Primary & Urgent Care
Skin Infections & Urgent Skin Concerns — Same Day
Spreading redness, painful skin, a blistering rash, or an infected wound that appeared recently? A licensed provider can evaluate what you are dealing with, determine whether prescription treatment is appropriate, and send it to your pharmacy the same day if so. Some skin conditions are time-sensitive — do not wait.
Start a VisitAbout these conditions
🩹 Urgent skin conditions — what you need to know
Not all skin problems can wait for a scheduled appointment. Some conditions — particularly bacterial skin infections, shingles, and infected wounds — can worsen quickly without treatment, and in some cases the window for the most effective treatment is narrow. If something appeared on your skin recently and you are wondering whether it needs a prescription today, that instinct is worth acting on.
This page covers acute skin conditions that benefit from prompt evaluation and treatment. Many can be assessed through telehealth based on your symptom description and, when appropriate, photographs. Your provider will determine whether prescription treatment is needed and send it to your pharmacy the same day — or tell you clearly if in-person evaluation is the right call.
What we treat on this page
Shingles (herpes zoster), cellulitis, impetigo, infected cuts and wounds, folliculitis, and MRSA concerns. Evaluated by a licensed provider who determines whether prescription antibiotics, antivirals, or other treatment are needed — and whether in-person care is required. For fungal infections, ringworm, or recurring skin infections, see our Skin Infections page. For rashes, eczema flares, or contact dermatitis, see our Rashes & Irritated Skin page.
The conditions on this page — and why timing matters:
- →🔥 Shingles (herpes zoster). A painful, blistering rash caused by reactivation of the varicella-zoster virus (the same virus that causes chickenpox). Antiviral medication is most effective when started within 72 hours of rash onset — the sooner the better. Do not wait to see if it gets better on its own. Shingles typically appears as a band or stripe of painful, fluid-filled blisters on one side of the body or face. Shingles on the forehead, eyelid, nose, or around the eye requires urgent in-person eye evaluation because it can threaten vision. Significant ear pain, facial weakness, or hearing changes alongside shingles also warrants prompt in-person evaluation.
- →🦠 Cellulitis. A bacterial skin infection affecting the deeper layers of skin and subcutaneous tissue. Usually caused by Streptococcus or Staphylococcus bacteria entering through a break in the skin. Presents as a spreading area of redness, warmth, swelling, and pain — most commonly on the legs, but can occur anywhere. Requires oral antibiotics; can progress rapidly without treatment.
- →🧒 Impetigo. A highly contagious superficial bacterial skin infection common in children but seen in adults too. Caused by Staph or Strep bacteria. Presents as honey-colored crusted sores or fluid-filled blisters, usually on the face, around the nose and mouth, or on exposed skin. Spreads easily by touch. Antibiotic treatment is generally recommended to shorten the illness and reduce spread to others.
- →🩹 Infected cuts and wounds. Minor cuts, scrapes, insect bites, or skin punctures can become infected when bacteria enter the skin. Signs of infection include increasing redness, warmth, swelling, pus or discharge, and pain that is getting worse rather than better after 24 to 48 hours. Early treatment with antibiotics prevents progression to more serious infection.
- →💈 Folliculitis. Infection or inflammation of the hair follicles, often appearing as small red or pus-filled bumps around hair follicles. Common on the face, neck, chest, back, buttocks, and thighs. Mild cases may resolve on their own; widespread or painful folliculitis may benefit from topical or oral antibiotics. For recurring folliculitis, see our Skin Infections page.
- →⚠️ MRSA concerns. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a type of staph infection resistant to many common antibiotics. Community-acquired MRSA typically presents as a painful, red, swollen bump — often mistaken for a spider bite — that may be warm to the touch and filled with pus. If you have a skin infection that is not responding to standard antibiotics, or a painful abscess, MRSA should be considered. Treatment requires specific antibiotic selection.
When to go in person — urgent care vs. ER
Go to the ER immediately for: redness spreading rapidly by the hour; skin that turns dark, gray, or black (possible necrotizing fasciitis — a rare emergency); severe pain out of proportion to appearance; confusion, difficulty breathing, or signs of serious systemic illness; or large facial or spinal abscess. Seek urgent same-day in-person care for: fever with a skin infection; red streaks extending from a wound; significant facial swelling or swelling near the eye; infection not improving on antibiotics; and for immunocompromised patients with a progressing or worsening skin infection. Do not wait for a scheduled telehealth appointment for any of these.
