Risk factors

Factors that increase the risk of impetigo include:

• Age. Impetigo occurs most commonly in children ages 2 to 5.
• Close contact. Impetigo spreads easily within families, in crowded settings, such as schools and child care facilities, and from participating in sports that involve skin-to-skin contact.
• Warm, humid weather. Impetigo infections are more common in warm, humid weather.
• Broken skin. The bacteria that cause impetigo often enter the skin through a small cut, insect bite or rash.
• Other health conditions. Children with other skin conditions, such as atopic dermatitis (eczema), are more likely to develop impetigo. Older adults, people with diabetes or people with a weakened immune system are also more likely to get it.