Impetigo Treatment in Holborn, London — from £14.20
Ways Pharmacy offers a private pharmacist-led service for impetigo, a common and contagious skin infection. We are a GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises number 9012227) at 77 Southampton Row, Holborn WC1, around two minutes' walk from the British Museum. You can start online and send photos of the sores, or come into the pharmacy. A pharmacist checks that it is impetigo, that it is limited to a small area, and that you or your child are otherwise well, before supplying a treatment cream. Consultations are available in English or Chinese (中文).
Impetigo treatment at a glance
| Treatment options | Hydrogen peroxide 1% antiseptic cream first, or fusidic acid 2% antibiotic cream if hydrogen peroxide is unsuitable or has not worked |
|---|---|
| Price | From £14.20 for a 5-day course of cream. The full price list is below |
| Who it is for | Adults and children aged 1 year and over with a small number of impetigo sores (3 or fewer patches) who are otherwise well |
| How it works | Online, with clear photos of the sores, or in person at the pharmacy. No separate consultation fee |
| Pharmacist assessment | Required every time. If the infection is widespread, near the eye or you feel unwell, the pharmacist will not supply treatment and will tell you where to go instead |
| Where and when | 77 Southampton Row, London WC1B 4ET · Monday to Friday, 9:00am–6:00pm |
| Language | English and Chinese (中英文服务) |
Start with hydrogen peroxide 1% cream (£14.20), choose fusidic acid from the price list below, or call 020 8106 7084.
Treatment options and prices
In line with NICE guidance, an antiseptic cream is normally tried first for a small area of impetigo, and an antibiotic cream is kept for when the antiseptic is not suitable or has not worked. This helps keep antibiotics working for when they are really needed.
| Option | What it is | Price | More information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hydrogen peroxide 1% cream (first choice) | Hydrogen Peroxide（过氧化氢）1% antiseptic cream (Crystacide). Applied thinly 2 to 3 times a day for 5 days | £14.20 (25g) | Crystacide 1% cream |
| Fusidic acid 2% cream (alternative) | Fusidic Acid（夫西地酸）2% antibiotic cream (Fucidin or equivalent). Applied thinly 3 times a day for 5 days, if hydrogen peroxide is unsuitable or has not worked | £19.99 (15g) | Fusidic acid 2% cream |
If the medicine you choose is not suitable for you, the pharmacist may suggest another option or give you a full refund. There is no separate consultation fee: the price shown is the price of the medicine.
One tube is enough for a full 5-day course. Only one course is supplied for each episode; if the sores have not improved, you need a new assessment rather than a repeat supply.
Who can use this service
- Adults and children aged 1 year and over. Children can use the online service, but a parent or guardian must be present on the video call with the pharmacist, and photos of the child's sores are still needed
- Impetigo that looks typical: red sores or blisters that burst and leave yellow-brown, "golden" crusts, often around the nose and mouth or on the hands
- Three or fewer sores or patches of sores
- No fever and otherwise feeling well
Tell the pharmacist if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, have eczema or another skin condition in the same area, or have already used a cream for this episode.
When you should see a GP or get urgent help instead
A pharmacist cannot treat impetigo in these situations. See your GP if:
- there are 4 or more sores or patches, or the infection is spreading quickly
- there are large fluid-filled blisters (bullous impetigo)
- sores are on or right next to the eye
- it is the second or more time you have had impetigo in the past 12 months, or treatment for this episode has not worked
- the patient is a baby under 1 year old, or has a weakened immune system
- the patient also has eczema flaring in the area, chickenpox or scabies
- the sores have not started to improve within 3 to 5 days of treatment
Get urgent medical help the same day (your GP or NHS 111) if the skin around the sores becomes hot, swollen, painful and red, which can mean a deeper infection (cellulitis), or if you or your child develop a high temperature and feel unwell. Call 999 or go to A&E for signs of sepsis, such as confusion, very fast breathing, mottled or very pale skin, or a rash that does not fade when pressed, or for swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat.
How it works
- Choose your medicine and pay.
- Complete the online health questionnaire and verify your identity. After payment, you answer questions about your health and medicines and confirm who you are, either by uploading photo ID or by showing your ID to the pharmacist on a video call. You upload clear photos of the sores in the questionnaire.
- The pharmacist speaks with you by phone or video to go through your answers and confirm whether the treatment is suitable.
- If suitable, your medicine is posted or ready to collect. Orders approved by the pharmacist before 3:00pm on a working day are dispatched the same day; see our shipping information for delivery options and costs. You can also collect from the pharmacy once your order is approved. If treatment is not suitable, including when the pharmacist gives advice only, you get a full refund.
Stopping impetigo from spreading
- Wash your hands before and after applying the cream, and often throughout the day
- Gently clean the sores with soap and water and pat dry before applying the cream
- Do not touch, scratch or pick at the sores or crusts; keep nails short and cover sores loosely where you can
- Do not share towels, flannels, bedding or clothing, and wash them on a hot wash
- Stay off school, nursery or work until 48 hours after starting treatment, or until the sores have dried, crusted and healed if you are not treated
- If you handle food at work, tell your employer
Why choose Ways Pharmacy
- Antiseptic first, antibiotic only when needed, following NICE guidance
- Clear prices for each cream, shown before you start
- Consultation and explanation in Chinese (中文) or English, including for parents of young children
- GPhC-registered pharmacy (premises 9012227) in Holborn, about two minutes' walk from the British Museum
Related services: eczema and dermatitis treatment and scabies treatment.
Frequently asked questions
How much does impetigo treatment cost at Ways Pharmacy?
Hydrogen peroxide 1% cream (25g) is £14.20 and fusidic acid 2% cream (15g) is £19.99. One tube covers the full 5-day course. You only pay for a treatment if the pharmacist confirms it is suitable; otherwise your payment is refunded in full.
Why might I be given hydrogen peroxide cream rather than an antibiotic?
NICE recommends hydrogen peroxide 1% cream as the first treatment for a small area of impetigo in people who are otherwise well. Using antibiotic creams only when needed helps reduce antibiotic resistance. If hydrogen peroxide is not suitable for you, the pharmacist can consider fusidic acid.
How long is impetigo contagious?
Once treatment has started, impetigo usually stops being contagious after 48 hours. Without treatment it can stay contagious until the sores have dried and crusted over, which can take one to three weeks.
When can my child go back to school or nursery?
48 hours after starting treatment, or once the sores have dried, crusted and healed.
What are the side effects of the creams?
Mild burning, stinging, itching or redness where the cream is applied. Hydrogen peroxide cream can bleach fabrics, so let it dry before skin touches clothes or bedding. Stop and get medical advice if you notice swelling of the face, lips or tongue, or difficulty breathing.
Can I use the cream near my eyes?
No. Impetigo on or right next to the eye needs to be seen by a GP.
Impetigo keeps coming back. What should I do?
If you have had impetigo twice or more in 12 months, see your GP. They may take swabs and suggest other treatment.
Is this an NHS service?
No. Ways Pharmacy Holborn is a private pharmacy and does not provide NHS services.
Suspected side effects can be reported through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.
This page gives factual information about pharmacy services and medicines. Any medicine is supplied only after a pharmacist has assessed that it is suitable for you.
Ways Pharmacy
77 Southampton Row, Holborn, London WC1B 4ET
Telephone: 020 8106 7084
Opening hours: Monday to Friday 9:00am–6:00pm, closed Saturday and Sunday
Around 2 minutes' walk from the British Museum, near Holborn station
GPhC-registered pharmacy premises: 9012227 · About Ways Pharmacy