Signs you may need treatment now
📋 Recognizing your symptoms
The key question with any skin concern that appeared recently is whether it is getting better, staying the same, or getting worse. Some skin infections can worsen or spread without treatment. Increasing redness, pain, warmth, swelling, drainage, fever, or new symptoms are reasons to seek prompt evaluation.
| Condition | What it looks like | Key urgency signal |
|---|---|---|
| Shingles | Painful burning or tingling on one side of the body, followed within days by a stripe of red, fluid-filled blisters. May occur on the torso, face, neck, or limbs. Only one side of the body is affected. | 72-hour window for antivirals. The sooner treatment starts, the better the outcome. Do not wait to see if it resolves. |
| Cellulitis | A defined area of skin that is red, warm, swollen, and tender. May have an obvious entry point (cut, bite, crack). Redness may have an irregular border and may be spreading. | Any spreading of the red border, fever, or worsening pain requires same-day evaluation. Mark the border with a pen to track spread. |
| Impetigo | Honey-colored, crusted sores or fluid-filled blisters, often around the nose and mouth or on exposed skin. May itch. Spreads easily by touching the sores and then touching other skin. | Highly contagious. Children should stay home from school. Treatment prevents spread to others and clears the infection faster. |
| Infected cut or wound | A wound that initially appeared to be healing, but now has increasing redness, swelling, warmth, pus or cloudy discharge, or pain that is worsening rather than improving. | Infection spreading beyond the wound edge, red streaks extending from the wound, or fever alongside the wound require urgent evaluation. |
| Folliculitis | Cluster of small red bumps or white-headed pimples around hair follicles. May be itchy or mildly painful. Can appear on face, neck, chest, back, or thighs. | Widespread, painful, or recurring folliculitis warrants evaluation. Single mild cases often resolve with warm compresses alone. |
| MRSA / abscess | A painful, red, raised bump — often firm at first, then becoming fluctuant (soft and filled with fluid). May look like a large pimple, boil, or "spider bite." Surrounding skin is red and swollen. | An abscess that is enlarging, associated with fever, or in a sensitive location (face, groin, near the spine) needs in-person evaluation. Do not attempt to drain it at home. |
Not sure if it's infected or just irritated?
Infection and irritation can look similar early on — but they behave differently over time. Irritation from a rash, eczema, or contact reaction does not typically produce pus, does not spread progressively, and does not cause the surrounding skin to become warm. If you have a rash that is itchy and inflamed but not spreading and not producing discharge, it may be more consistent with eczema or contact dermatitis — see our Rashes & Irritated Skin page for more information.
Something appeared on your skin recently and you are not sure what it is or whether it needs treatment? A licensed provider can evaluate your symptoms today.
Start a VisitHow online care can help
💻 Urgent skin care online — what works and what it cannot replace
Several of the conditions on this page can be evaluated through telehealth. Shingles has a distinctive rash pattern that providers can often assess clinically. Some suspected cases of cellulitis, impetigo, or superficial wound infection may be evaluated through telehealth when clear photographs and a detailed history are available. Because several conditions can resemble cellulitis, your provider may recommend an in-person examination when the diagnosis or severity is uncertain.
The key limitation is that some skin conditions — particularly abscesses and suspected MRSA — may require in-person care for drainage or wound culture. Your provider will tell you clearly if that is the case for your situation.
| What online care can do | What it cannot replace |
|---|---|
| Evaluate symptom description and photos to assess the most likely diagnosis | In-person wound culture or skin swab for definitive MRSA diagnosis |
| Prescribe antivirals for shingles within the 72-hour treatment window | Incision and drainage of a fluctuant abscess (must be done in person) |
| Prescribe oral or topical antibiotics for cellulitis, impetigo, or folliculitis | IV antibiotics for severe cellulitis or spreading infection with systemic symptoms |
| Select antibiotic coverage appropriate for possible MRSA when indicated | Evaluation of rapidly spreading infection with fever (go to ER) |
| Advise on wound care, hygiene, and infection prevention | In-person assessment of wounds with deep tissue involvement or bone proximity |
| Refer appropriately when in-person care is clearly needed | Imaging or biopsy for uncertain or complex presentations |
- →⏰ Timing matters for these conditions. Shingles antivirals need to start within 72 hours. Cellulitis spreads without treatment. Same-day appointments mean you can act today instead of waiting for a scheduled visit.
