Zay Nyi Nyi via Getty Images Impetigo around the mouthOver the past couple of years, there’s been a rise in contagious skin infections such as scabies – and now, a pharmacist is urging families to check for another skin condition that is often misdiagnosed, leading to prolonged infection and missed treatments. Niamh McMillan, Superdrug’s pharmacy superintendent, said impetigo is an extremely contagious bacterial skin infection that appears as red sores or blisters, usually on the face. Impetigo signs and symptomsInitially, impetigo starts with red sore or blisters, which the NHS noted may be harder to see on brown and black skin. McMillan added: “Swollen lymph nodes or tender swollen skin around the infected areas can be a sign that the infection has spread or indeed worsened. “Try and avoid scratching the infected area in order to reduce the risk of further spread,” the pharmacist continued.

Source: Huffington Post January 29, 2026 12:58 UTC