Why is impetigo associated with being dirty?
Well, impetigo is a superficial infection of the skin, caused by Staphylococcus or by Streptococcus species. It is a bacterial infection (not a viral one) and it is usually mild. These microorganisms in order to cause problems they need to penetrate the skin, through small cuts on it. Although all people can acquire such an infection, usually people with poor personal hygiene are affected, because they have for a longer period of time these microorganisms on their skin, so the risk of a small skin cut, which is needed for the process, is bigger. That is why impetigo affects more school children, soccer players and restlers.
