Skin Conditions

What is Cellulitis?
Cellulitis is a common bacterial infection of the skin and the tissue beneath it. It usually occurs when bacteria enter through a break in the skin, such as a cut, scrape, or insect bite. The infection spreads quickly and can become serious if not treated promptly.

What It Looks Like/How to Identify:
Cellulitis typically presents as a red, swollen area on the skin that feels warm and tender to the touch. The affected area may expand rapidly, and the skin might look shiny or stretched due to the swelling.

Symptoms of Cellulitis:

• Red, swollen skin that feels warm to the touch
• Tenderness or pain in the affected area
• Fever and chills
• Blisters or pus-filled bumps
• Swelling of nearby lymph nodes

What You Can Do at Home:

• Know that cellulitis will likely need medication so seek medical treatment.
• Keep the affected area clean and covered with a sterile bandage.
• Elevate the affected limb to reduce swelling.
• Apply cool, damp cloths to ease discomfort.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers can help manage pain.

When to Seek Urgent Care:
Seek urgent care for treatment if the redness or swelling is spreading, you develop a fever, or the area becomes increasingly painful. Cellulitis can spread to the bloodstream or lymph nodes, leading to severe complications.

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What is Eczema?
Eczema, or atopic dermatitis, is a chronic skin condition characterized by itchy, inflamed patches of skin. It often starts in childhood and can persist into adulthood. Eczema is not contagious but can be very uncomfortable and affect the quality of life.

What It Looks Like/How to Identify:

Eczema often appears as dry, scaly patches of skin that can vary in color from red to brownish-gray. The affected areas may be thickened, cracked, or scaly, and in some cases, small raised bumps may ooze fluid when scratched.

Symptoms of Eczema:

• Dry, scaly patches of skin
• Intense itching, especially at night
• Red or brownish-gray patches on the skin
• Cracked, thickened, or scaly skin
• Small, raised bumps that may leak fluid when scratched

What You Can Do at Home:

• Moisturize your skin regularly with fragrance-free lotions or creams.
• Use mild, fragrance-free soaps and detergents.
• Take lukewarm baths and apply moisturizer immediately afterward.
• Avoid known triggers like certain fabrics, soaps, or stress.

When to Seek Urgent Care:
If your eczema is causing severe discomfort, is widespread, or shows signs of infection (like increased redness, warmth, or pus), it's time to visit urgent care for further evaluation and treatment.

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What is Impetigo?

Impetigo is a highly contagious bacterial skin infection that is most common in young children but can also affect adults. It typically appears as red sores on the face, particularly around the nose and mouth, but can also appear on the hands and other parts of the body.

Symptoms of Impetigo:

• Red sores that quickly rupture, ooze for a few days, and then form a yellow-brown crust
• Itchy, red skin that may be tender or sore
• Fluid-filled blisters that may burst
• Skin lesions that spread to other parts of the body through scratching

What You Can Do at Home:

• Keep the affected area clean and avoid touching or scratching the sores.
• Wash hands frequently to prevent spreading the infection.
• Use a clean towel each time you wash and avoid sharing towels with others.
• Cover the sores with gauze or a loose bandage to prevent contamination.

When to Seek Urgent Care:

Seek urgent care if the sores do not begin to heal within a few days, if they spread to other parts of the body, or if you or your child develop a fever. Early treatment is essential to prevent the infection from spreading to others.

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What is Poison Ivy?
Poison ivy, along with poison oak and poison sumac, causes an allergic skin reaction after contact with the plant's sap, urushiol. Urushiol is an oily substance that can cause a red, itchy rash with blisters. The reaction can occur hours to days after exposure.

What It Looks Like/How to Identify:
The rash from poison ivy typically appears as red, itchy streaks or patches that may develop blisters. The blisters can ooze and eventually crust over. The rash usually occurs in areas where the skin came into contact with the plant.

Symptoms of Poison Ivy:

• Red, itchy rash that may appear in streaks or patches
• Swelling and redness in the affected area
• Blisters that may ooze and crust over
• Intense itching that can lead to scratching and potential infection

What You Can Do at Home:

• Wash the affected skin with soap and water as soon as possible to remove the urushiol.
• Apply calamine lotion or hydrocortisone cream to reduce itching.
• Take an oral antihistamine to help with itching and swelling.
• Avoid scratching the rash to prevent infection.

When to Seek Urgent Care:
Visit urgent care if the rash is severe, widespread, or involves the face, eyes, or genitals. You should also seek medical help if you develop a fever, the rash shows signs of infection, or the itching becomes unbearable. Treatment may include antibiotics for an infection or a steroid cream, oral steroid, or corticosteroid for itching, inflammation, swelling, and discomfort. A provider will determine what is medically appropriate.

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What are Cold Sores?
Cold sores are caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV) and appear as small, fluid-filled blisters on or around the lips. These sores are contagious and can be triggered by factors like stress, sun exposure, or a weakened immune system.

What It Looks Like/How to Identify:
Cold sores usually begin with a tingling or itching sensation around the lips, followed by the appearance of small, fluid-filled blisters. These blisters eventually break open, ooze, and then crust over.

