Rash and skin care online
An itchy rash, a strange spot or a bite that won't settle? Skin problems are easy to show on video – get a licensed provider's opinion without waiting weeks.
- Licensed providers
- Same-day visits, usually
- Video or phone
Get started Members: request a visit
Written by the CheckMD care team · Updated
Skin problems we often help with
Many skin problems can be recognized from a clear photo or video. Common reasons for a visit:
Eczema flares
Dry, itchy, inflamed patches that keep coming back.
Contact rashes and poison ivy
Red, itchy, sometimes blistering skin where something touched it.
Hives
Raised, itchy welts that come and go.
Bites and stings
Swelling, itching and how to tell if it is infected.
Fungal rashes
Ringworm, athlete's foot and other itchy, ring-shaped rashes.
Acne
Mild to moderate breakouts and a plan that fits your skin.
Getting the most from a skin visit
- Use good daylight or a bright lamp and hold the camera steady
- Show the rash close up and from further away, and anywhere else it has spread
- Mention new soaps, foods, medicines, plants or pets, and how long it has been there
Your provider may recommend a cream, an antihistamine or a prescription treatment, and will tell you if the problem needs a dermatologist or an in-person look. Shingles (a painful, blistering band of rash on one side of the body) is worth a visit early – antiviral medicine works best when started within about three days.
Medicines your provider may prescribe
- Steroid creams such as hydrocortisone or triamcinolone for eczema and contact rashes
- Antihistamines such as cetirizine for itching and hives
- Antifungal creams such as clotrimazole or terbinafine for ringworm and athlete's foot
Only when it is right for you: your provider checks your symptoms, allergies, other medicines and health history first. Prescriptions go to the pharmacy you choose.
What you can do at home right now
- Use a gentle, fragrance-free moisturizer
- Cool compresses for itching
- Avoid the soap, plant or product that may have caused it
- Try not to scratch – keep nails short
Get urgent help for
- Hives with swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or any trouble breathing
- A rash with fever when you feel very unwell
- Purple or dark red spots that don't fade when you press a glass against them
- Skin that is blistering or peeling over a large area
- Redness that is hot, painful and spreading quickly, or a red streak from a wound
A virtual visit is not an emergency service. For chest pain, trouble breathing, severe bleeding, signs of a stroke or a serious injury, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. If you are thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline) at any time.
Get help in three steps
Request a visit
Tell us what is going on and choose video or phone.
Talk to a provider
Usually the same day, often within hours.
Start feeling better
Get your care plan and any prescription at your pharmacy.
Questions about skin visits
Can a rash really be diagnosed on video?
Many can. Good lighting and a few close-up views give your provider what they need. If they can't be sure, they will tell you and suggest next steps.
Can you check a mole?
A provider can talk through a changing mole with you, but moles usually need an in-person skin check. Changes in size, shape or color should be looked at soon.
Can I get prescription creams?
Yes, when they are right for your skin problem. They are sent to your pharmacy.
How much does an online visit cost?
Visits are part of your CheckMD membership – one yearly price, and you don't need insurance. You pay the pharmacy for any medicine. See the current plans on our pricing page or read about telehealth without insurance.
Can I be seen today?
Most visits happen the same day. Request a visit, choose video or phone and pick the earliest time.
What if I don't get better?
Book a follow-up visit. Your provider can adjust your treatment or tell you where to be seen in person. If you get worse quickly, don't wait – get urgent care.
Feeling unwell? Talk to a provider today.
See membership plans