- →🏪 Your prescription goes to your local pharmacy. Antivirals and antibiotics filled at the pharmacy you already use. No mail-order required.
- →💰 No monthly subscription. A flat fee per visit. No required membership to access our telehealth services.
- →🩺 A real clinical evaluation. A licensed provider reviews your intake, asks follow-up questions, and makes an individualized determination — including telling you clearly when in-person care is the right call.
★★★★★ Patient review
"I noticed the burning and tingling on Saturday and by Sunday morning had the blisters. I knew it looked like shingles but couldn't get my doctor until Tuesday. I did a visit with MyPhysician360 and the provider evaluated my symptoms promptly, explained why timing mattered, and helped me understand the next steps. I was able to get care the same day instead of waiting."
Individual treatment recommendations and outcomes vary.
Patient, MyPhysician360
Treatment options
💊 How these conditions are treated
Treatment depends on the specific condition and its severity. The common thread across all the conditions on this page is that earlier treatment produces better outcomes. Your provider selects the most appropriate approach based on your specific clinical picture.
- →Shingles — oral antivirals, started as soon as possible. Antiviral medications (acyclovir, valacyclovir, or famciclovir) are most effective when started within 72 hours of rash onset. Early treatment may shorten the illness, reduce new blister formation, and lessen the severity and duration of acute symptoms. Treatment may still be appropriate after 72 hours when new lesions are continuing to appear, symptoms are severe, or the face or eye is involved — discuss this with your provider. Postherpetic neuralgia (persistent nerve pain after the rash resolves) can still occur, particularly in older adults. Pain management is an important part of shingles treatment — OTC pain relievers and, when needed, prescription medications may be used. The shingles vaccine (Shingrix) is recommended for adults 50 and older, and for certain immunocompromised adults 19 and older — including people who have previously had shingles. Vaccination is preventive and does not treat an active episode.
- →Cellulitis — antibiotics when the diagnosis is clinically supported. Cellulitis is a bacterial infection, but several noninfectious conditions — including contact dermatitis, venous stasis, and inflammatory reactions — can look similar, so your provider will assess whether the presentation is consistent with cellulitis before recommending antibiotics. Typical nonpurulent cellulitis (without pus) is generally treated with an antibiotic that covers streptococci, such as cephalexin or dicloxacillin where appropriate. When pus, an abscess, a prior history of MRSA, or other MRSA risk factors are present, the provider may select or add MRSA-active coverage while ensuring the appropriate organisms are addressed. Antibiotic duration is adjusted based on severity and clinical response. Elevation of the affected limb and monitoring for spreading are important during treatment. IV antibiotics are needed for severe cellulitis with systemic symptoms — this requires in-person or emergency care.
- →Impetigo — topical or oral antibiotics. Limited impetigo may be treated effectively with a topical antibiotic such as mupirocin applied directly to the lesions, which avoids systemic antibiotic exposure. More extensive or bullous disease may require an oral antibiotic selected based on the likely organisms, allergy history, and MRSA risk. Antibiotic treatment is generally recommended to shorten the illness and reduce spread to other people and other areas of the body. Keeping affected areas clean and covered during treatment further reduces contagious spread.
- →Infected cuts and wounds — wound care plus antibiotics when indicated. Not every infected-looking wound requires antibiotics. Minor redness immediately around a wound edge may represent normal inflammatory healing. When infection is present — indicated by spreading redness, pus, warmth, and worsening pain — a course of oral antibiotics is appropriate. Your provider also advises on wound cleaning, dressing, and when to consider tetanus prophylaxis if the wound was caused by a dirty object and vaccination is not current.
- →Folliculitis — hygiene measures first, antibiotics when clinically appropriate. Mild superficial folliculitis often improves with warm compresses, gentle cleansing, avoiding shaving or friction over the affected area, and an antiseptic wash. Topical or oral antibiotics may be appropriate when bacterial folliculitis is persistent, widespread, painful, or otherwise clinically indicated. Hot tub folliculitis (caused by Pseudomonas) is typically self-limited and resolves without antibiotics in most healthy patients — seek care if it is worsening, recurrent, associated with fever, or you are immunocompromised. Your provider tailors treatment based on the pattern, location, and severity.
