Rash and skin infections

• Skin infection accompanied by fever (temperature above 100.4°F) or chills. Fever and chills can be a sign of a serious infection that needs in-person care. You'll need to see a primary care provider or an urgent care provider as soon as possible.

• Extensive pus or fluid oozing from the affected area. This can be a sign of a serious infection that requires in-person care.

• Allergic skin reaction (hives) accompanied by trouble breathing, swollen lips, or a swollen tongue. Multi-organ symptoms can indicate anaphylaxis, a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction. Please call 911.

• Travel-related skin infections. These may pose a risk of serious complications requiring in-person care.

• Open wounds from animal bites, puncture injuries, pressure injuries, or surgeries. These require in-person care as soon as possible.

• Suspicious moles or spots. These may require an in-person evaluation and a skin biopsy.

• Epidermoid cysts (small, shifting bumps under the skin), which may require an injection and/or excision from an in-person healthcare provider.

• Abscesses (collections of pus under the skin), which may require incision and drainage (I&D) from an in-person healthcare provider.

• Common warts. If you've already tried over-the-counter treatments for common warts and they haven't worked for you, the next step in your wart treatment may be cryotherapy (freezing), which requires in-person care.

• Extensive tissue destruction. If a foul smell is coming from your skin, you'll need to see an in-person healthcare provider as soon as possible.

• Extensive bleeding. If you're losing a significant amount of blood, please call 911 or go to the emergency room (ER).

• Pain or tenderness that seem out of proportion to your skin issue (with the exception of shingles). You may need to see a primary care provider for an in-person evaluation.