What are the causes of impetigo?
The two types of bacteria that cause impetigo are typically already on the skin surface and enter the body when skin is broken by injury or irritation. Impetigo can originate from other skin conditions, including acne or eczema, as well as poison ivy, insect bites, chickenpox and other viral rashes, or burns, cuts and scrapes. It can also come from direct physical contact with infected individuals. Children may get impetigo after having a cold or allergies that make the skin raw; however, it can also develop when skin is perfectly healthy. Staph infections are more commonly seen around the nose and on the trunk or arms, whereas strep is more frequently seen on the legs, pelvic area (especially when diapers are worn) and other skin areas that are warm and moist. What is the conventional treatment of impetigo? Antibiotics are the mainstay of conventional therapy. Topical anti-microbial ointments are often effective for staph impetigo, and treatments such as Bactroban (Mupirocin) ointment