- →MRSA concerns and abscesses — drainage is often the primary treatment. For a pus-filled abscess, incision and drainage in person is often the most important treatment. Antibiotics may also be needed depending on the size and location of the abscess, surrounding cellulitis, fever, immune status, recurrence risk, and other clinical factors. When MRSA-active antibiotic coverage is indicated, your provider selects appropriate agents based on your clinical picture, allergy history, and local resistance patterns. Standard beta-lactam antibiotics (amoxicillin, cephalexin) are generally not effective against MRSA. Appearance alone cannot confirm MRSA — a wound culture is the most reliable way to identify the organism when testing is clinically needed, and requires an in-person visit.
Shingles: the 72-hour window explained
Antiviral medications for shingles are most effective when started within 72 hours after the rash appears — this is when viral replication is most active. Treatment started early may shorten the illness, reduce new blister formation, and lessen the severity of acute symptoms. The 72-hour mark is not an absolute cutoff: treatment may still be appropriate after 72 hours when new lesions are continuing to form, symptoms are severe, or the face or eye is involved. Postherpetic neuralgia — persistent nerve pain after the rash resolves — can still occur, particularly in older adults. If you think you have shingles, the right time to be evaluated is today, not in a few days.
When will I start feeling better?
Shingles: rash typically begins to dry out and crust over within 7 to 10 days with antiviral treatment; pain may persist longer. Cellulitis: redness and swelling may take 24 to 48 hours to begin improving after antibiotics are started. The area should not be rapidly expanding. Contact your provider promptly or seek in-person care if redness continues to spread, pain worsens, fever develops, or you feel increasingly unwell. Impetigo: lesions typically begin to clear within 5 to 7 days of treatment. Infected wounds: improvement in redness and pain usually within 2 to 3 days of antibiotics. If you are not improving on these timelines, contact your provider.
Something on your skin that needs attention today? A licensed provider can evaluate your symptoms and prescribe treatment the same day if appropriate.
Start a VisitWhat to expect
🗓️ Your visit, start to finish
Here is what happens from the moment you start your visit to when you have a treatment plan.
|
1
Describe your symptoms
Complete a short intake covering when it appeared, how it has changed, where it is on your body, what it looks like, any associated symptoms (fever, pain, spreading), medications, allergies, and relevant history. Photos are very helpful — your intake will allow you to attach them. About 5 minutes. |
2
Meet with your provider
You speak with a licensed provider who reviews your intake and photos, asks follow-up questions, assesses the most likely diagnosis, and determines whether prescription treatment is appropriate — or whether in-person evaluation is needed. This is a real clinical evaluation. |
3
Receive your treatment plan
Your provider explains their assessment and the recommended approach. If prescription treatment is appropriate — antivirals, oral antibiotics, or topical antibiotics — it may be sent electronically to your preferred pharmacy the same day. Your provider also tells you what to watch for and when to escalate. |
4
Monitor and follow up
Most skin infections should show clear improvement within 48 to 72 hours of starting antibiotics. If redness is still spreading at 48 hours, fever develops, or your symptoms are worsening, follow up immediately or seek in-person evaluation — do not wait out the full antibiotic course. |
Tips for your intake — how to describe a skin condition clearly
When you complete your intake: note exactly when you first noticed it; describe whether it is getting worse, better, or staying the same; describe the color, texture, and whether there is any discharge or fluid; note whether it is painful, itchy, warm to touch, or numb; and mention any recent injuries, insect bites, or skin breaks near the area. If you can take a photo in good lighting against a plain background, that gives your provider significant additional information.
Supporting your treatment
🏠 What to do while you wait and while you recover
These steps apply while you are awaiting your visit, during treatment, and during recovery. They do not replace prescription treatment when it is needed.
- →If you suspect cellulitis and it is on a limb, elevate the affected arm or leg above heart level. This reduces swelling and slows the spread of infection. Mark the border of the redness with a pen and note the time — this helps you and your provider track whether it is spreading.
- →Do not squeeze, pop, or attempt to drain a skin infection yourself. Draining an abscess at home is painful, ineffective at clearing the infection, and increases the risk of spreading bacteria — including MRSA — to surrounding tissue or to other people.
- →Keep the affected area clean. Gently wash with mild soap and water once or twice daily. Pat dry — do not scrub. Cover open sores or wounds with a clean, non-stick dressing.
