Skin Infection Treatment
Local pharmacists diagnose, dispense targeted cream, and coach simple hygiene steps so your infection calms and confidence returns quickly again.
- Immediate tube supply
- Reduces pain fast
- Promotes scarless healing
How does this service work?
Skin infections such as impetigo or infected eczema appear suddenly and can feel worrying. You need swift treatment that stops germs, soothes soreness, and prevents passing the bug to family. Fulham Palace Pharmacy meets that need across Fulham, Kensington, Battersea, Putney, Hammersmith, and Chelsea.
During your first visit, a pharmacist examines the affected area, confirms the infection is small and superficial, and checks you are over one year old with no allergy to fusidic acid. If all is well we supply a fifteen gram tube of fusidic acid twenty milligram per gram cream under our authorised Patient Group Direction.
You apply a thin layer to the lesion three times a day for five days. Always wash hands before and after, soak away loose crusts with warm soapy water, and keep the cream away from eyes. The medicine is for external use only.
We teach you to spot progress. Red edges should shrink by day three and oozing should ease. A follow up call on day four checks comfort, dressing changes, and any signs that oral antibiotics might be needed.
Simple steps help recovery:
- Use a clean towel just for you
- Wash linen at sixty degrees
- Cover weeping patches with light gauze
- Avoid school or gym until scabs dry
- Finish the full five day course even if skin looks clear
If pain worsens, fever starts, or the patch doubles in size, we refer you promptly to your GP or walk in centre. Recording every outcome helps us track resistance and refine advice for the community.
Spot the warning signs
Mild infections clear fast. Seek help if redness spreads beyond two centimetres, blisters join, or you develop heat, swelling, and fever. Early review prevents deeper tissue involvement.
- Mark the edge with a pen
- Take photos every day
- Call us if the line moves
Everyday habits that speed healing
Good hygiene stops bacteria hopping to new sites and relatives. Combine the cream with tidy routines for quicker calm skin.
- Clip nails short
- Disinfect phone screens daily
- Keep pets away from open sores
- Drink plenty of water
- Eat protein rich meals to support repair
What our patients say
Quick assessment and cream supplied in minutes. Redness halved by day two and no new spots appeared.
Child friendly staff, clear instructions, and a phone check the next day. Infection gone before the weekend trip.
Had infected eczema patch on elbow. Advice on cleansing and a short cream course solved it. Highly recommend.
Anyone aged one year or above with a small patch of impetigo, superficial folliculitis, infected eczema, or similar localised Staphylococcus infection can attend. The pharmacist checks size, location, and your health card. Pregnant patients can use the cream, but should not apply it to the breast area if feeding. Severe or rapidly spreading infections need a doctor. This fast service suits busy parents, workers, and students across our boroughs who want quick relief without waiting for a surgery slot.
You are welcomed into a private room. We ask when the rash started, what products you have tried, and whether you have fever. A visual check confirms the infection fits the PGD. If eligible, you receive one tube, written instructions, and a follow up appointment. The visit lasts about fifteen minutes. Time is set aside to answer questions on dressing, washing, and preventing spread to children or partners.
Remove any loose crusts with warm soapy water, pat dry gently, then spread a small pea sized amount across the lesion. Repeat morning, afternoon, and night for five days. Do not cover the whole limb; treat only the patch. Wash hands after each dose, use a separate towel, and avoid cosmetics on the area until healed. If a dressing is needed, place light gauze and change daily. Stop if burning or a rash appears.
Most patients notice less oozing and reduced redness within forty eight hours. Full healing often takes a week. Continue the cream for the full five days because stopping early allows bacteria to linger. If you see no change or symptoms worsen after three days, return for reassessment. Sometimes an oral antibiotic or swab is required. Drinking water, resting, and keeping the area clean all help the body repair quickly.
Side effects are uncommon and usually mild. You may feel brief stinging on application or see mild dryness. Allergy is rare but causes spreading redness, itch, or swelling. Stop the cream and speak to us if that occurs. Long courses can encourage resistance, so we limit treatment to five days as advised in the PGD. Breathing problems have not been linked to this medicine.
Moisturiser around, not on, the lesion keeps surrounding skin supple. Avoid antiseptic sprays, strong steroid creams, or make-up over the patch while the infection is active. If you are already using eczema ointment elsewhere, carry on, but leave at least thirty minutes between products. Always apply fusidic acid first so it reaches the bacteria without a barrier on top.
Recurrent impetigo can signal nasal carriage of Staphylococcus or incomplete removal of crusts. We can supply an antiseptic wash for hands, review cleaning routines, and, if needed, refer you for a nasal swab. Keeping nails short, washing towels often, and treating eczema flare ups promptly all reduce repeat bouts. Come back early if you spot the familiar honey coloured crust.
Come and see us
331 Fulham Palace Road, London, SW6 6TE
Opening hours
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