The most important thing in preventing the spread of impetigo is to keep the skin clean. It is important to clean cuts, insect bites, scrapes, and other wounds immediately. If you or your child has impetigo, there are some things you can do to prevent it from spreading to others: - Wash the affected area gently with mild soap and running water. Then cover the area with gauze. - Wash the infected person’s clothes and other things like towels every day and use hot water. Do not let anyone else in the house use them. - Wear gloves when applying antibiotic cream and wash your hands afterward. - If you have a young child who is infected, cut their fingernails short to prevent them from scratching and getting further infections or other damage. - Strive for regular hand washing and good hygiene. - If your child has impetigo, keep them home until your doctor says they are no longer contagious.