- →For shingles: keep the rash clean and dry. Keep it covered when possible and avoid touching or scratching it. Loose, soft clothing reduces friction over the blisters. Do not burst the blisters. Cool compresses can help with pain and itching. Wash hands frequently until all lesions have crusted. Avoid contact with pregnant women who have not had chickenpox, immunocompromised individuals, and newborns until all blisters have fully crusted over — the varicella-zoster virus can transmit chickenpox (not shingles itself) to people without prior immunity.
- →For impetigo: keep the sores covered, wash hands frequently after touching the area, do not share towels or washcloths, and launder clothing and bedding that has been in contact with the infection. Children can often return to school or daycare after at least 12 to 24 hours of appropriate antibiotic treatment when lesions can be covered and they otherwise feel well — but follow your school, childcare facility's, or provider's specific guidance, as policies vary.
- →Take antibiotics exactly as directed and follow the medication-specific instructions about food, supplements, and missed doses — instructions vary by antibiotic. Complete the full prescribed course and do not stop early without speaking with your provider, even if the skin looks better.
- →OTC pain relief: acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help with pain from cellulitis, shingles, and infected wounds. For shingles specifically, pain management is an important part of care — let your provider know if over-the-counter options are not adequately controlling pain.
- →Wash your hands frequently, especially after touching the affected area. Bacterial skin infections — particularly impetigo and MRSA — spread by contact, including to your own other skin areas and to household members.
⚠️ When to seek urgent in-person care vs. emergency care
- Seek urgent same-day in-person care for: red streaking extending from the infected area (possible lymphangitis); fever with a skin infection; redness that continues to spread or is not improving after 48 to 72 hours on antibiotics; an enlarging or painful abscess; shingles near the eye, on the forehead, or with ear or facial symptoms
- Go to the ER immediately for: rapidly spreading redness that is spreading by the hour; skin that turns dark, gray, or black, or develops a mottled appearance (possible necrotizing fasciitis — a rare emergency); severe pain disproportionate to the appearance; confusion, faintness, difficulty breathing, or signs of serious systemic illness; or a large facial abscess or infection near the spine
- Immunocompromised patients should receive prompt medical assessment for any suspected skin infection. Emergency care is appropriate when the infection is rapidly progressing, associated with fever or systemic illness, or involves the face or eye
- Cellulitis not improving after 48 to 72 hours on antibiotics warrants same-day in-person evaluation
Care connected to your pharmacy
🏪 Your prescription. Your pharmacy. Same day.
Pharmacies are the front door of healthcare in most communities. We built MyPhysician360 to respect that. When treatment is appropriate, your prescription goes to the pharmacy you already trust, filled by the pharmacist who already knows you.
Already at the pharmacy asking about a skin infection or shingles? Many of our partner pharmacies have a MyPhysician360 QR code right at the counter. If prescription treatment is appropriate, it may be sent electronically to your selected pharmacy the same day. Medication availability, cost, insurance requirements, and dispensing time vary.
- ✓Prescription sent electronically to your pharmacy same day your visit ends
- ✓Pick up at your neighborhood pharmacy or any major chain
- ✓Home delivery available by request at many local pharmacies
- ✓No required memberships to access our telehealth services
- ✓If we cannot treat you online, you will not be charged
Frequently asked questions
❓ Questions about urgent skin care online
Straight answers to what patients ask most before their first visit.
How do I know if I have shingles?
Shingles typically begins with several days of burning, tingling, or shooting pain on one side of the body — often before any visible rash appears. This is followed by a distinctive rash of red, fluid-filled blisters that follows a stripe or band pattern on one side of the torso, face, or neck. The rash does not cross the midline of the body. If you had chickenpox at any point in your life, the virus (varicella-zoster) stays dormant in your nervous system and can reactivate as shingles, usually decades later. If you have unexplained one-sided pain or burning that seems to be developing a rash, treat it as suspected shingles and seek evaluation immediately — the 72-hour treatment window is critical.
Can I get a shingles prescription online without being seen in person?
Yes. Shingles has a distinctive enough presentation that a licensed provider can often evaluate it through a telehealth visit based on your symptom description and, when available, photographs of the rash. If the clinical picture is consistent with shingles and you are within the treatment window, your provider can prescribe antiviral medication and send it to your pharmacy the same day. This is one of the most important use cases for telehealth — because speed matters and the 72-hour window often closes before a scheduled appointment becomes available.
How do I know if my skin infection is cellulitis or something else?
