Impetigo is a very contagious skin infection mainly seen in young children but can happen in adults too. It is common around the nose and mouth but can spread throughout the body. This infection presents as red sores or blisters that pop up quickly and are followed by moist red patches with a honey-coloured or golden crust.
The root cause for Impetigo is bacteria Streptococcus (strep) or Staphylococcus aureus (staph). These bacteria may enter the skin through small cuts, insect bites or under the surface of broken skin. After the infection starts, it's readily spread by touching the sores or products like towels, clothes or toys which are contaminated.
Impetigo occurs more frequently in warm and humid environments and spreads easily in schools and daycares. In case you or your child experience symptoms of Impetigo, see a doctor immediately to prevent passing the illness onto other people and to alleviate the itchy, uncomfortable symptoms.
Impetigo is a skin ailment which leads to itchy red sores and makes life difficult. Knowing the common causes may help prevent its spread and manage the infection. Some of the common causes of Impetigo are mentioned below:
Close Contact: Impetigo spreads when someone touches an infected person directly. It's common in kids because children usually play close together and the infection can spread from one child to another easily.
Broken Skin: The bacteria that bring about Impetigo usually come through small cuts, scrapes, and insect bites on the skin. Even tiny breaks in the skin surface may allow bacteria to enter.
Contaminated Items: Sharing personal towels, bed linens, clothing or toys that touch the infected skin can spread Impetigo.
Crowded Conditions: Places where many people live together in close quarters (schools, daycare centres, sports teams) experience higher rates of Impetigo spread through close contact and shared items.
Warm, Humid Weather: Impetigo infections spread in warm and moist months. High humidity and warm temperatures help the bacteria grow.
Bad Hygiene: Not washing hands often or thoroughly can increase Impetigo risk, especially after touching infected skin or objects.
Weakened Immune System: Weakened immune systems or existing skin conditions such as eczema make people more sensitive to Impetigo as the skin may already have small pores and be less resistant to bacteria.
It is easy to recognise Impetigo if you know what symptoms to look for. Identifying the signs early may allow for timely treatment and avoiding spread of the infection to others. The common symptoms of Impetigo are listed below.
Initially the blisters are small red spots that turn into blisters. They're generally around the mouth and nose but spread throughout the body.
The blisters pop, forming wet, red sores that contain fluid. These sores then harden into a honey-coloured crust. This crusting is typical of Impetigo.
The sores and blisters of Impetigo are itchy and painful, so you may scratch frequently. Avoid scratching to prevent further spread of the infection.
Sometimes nearby lymph nodes swell in response to the infection under the arms or near the ears and throat.
The area around the Impetigo sores may be painful and tender to the touch.
When the blisters pop, they may release fluid or pus that spreads the bacteria if they aren't cleaned and cared for.
You may notice that the sores become redder around the infection site as it heals.
Jiva Ayurveda offers holistic Ayurvedic treatment of Impetigo using evidence-based Ayurveda. The treatment plans are customised to target the very root causes of the disease, and instead of just treating symptoms, they focus on holistic healing, balance and stability in totality.
Personalised Ayurvedic Medicines: Advanced Herbal formulation and therapeutic medicines included in treatment to counter the root cause, balance doshas and support emotional stability.
Yoga, Meditation & Mindfulness: Practices aimed to improve mental wellness and general health.
Ayurvedic Therapies: Time-tested therapies like Panchakarma, Shirodhara, abhyanga etc are included in your ayurvedic treatment focussing on cleansing the body, improving circulation, detox, rejuvenation and chronic pain relief.
Diet & Lifestyle Recommendations: Proper guidance from certified experts on making healthy dietary and lifestyle changes during and post-treatment.
Ayurvedic medicine can offer effective relief from Impetigo. Not only do they help to balance the energies (doshas) of the body but also actively help with skin cleansing and nourishment. These traditional treatments can ease symptoms and speed up healing process without any side effects when prescribed by a certified ayurveda expert doctor.
Below listed are some common Ayurvedic medicinal herbs for Impetigo treatment.
Turmeric Paste: Turmeric is an antimicrobial and antibacterial plant. Creating a paste of turmeric powder and water and putting it on the affected areas can bring down infection and also ease the skin symptoms. It helps dry out sores and heal them.
Neem Oil: Another natural antiseptic and antiseptic agent is neem. Neem oil applied topically or crushed neem leaves applied topically can clear the Impetigo bacterial infection.
Aloe Vera: Aloe vera gel can soothe the skin, lessen inflammation and redness, and accelerate healing since it's cooling.
Manjistha: Manjistha is a blood purifying and anti-inflammatory herb that can be used in powder or decoction form to heal skin diseases and clear Impetigo.
Twak Tailam: Specialised herbal oil for skin and relieving Impetigo symptoms. Ingredients like yashtimadhu and manjistha improve the skin health and appearance while fighting infection.
Panchatikta Ghrita Guggulu: This traditional Ayurvedic medicine is used for its antioxidant properties and to treat skin diseases. It detoxifies and rejuvenates the skin and helps heal Impetigo.
Impetigo most often affects children, and especially kids ages 2 to 5 years. But it can also be contracted by adults.
Yes, you can prevent Impetigo by keeping clean hygiene, not contacting infected people, and keeping cuts and scrapes clean and covered.
Yes, Impetigo is contagious - it spreads via physical contact or sharing items such as towels or toys with an infected person.
Proper treatment generally improves the condition within a few days and can be completely resolved within a few weeks of Impetigo symptoms.
In general, Impetigo itself is not serious and does not create long-term problems with treatment promptly; however, if untreated, it may cause complications such as cellulitis.
Impetigo usually does not leave scars because the sores heal without damaging the deeper skin layers.
Ayurveda treats Impetigo by purifying the blood, balancing the body's doshas and using natural herbs to heal the skin and decrease infection.
Yes, Ayurveda recommends a cool diet with a lot of fresh vegetables and fruits and to avoid spicy, oily food and preservatives to control Impetigo. To get a proper diet plan based on your health and the current status of the disease, consult with a Jiva certified ayurveda doctor today
Neem, turmeric and manjistha are common herbs that have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and are used to treat Impetigo.
Yes, lifestyle changes like proper hygiene, using natural skin care products and eating right can decrease the incidence of Impetigo recurrence.
