Diet and Food Guidance for Impetigo

No special diet treats impetigo. Good nutrition supports the skin and the immune system while the infection clears.

General principles

• Offer regular balanced meals with grains, pulses, vegetables, fruit and milk products.
• Include protein from dal, eggs, fish or meat, as your family eats.
• Give plenty of water.
• Include foods with vitamin C, vitamin A and zinc, such as citrus fruit, carrots, leafy greens, nuts and seeds.

If the child is unwell

• Offer small, frequent meals if appetite is low.
• Keep fluids up if there is fever.

What to limit

• Sugary snacks and drinks
• Very oily, fried and processed food
• Anything that causes an allergy or flare of eczema in your child

Food and hygiene

• Wash hands before food preparation and meals.
• Do not share cups, spoons or plates while sores are present, especially around the mouth.

Ayurvedic dietary view

A light, freshly cooked, pitta-pacifying diet, with less spicy, sour, fermented and fried food, is traditionally advised for skin conditions. This is a traditional approach and has limited trial evidence.

Infants

Continue breastfeeding or formula as usual. Do not give honey to babies under 12 months. Do not give herbal remedies to infants unless a paediatrician advises it.

Key point

Food supports healing, but impetigo needs proper treatment of the infection.

Before your appointment

Note when the sores began, where they started, whether they ooze or crust, and whether anyone at home or school has similar sores. List any fever, itching, eczema, scabies, diabetes, allergies and medicines tried so far. Take a photo of the rash. Ask about the antibiotic, when it is safe to return to school and the warning signs that mean you should call 112 or 102.