Skin

Skin infection: virtual care options

Skin infections happen when bacteria, fungi, or viruses get into or onto the skin, often through a cut, scrape, bite, or patch of irritated skin. Some stay small and local, while others can spread quickly and need prompt care.

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Common symptoms

What people often notice. Only a provider can tell you what’s causing yours.

Redness, warmth, or swelling around a wound or bump
Pain or tenderness that is getting worse
Pus, drainage, or honey-colored crusting
Blisters or sores that are not healing
Itchy, scaly, or ring-shaped patches

What a virtual visit may involve

Care is decided by the provider, based on your situation.

A video or online visit where a licensed provider asks how the area started and how it has changed
Sharing photos, ideally taken a few hours apart, so the provider can see whether it is spreading
A provider may prescribe treatment if appropriate or tell you an in-person visit is needed
Advice on keeping the area clean and what changes mean you should be seen

When in-person care may be better

Urgent care, your doctor, or a clinic can examine and test you.

The area is a painful lump that may need to be drained
You have diabetes, poor circulation, or a weakened immune system
The infection is near your eye, on your face, or on your hand
It has not improved within a couple of days of treatment

When to go to the ER

Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you have:

Redness that is spreading quickly or red streaks moving away from the area
Fever, chills, or feeling very unwell
Severe pain that seems out of proportion to how the skin looks
Skin turning dark, purple, or black, or blistering rapidly
Swelling around the eye, or confusion or dizziness

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Common questions

Skin infection, answered.

General information, not medical advice. A provider can answer questions about your situation.

Can a skin infection be treated through telehealth?

Many mild skin infections can be evaluated in a virtual visit with good photos. A provider may prescribe treatment if appropriate, but some infections need drainage or an in-person exam.

How do I know if a cut is infected?

Increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pain, or pus after the first day or two can be signs of infection. Spreading redness or fever needs prompt care.

When is a skin infection an emergency?

Go to an emergency room or call 911 for rapidly spreading redness, red streaks, fever with chills, severe pain, or skin turning dark. These can mean the infection is moving deeper or into the blood.

This is not for emergencies.

For life-threatening symptoms, severe chest pain, trouble breathing, or immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.