Hives, Poison Ivy, or Eczema? Get a Quick Diagnosis and Treatment via Telehealth

Though not life-threatening, a skin rash can cause an intense itch that’s difficult to ignore. When at-home care fails to provide relief, you should see your doctor for an official diagnosis and treatment plan. But with your busy life, going to the doctor’s office is sometimes inconvenient.

What you may not realize is that you don’t have to go to the doctor’s office to find out what’s making you so itchy. At Pro-Health Urgent Care of Midland, our medical specialists can evaluate, diagnose, and provide treatment for your skin condition through telehealth.

Is it hives, poison ivy, or eczema? Find out how you can get a quick diagnosis and treatment via telehealth.

Hives, poison ivy, or eczema?

Your skin is red, blotchy, and itchy. The issue appeared out of nowhere, and you don’t know whether it’s hives, poison ivy, eczema, or something else. Though they all cause similar skin reactions, there are some differences between the skin conditions.

Hives

Hives are a skin reaction that may occur from allergies, infections, or too much sun. They develop quickly, causing raised itchy welts or splotches. Hives may affect one area of skin or the whole body. They usually resolve quickly but can last weeks. 

Poison ivy

Poison ivy is a type of contact dermatitis, or allergic skin reaction, that occurs when your skin comes in contact with the oily resin from the poison ivy plant. The rash appears a day or two after coming in contact with the plant, causing a red, itchy rash that may blister. A poison ivy rash may last up to three weeks. 

Eczema

Eczema is a chronic skin condition that comes and goes, causing inflamed, dry, itchy patches of skin on your face, elbows, knees, or hands. Scratching worsens the rash, causing inflammation and swelling that makes it itchier. 

When to get medical care

If your rash is small and symptoms are mild, you may not need medical care. However, if your skin condition covers a large area of skin, causes uncomfortable symptoms, or is getting worse despite at-home care, you want to see a doctor.

Getting an accurate diagnosis ensures that you follow the right treatment plan so you can get relief sooner. We know it isn’t easy getting an appointment with your doctor or convenient to go to the office, that’s why we offer urgent care through telehealth for many situations, including rashes. 

Instead of coming to the office, we meet with you virtually from your home or office to provide medical services. Telehealth is convenient and flexible, allowing you to get help for your skin condition at a time and place that works for you.

Diagnosing and treating via telehealth

Our training and experience makes it easier for us to diagnose problems through telehealth. During your appointment, we ask detailed questions about your rash, including when it started and what was going on before it appeared. We also ask about your symptoms and the treatments you’ve tried at home to ease symptoms.

We examine your rash by video and may ask you to send pictures so we can take a closer look. Based on the information provided, we diagnose your skin condition and create a treatment plan, which may include ointments or creams to reduce itchiness and swelling. We also provide recommendations for at-home care like oatmeal baths or wet compresses to manage symptoms. 

Sometimes, we may request that you come into the office so we can examine your skin and get samples to send to a lab for an official diagnosis. We also recommend following up with your primary care provider or a dermatologist for continued care. 

You don’t have to guess if your skin problem is hives, poison ivy, or eczema. You can get a diagnosis and treatment plan conveniently through telehealth. Call our office today at 989-756-0055 or book your telehealth appointment online.