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Impetigo
By Karen Asp |
September 2008 |
Symptoms: Honey-colored scabs or crusts around the nose, chin, face and other
areas that signal a bacterial infection.
Contagious: Yes.
Triggers: Often
mistaken for herpes, impetigo is actually a bacterial infection — usually staph
— of the skin.
Treatment
options: Topical or oral antibiotics.
Other ways to overcome: When there’s
crusting or oozing, you’re contagious, so avoid close contact with other people,
even skipping the gym until the impetigo is under control, which usually takes
one to three days.