What is impetigo?
Impetigo is a common, highly contagious bacterial skin infection that usually causes sores or blisters, most often on the face, hands or around the nose and mouth.
Typical signs are red sores that quickly burst and leave a golden-brown crust. It's more common in children but can affect adults too.
Is this service right for you?
It may be suitable if
May be suitable for people with symptoms and appearance typical of impetigo where photo/remote assessment is sufficient to guide treatment.
Another type of care may be better if
Online assessment may not be appropriate if the infection is widespread, you're feeling generally unwell or feverish, the diagnosis is uncertain from a photo, or you have a condition that weakens your immune system.
How Nelford’s impetigo service works
- 1Tell us what you need
Complete a secure online consultation about your symptoms, health and any treatment you’ve tried. It’s free and you can start any time.
- 2Same-day review by a UK-registered clinician
Assessment usually involves a description and, where possible, a photo of the affected skin, along with how long it's been present and any relevant medical history. If anything else would help, the clinician will ask, or arrange a call or video consultation.
- 3You choose
If treatment is clinically appropriate, you receive your options with their benefits, risks and a clear price. You decide whether to go ahead.
- 4We handle the rest
Choose next-working-day delivery through our pharmacy partners, or your prescription by email. Nelford coordinates the next steps and any follow-up.
Information that helps
Having these to hand helps the clinician review your consultation quickly. If you don’t have something, you can still submit: the clinician will let you know if anything else is needed.
- Where the rash is, when it started and how it has changed
- Any treatment you have already tried
- A clear photo of the affected skin, if the clinician asks for one
- Photo ID, so your identity can be confirmed (if you are new to Nelford or your details have changed)
- Medicines you take now or have taken recently, and any allergies
- Relevant medical history and your GP's details
- Your contact details and address, so the clinic can reach you safely
After your consultation
Where appropriate, treatment usually involves a topical or oral antibiotic, alongside advice on hygiene measures to stop it spreading to others.
You're advised on what to expect during treatment and when to seek further review if things aren't improving.
- Next-working-day delivery. Treatment confirmed before 4pm on a weekday is eligible for next-working-day delivery. Same-day options are available on request.
- Prescription sent by email. Receive your prescription electronically by email and use it at a pharmacy of your choice.
- Repeat treatment made simple. With a Nelford account you can request repeat treatment in a few steps, and a clinician reviews each request.
Every decision is made by a clinician together with you. The clinician may ask for more information, suggest a call or video consultation, or recommend another service if that would suit you better.
Cost, hours and delivery
- Your consultation is free. Your online consultation is free. You only pay if a clinician considers treatment appropriate and you choose to go ahead. You see a clear price for each option before you pay.
- Same-day review, 7 days a week from 7am to midnight.
- Next-working-day delivery when you order before 4pm on a weekday, with same-day options on request.
- If a clinician needs to speak with you by video or phone before deciding, a £19.40 booking fee applies. You see it before you book and can choose not to go ahead.
We work with multiple pharmacy partners to help keep treatment available. If we're unable to fulfil your medication order, we'll refund the medication and delivery costs and send your prescription electronically so you can arrange fulfilment elsewhere.
Pricing · Prescriptions and delivery · Same-day online consultations
When to get urgent help
Urgent: When to get urgent help instead
Impetigo: common questions
Who is the Impetigo service for?
How quickly is my consultation reviewed?
What will the clinician need to know?
How do I receive my treatment?
How much does it cost?
Will I definitely get treatment?
When might another type of care be better for impetigo?
When should I get urgent help instead?
Sources and clinical information
- Publisher
- The Nelford Clinic
- Written by
- Nelford Clinical Content Team
- Clinically reviewed by
- Nelford Clinical Lead
- Reviewed:
Independent sources for background reading. See how clinical content is kept current.