3 Household Care Steps After an Impetigo Diagnosis

If a skin infection has you wondering whether every shared towel is now a problem, ask for a household plan along with the prescription. You need instructions you can explain to the people who share your bathroom, without turning every ordinary task into another worry.

Three household care steps

1. Keep treatment and hand care together. Complete the prescribed course even when patches begin clearing. Wash hands frequently, including before and after applying treatment, and avoid scratching or touching sores.¹

2. Separate items that touch skin. Do not share towels, washcloths, sheets or pillowcases. NHS¹ advice recommends washing these at a high temperature. Follow the item’s care instructions and ask the treating service about anything you cannot wash that way.¹

3. Confirm the return-to-contact plan. Avoid close contact, the gym and contact sports while contagious. Ask when work and usual activities can resume under your treatment plan and local guidance.¹

Tell the service if circumstances change

Seek further medical advice if symptoms worsen or change after treatment, or if the infection comes back. A weakened immune system or sores on the breasts while breastfeeding also needs clinician review.¹

Before the appointment ends, ask which treatment belongs on the affected areas and how long to use it. Keep the directions available to anyone helping with care.

At home, choose separate towels and a place to keep the prescribed product. Write down any question you need to call back about rather than adding another cream on your own.

Skin, Head to Toe includes a Skin Log. Use it to organize observations for follow-up. See the book.