespread infection covering a large area of the body, signs of feeling generally unwell, such as a fever, or infection in someone with a weakened immune system, are not always suitable for this service. Your pharmacist will advise if you need to be seen elsewhere.

What to expect at your appointment

Your pharmacist asks about the appearance of the affected skin, how long it has been present, how much of the body is affected, and whether anyone else in your household has similar symptoms. Because impetigo has a fairly characteristic appearance, this is often enough to confirm the diagnosis without needing to be seen in person.

Treatment depends on how localised or widespread the infection is. A small, localised patch is often treated with a topical treatment applied directly to the skin, while more widespread impetigo is usually treated with an oral antibiotic instead. Your pharmacist will also cover hygiene advice to help stop the infection spreading to other people, or to other parts of your own skin.

How to book your impetigo appointment

Booking takes a couple of minutes online. This is a remote video consultation, so there is no need to travel to a clinic. A secure video link is emailed to you around 10 minutes before your appointment time. This service is free on the National Health Service.

Ready to book? Same-day slots are usually available.

Book your impetigo consultation

Or call 0191 503 4053. Address: 113 Chester Road, Sunderland, SR4 7HG.

Frequently asked questions about impetigo treatment

Is this service free?

Yes, this is a National Health Service funded service, free at the point of use.

Who can use this service for impetigo?

This service is available to anyone aged 1 and over.

Can impetigo be diagnosed without being seen in person?

Impetigo often has a fairly characteristic appearance, so a remote video consultation is usually sufficient. Your pharmacist will ask about the appearance, extent, and duration of the affected skin to confirm this.

When can my child return to school or nursery?

Children are usually kept away from school or nursery until sores have crusted over or healed, or until 48 hours after starting treatment, whichever comes sooner.

Is this appointment remote, or can I be seen in person?

All National Health Service Pharmacy First appointments at Veritas Pharmacy, including impetigo, are delivered remotely by video consultation. A secure video link is emailed to you around 10 minutes before your appointment.

When should I seek help elsewhere rather than booking this service?

Widespread infection covering a large area, feeling generally unwell with a fever, or infection in someone with a weakened immune system, may not be suitable for this service. Your pharmacist will advise if you need to be seen elsewhere.

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