When to go to Urgent Care for Rashes - Emergency Room (2024)

FAQs

When to go to Urgent Care for Rashes - Emergency Room? ›

"If you have a simple rash, and you're itching, you can probably go to urgent care. But if you have a rash and vomiting, you should go to the ER." An anaphylactic allergic reaction can be life-threatening and requires immediate medical treatment.

Your urgent care doctor can provide treatment and relief for most rashes, but if your rash covers most of your body, occurs on your genitals, or is causing you to have difficulty breathing or swallowing, go to the emergency room for your rash.

"Anytime your breathing is compromised, or you feel like your face or tongue are starting to swell up, or you start to have stridor — that squeaky kind of breathing — you need to make sure you're calling 911 and getting to the nearest emergency room," she adds.

However, a rash can be a sign of something more serious. Allergic reactions, infections, autoimmune conditions, and more can also cause rashes that need to be seen by a medical professional. Rashes that occur along with trouble breathing, fever, lightheadedness, or nausea, are a medical emergency.

Certain problems are seen frequently, including dermatitis (atopic, seborrheic, contact), psoriasis, infectious problems (bacterial, fungal and viral, and especially candidiasis and cellulitis), and drug reactions.

A rash involving the eyes, lips, mouth, or genital skin.

If you have trouble breathing or swallowing, or your eyes or lips swell up, emergency medical care may be necessary and should be sought immediately. A rash can take days or even weeks to heal.

Doctors at urgent care centers like Quality First Urgent Care are equipped to assess and treat a wide range of conditions, including rashes. Our practitioners will: Provide a diagnosis: Through examination and, if necessary, lab tests will determine the cause of your rash.

During an anaphylactic attack, you might receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) if you stop breathing or your heart stops beating. You might also be given medications, including: Epinephrine (adrenaline) to reduce the body's allergic response. Oxygen, to help you breathe.

Anaphylaxis is a sudden and severe allergic reaction that occurs within minutes of exposure. Immediate medical attention is needed for this condition. Without treatment, anaphylaxis can get worse very quickly and lead to death within 15 minutes.

What does a worry rash look like? ›

Stress rashes often appear as raised red bumps called hives. They can affect any part of the body, but often a stress rash is on the face, neck, chest or arms. Hives may range from tiny dots to large welts and may form in clusters. They may be itchy or cause a burning or tingling sensation.

Skin Rashes, Fever, and Pain Are Present

As soon as you notice pain and fever along with your rash, it's time for an urgent care visit.

Rashes are areas of irritated or swollen skin. These areas may become itchy, painful, or dry out. Skin discoloration is a common rash symptom, which can present differently on different skin tones. Rashes may appear red or pink on lighter skin tones, while on darker skin tones they may be purple, gray, or white.

These rashes can appear as raised bumps, scaly patches, or blisters. Sensitivity to touch. Touching the affected area may elicit tenderness or discomfort. Spreading or changing shape.

Spreading rash

For example, if you rub lotion on your hands, and the fragrance irritates your skin, only your hands will get a rash. If your rash spreads over a wider area, it could be an indication that the irritant is systemic, and you need medical care.

Blisters – Blistering rashes that progress quickly to skin peeling or raw areas need emergency treatment. Fever – This symptom should prompt you to go to the emergency room right away. Infection – Signs of an infection include crusting, swelling, warmth, tenderness and leaking yellow or green fluid in the area.

Allergic Reactions: Urgent care clinics can provide treatment for allergic reactions to food, medication, or other allergens. They can administer epinephrine shots or other medications to help relieve symptoms and prevent the reaction from becoming life-threatening.

They'll prescribe some antibiotics. But if you're having fevers with it, chills, you see streaks tracking up your arm, I would recommend going to the ER because those are cases where you may need some blood work, you may even need IV antibiotics and admission to the hospital.

Some infections happen at the skin's surface, but they can start deeper in the wound. You can treat minor skin infections at home, but you might have to go to the doctor or emergency room for a more serious one.