Is this possible about impetigo?

Im 13 and have had impetigo for a little bit now. My doc says that my impetago comes from the pets i own! I own 2 dogs and 2 cats. Isw this possible that my impetigo is from my pets? Thats wat the doc says!! And i have this hjabit of picking at the sores. popping um and picking at them. so, sometimes they bleed cause I can't stop itching them!!! What can I use to stop the itching?? I have been useing calamine lotion and it seems to help for a short while. ok Please give me some advice on impetigo!!!!

Registered Nurse here; Impetigo is a staph infection, usually acquired as a secondary infection. For instant you had a scratch on your arm, and perhaps didn't clean it as well as it should have been, and applied some type of antibiotic oint. Other bacteria found on the skin makes it, into the wound and bingo, you have impetigo. Spreads easily, is contagious with direct contact. Cleans the area with soap and warm water, rinse well, pour hydrogen peroxide over wound, again rinse with warm water, apply neosporian oint. or ask your doctor for a prescription antibiotic. Cover with band aid large enough to cover area, leave open to air at night. DO NOT PICK, THIS ONLY PROLONGS THE HEALING PROCESS. As for as catching it from pets, I looked it up, after I read your question, didn't find any information to validate what the Doctor said. But he or she is the doctor and has access to much more information, than you or I. I do question the validity of this, for I have been raised with dogs, cats, horses, birds, raccoons, ducks, geese, hunting dogs, etc. I have never heard of this, nor was I taught this in nursing school about impetigo. Excellent question, thanks for the opportunity to address such an important and well thought out question.

Impy-what? Impetigo (say: im-puh-tee-go) is a strange-sounding word that may be new to you. It's an infection of the skin caused by bacteria. Impetigo is commonly found on the face, often around the nose and mouth, but it can show up anywhere the skin has been broken.

If you have a cut or scrape or if you scratch your skin because of a bug bite, eczema, or poison ivy, germs may find a way to get inside. Once inside, the bacteria cause small blisters to develop on the skin. These blisters burst and ooze fluid that crusts over, a condition called impetigo. Sometimes impetigo is called "school sores" because so many school-age kids get it. Kids seem to get it more than adults do, but impetigo can affect anyone.

What Causes Impetigo?
We all have bacteria living on our skin and in our nose, but most of the time they don't cause any trouble. Two types of bacteria can cause impetigo: Group A streptococcus (say strep-toe-kah-kus) and Staphylococcus aureus (say: stah-fih-lo-kah-kus or-ee-us). It doesn't matter which bacteria caused your impetigo, the treatment will be similar (almost the same).

How Do I Know if I Have It?
Impetigo usually starts as small blisters that quickly burst and ooze fluid that crusts over. The crust is yellow-brown, or honey-colored, making impetigo look different than other scabs. In a less common kind of impetigo that affects babies and younger kids, the blisters are larger and take longer to burst. The fluid in these blisters may start out clear and then turn cloudy.

What Will the Doctor Do?
If you and your parents think you have impetigo, you should see a doctor. A doctor usually can tell if you have impetigo by examining your skin. If you have mild impetigo, your doctor probably will prescribe an antibiotic ointment. If the impetigo has spread to a lot of places or if the antibiotic ointment is not working, you may need to take an antibiotic as a pill or liquid for ten days. Remember: It's important to finish ALL of the medicine even if the spots clear up quickly.

What Can I Do?
Impetigo might itch, but you should try not to scratch or touch the sores. Touching them can spread the sores to other parts of your body or to someone else. If you do touch the area, be sure to wash your hands.

Your parent can help you apply the ointment or take the medicine your doctor prescribed. Your parent also can help you gently wash the infected areas with mild soap and water, using a piece of clean gauze. If a sore is very crusted, you can soak it in warm, soapy water to loosen the crust. You don't have to get it all off, but it's good to keep it clean. Your parent also might help you cover the sores with gauze and tape or a loose plastic bandage.

Impetigo is contagious, which means that you could spread it to other people. That's why someone with impetigo should stay home from school until they have used their medicine for about 24 hours. By then, the impetigo is no longer contagious. After 3 days, the sores should begin to heal.

Your parent should call the doctor if you develop a fever or if you don't get better after taking the medicine for a couple days. Your parents should call the doctor right away if skin around the impetigo sore becomes red, warm, swollen, or painful if you touch it.

How to Prevent Impetigo
If someone in your family or a friend has impetigo, don't touch their skin. Also steer clear of their clothes, towels, sheets, and pillows. The bacteria that cause impetigo can live on all these things. Your parent should wash these items in very hot water.

And here are some good habits that can help you avoid getting impetigo in the first place:

Take a bath or shower regularly.
Use soap to keep your skin clean.
Watch out for skin that's scraped or irritated, like a mosquito bite. Keep those areas clean and covered.
Wash your hands regularly with soap.
Keep your nails short and clean.

As far as I'm aware, impetigo is passed from human-human.
When I've had impetigo, it has cleared up in a day or two with antibiotic cream.
For more info, click on this link...
http://www.prodigy.nhs.uk/patient_inform...

keep your skin clean and get some benadryl.