Symptoms of Cold Sores:

• Tingling or itching around the lips before the blister appears
• Small, fluid-filled blisters that group together
• Blisters that break open, ooze, and then crust over
• Soreness and sensitivity around the affected area

What You Can Do at Home:

• Apply cold compresses to reduce swelling and discomfort.
• Use over-the-counter creams or ointments to soothe the area.
• Avoid picking at or touching the sores to prevent spreading the virus.
• Keep the area clean and dry, and avoid sharing personal items.

When to Seek Urgent Care:
Seek urgent care if the cold sores are particularly large, painful, or persistent. If the sores spread to your eyes or you develop a high fever, medical attention is necessary. A Healthcare Express provider can help determine if a patient will benefit from pain Medicaid, topical creams, or an antiviral to speed up healing.

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What are Warts?
Warts are benign skin growths caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). They can appear on various parts of the body, particularly on the hands and feet, and are spread through direct contact with the wart or surfaces touched by the wart.

What It Looks Like/How to Identify:
Warts typically appear as small, grainy bumps that are rough to the touch. They can be flesh-colored, white, pink, or tan, and may have black pinpoints, which are small, clotted blood vessels.  Plantar warts can start as a small round area on thickened skin or grow quickly in a matrix resembling cauliflower. Some patients notice wart seeds, or areas of clotted vein that appear as small seed-like looking black spots. 

Symptoms of Warts:

• Small, grainy bumps that are rough to the touch
• Flesh-colored, white, pink, or tan growths
• Black pinpoints, which are small, clotted blood vessels
• Discomfort or pain, especially with plantar warts on the feet

What You Can Do at Home:

• Use over-the-counter treatments like salicylic acid or adhesive pads.
• Keep the wart covered with a bandage to prevent spreading the virus.
• Avoid picking at or scratching the wart.
• Practice good hygiene, including washing hands after touching the wart.

When to Seek Urgent Care:
For faster treatment, visit urgent care. If the wart is painful, changes in appearance, spreads to other parts of the body, or does not respond to home treatments. Healthcare Express providers can typically freeze common or plantar warts in one session. 

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What are Skin Tags?
Skin tags are small, benign growths that hang off the skin by a thin stalk. They are typically found in areas where the skin rubs against itself, such as the neck, armpits, groin, under the breasts, or on the eyelids. Skin tags generally do not cause any pain or discomfort unless they become irritated.

What It Looks Like/How to Identify:
Skin tags appear as small, flesh-colored or slightly darker growths that dangle from the skin. They can be smooth or slightly wrinkled, and are typically the size of a grain of rice but can grow larger. Skin tags are soft to the touch and move easily when you push them.

Symptoms of Skin Tags:

• Small, soft growths that hang off the skin
• Flesh-colored or slightly darker in appearance
• Smooth or wrinkled texture
• Often found in areas where skin rubs together

What You Can Do at Home:

• Avoid irritating the skin tag by reducing friction with clothing or jewelry.
• Do not try to remove the skin tag at home, as this can lead to infection or scarring.
• Keep the area clean and dry to prevent irritation.

When to Seek Urgent Care:

If a skin tag becomes painful, changes in color, bleeds, or appears to grow rapidly it should be evaluated by a medical professional (it may not be a skin tag). Additionally, if a skin tag is in an area that causes discomfort or embarrassment, or if you're unsure whether it is a skin tag or another type of growth, visit urgent care for professional evaluation and removal. Our medical team can safely remove skin tags using techniques like freezing or cutting ensuring minimal discomfort and no scarring. We oftentimes remove skin tags just because patients want them gone, and we're happy to do that.

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What is Ringworm?
Ringworm is a common fungal infection that affects the skin, scalp, or nails. Despite its name, it is not caused by a worm but by a group of fungi called dermatophytes. The infection is highly contagious and can spread through direct contact with an infected person, animal, or contaminated object. Ringworm can affect various parts of the body, including the feet (athlete’s foot), groin (jock itch), scalp, and nails.

What It Looks Like/How to Identify:

Ringworm often appears as a red, circular, and itchy rash with a raised, scaly border. The center of the rash may be clear or have a slightly redder tone, giving it a ring-like appearance. The rash can vary in size and may spread to other areas of the body if left untreated. On the scalp, it can cause patchy hair loss, while on the nails, it can lead to thickened, discolored nails.

Symptoms of Ringworm:

• Red, circular rash with a raised, scaly border
• Itching, burning, or stinging sensation
• Clear or slightly red center in the ring-like rash
• Patchy hair loss (when affecting the scalp)
• Thickened, discolored, or brittle nails (when affecting the nails)

What You Can Do at Home:

• Keep the affected area clean and dry.
• Avoid sharing personal items like towels, clothing, or combs.
• Use over-the-counter antifungal creams, powders, or sprays as directed.
• Wear loose-fitting clothing to reduce irritation.

When to Seek Urgent Care:
Seek urgent care if the ringworm does not improve with over-the-counter treatments, spreads to multiple areas of the body, or if you experience severe discomfort. Additionally, if ringworm affects the scalp or nails, prescription-strength antifungal medication may be necessary. Our medical team can assess the infection and provide appropriate treatment to prevent it from spreading and ensure a faster recovery.

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