One in four Americans have some type of skin disease in the U.S. For some, it’s allergic eczema. For others, it can be a challenging skin condition like Rosacea where the cause is difficult to pinpoint, which makes it hard to treat. Skin conditions also include rashes from perfumes and detergents, infections like Chicken Pox, and many others.
When you have a skin health issue and your doctor isn’t available, an urgent care doctor is the next best thing. It’s important to understand what common skin conditions are, their cause, and the possible treatments to determine when and if you need to see a doctor at Premium Urgent Care.
What Skin Conditions Don’t Require a Doctor Visit?
Some skin conditions don’t need to be seen by a doctor. If you get an itchy rash right after changing body washes, laundry detergents, or moisturizers, stop using them. If it is an allergy to an ingredient in those products, the allergy to that ingredient will ease after you stop using it.
Flaky white pieces of skin from your head and scalp are dandruff and don’t require a doctor’s appointment. Switch to a product designed for dandruff and consider not shampooing your hair each day. If you start seeing oozing sores on your head, see a doctor to make sure you don’t have eczema or psoriasis. Try not to pick off scabs or scales.
Do you have moles and freckles? Generally, the only time you need to see a doctor is if their appearance changes or they bleed and itch.
Skin tags are another common skin condition that doesn’t require a medical visit. They’re a raised skin-colored or brown growth that usually appears on the eyelid, neck, underarm, or other area where skin frequently rubs together. They can become inflamed if they rub on stiff clothing or get caught in a necklace or long hair. If they are painful or swollen, a doctor can remove them.
Finally, a mild sunburn is something you can treat at home. If it’s blistered, see a doctor. Otherwise, use aloe vera gel and avoid being out in the sun. When you are in the sun, apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher and reapply it every two hours or after getting out of water. Make sure you’re using enough sunscreen. A good rule of thumb is to use a shot glass-sized amount. Sunscreen clothing is another good idea.
What Skin Conditions Require Urgent Care?
When should you see a doctor? If the skin condition is contagious, infected, or involves a burn, head to urgent care.
Contagious Skin Conditions:
If you suspect you could have a virus or contagious diseases like chickenpox, measles, mumps, rubella, or shingles, arrange to see an urgent care doctor. You might be able to avoid an office visit through a telehealth visit. You want to have the rash diagnosed so that the appropriate medication is prescribed. Vaccinations to prevent these diseases are also advised if you meet the current recommendations.
Impetigo is another contagious skin disease. The infection is most common in infants and young children and starts on the face before spreading. The sores break open within a week and form scabs. Antibiotics are recommended, so make sure you bring your child to an urgent care doctor.
Infections:
It’s best to see a doctor if you have an infection. Abscesses occur for many reasons, but it’s always an infection resulting from another condition. You might have a cyst that develops an infection. A decaying tooth can lead to an abscess. A bug bite that isn’t properly cleaned can develop an abscess. You need to have the abscess drained, cleaned out, and treated to prevent reinfection.
Another common infection is a boil. Boils are an infection that forms in a hair follicle. They are usually purple or very red and extremely sore to the touch. They must be drained, cleaned, and treated to keep the infection from worsening. You can try a warm compress to get the boil to drain at home, but if they become very large, you should see a doctor.
Infections have the power to become dangerous in little time. If you have an infection, don’t wait for it to spread to the bloodstream. See an urgent care doctor.
Other:
Eczema isn’t always a condition that needs to be seen by a doctor. If you have it, however, a doctor can prescribe medications that can ease the itching and discomfort. Allergies are the most common cause of eczema, which makes it hard to avoid. If you can afford an allergy test, it’s a great way to have a doctor pinpoint your allergy triggers.
Second or third-degree burns should be seen by a doctor. If the skin is blistered or blackened, get treated at urgent care or the ER. A good rule of thumb is to go to urgent care for small burns but burns that cover large portions of the body require a trip to the ER.
Did you get bitten by a tick or spider? Go to urgent care and get medications to avoid complications. If possible, bring the insect with you to help doctors determine what bit you. If you have a spider bite and need anti-venom, knowing the type of spider is essential.
Most warts do not need to be seen by a doctor. Plantar warts are one of the most common, and they’re harmless for the most part. They can become painful, however, if they’re on the bottom of the foot. At that point, you can have a doctor at urgent care remove it.
Do you have a mole or area of skin that has suddenly changed in size, shape, or appearance? Go to urgent care. You may have skin cancer. The earlier you see a doctor, the earlier you can start treatment if it is cancerous. Skin cancer is beatable when it’s caught early.
When Should You Go Straight to the ER?
Urgent care is there as a fill-in when your doctor is away or it’s the weekend and your doctor isn’t open. There are situations when the ER is better. If you have an infection with a very high fever, go to the ER. There’s a chance the infection has spread to your bloodstream. If you have difficulty breathing, a rapid heartbeat, or dizziness, you should also head to the ER rather than urgent care.
Prevention Is Best When Possible
Try to prevent skin conditions from happening. While you can’t avoid them all, there are things you can do to lower the odds.
Start by making sure your vaccinations are up-to-date. If you haven’t had an MMR, Shingles, TDAP, or chickenpox vaccination, get caught up. Premium Urgent Care offers the vaccinations you need, and don’t be surprised to learn that others are now recommended. Certain age groups may find they should get a Hep A or Hep B vaccination to protect themselves.
Wash your hands regularly to avoid infections from spreading. Use sunscreen when you’re outside. If you can’t find a sunscreen that doesn’t irritate your skin, which is a problem people with rosacea may have, ask for a referral to a dermatologist. There are products out there for very sensitive skin that can help.
The doctors at Premium Urgent Care specialize in skin conditions and offer convenient vaccinations, too. Print out the forms online and check in before you leave your home for the fastest visit possible. We also offer telehealth visits if that’s more convenient.