Cellulitis is characterized by spreading redness, warmth, swelling, and tenderness in an area of skin — it does not have a well-defined border and tends to expand progressively. It usually has an obvious cause: a cut, insect bite, crack in the skin, or other break that allowed bacteria in. Conditions that are sometimes confused with cellulitis include contact dermatitis (which is itchy rather than painful and not warm to the touch), eczema (which is chronically present and itchy), and deep vein thrombosis (which causes leg swelling without skin redness per se). If you are not sure, a provider can help distinguish these based on your symptom pattern. When in doubt, treat as a possible infection and get evaluated.
Is impetigo serious? Does it need antibiotics?
Impetigo is a superficial bacterial skin infection — it stays on the surface of the skin and does not typically cause serious systemic illness in otherwise healthy people. However, it is highly contagious and spreads easily by touch. Antibiotic treatment is generally recommended to shorten the illness and reduce spread to other people and other areas of the body. Localized impetigo is often treated effectively with topical mupirocin without oral antibiotics. More extensive or bullous disease typically requires an oral antibiotic. Rare delayed complications can occur after certain streptococcal skin infections, which is one additional reason treatment is recommended.
I think I might have MRSA. What should I do?
If you have a painful, red, raised skin bump that is enlarging, warm to touch, and may be developing a fluid-filled center — especially if you or a household member has had MRSA before, work in a healthcare setting, or have had close contact with someone with a skin infection — MRSA is worth considering. Appearance alone cannot confirm MRSA. The most important thing is not to try to drain it yourself, as this can spread bacteria to surrounding tissue. For a pus-filled abscess, incision and drainage in person is often the most important treatment. Antibiotics may also be needed based on the size, location, surrounding cellulitis, fever, immune status, and other clinical factors. A wound culture is the most reliable way to identify the organism when testing is clinically needed, and requires an in-person visit. A telehealth provider can help assess the situation and advise on whether in-person care is needed.
My cut looks a little red around the edges. Does that mean it's infected?
Not necessarily. A small rim of pink or light redness immediately around a healing wound is often normal inflammation — part of the healing process. Signs that suggest true infection rather than normal healing include: redness that is spreading beyond the wound edge; increasing warmth or swelling; pus or cloudy discharge; pain that is getting worse (not better) over 24 to 48 hours; fever; or red streaks extending from the wound. If your wound looked like it was healing and then started to worsen, or if redness is expanding, that is a signal to get it evaluated.
What is the difference between cellulitis and an abscess?
Cellulitis is a diffuse infection of the skin and subcutaneous tissue — the skin is red, warm, and swollen over a broader area but there is no defined pocket of pus. An abscess is a localized collection of pus within the skin — it typically feels like a firm, painful lump that becomes soft and fluctuant (like a blister or a water balloon filled with pus) as it matures. The distinction matters because treatment differs: cellulitis responds to oral antibiotics alone, while an abscess typically requires incision and drainage in addition to antibiotics. Some patients have both simultaneously — an abscess with surrounding cellulitis — which requires both treatments.
I have what looks like an infected rash — could it be eczema?
Eczema (atopic dermatitis) can sometimes look like an infected skin condition, particularly during a flare when the skin is red, inflamed, and weeping. However, eczema is typically itchy (rather than painful), tends to occur in characteristic locations (inner elbows, behind the knees, on the face or neck), and has a history of recurring in the same areas. An eczema flare does not typically spread progressively or produce the kind of warmth and tenderness associated with cellulitis. Importantly, eczema skin that is scratched or broken can become secondarily infected with bacteria — this is called infected eczema and requires both antibiotic treatment and eczema management. If you have a history of eczema and your skin is newly red, weeping, or crusted in an area that was previously affected, see our Rashes & Irritated Skin page for more on eczema management alongside infection.
Can you prescribe antibiotics for a skin infection online?
Yes. A licensed provider can evaluate your skin infection through a telehealth visit and prescribe oral or topical antibiotics when appropriate. This includes first-line antibiotics for cellulitis (cephalexin) and impetigo (mupirocin ointment or oral antibiotics), as well as antibiotics with MRSA coverage (trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, doxycycline) when the clinical picture warrants it. Antibiotic selection is based on your specific symptoms, history, and risk factors. Your provider will also tell you clearly if your infection requires in-person evaluation — for example, if an abscess needs drainage or if your symptoms suggest a need for IV antibiotics.
Is this visit HSA or FSA eligible?
Yes. MyPhysician360 consultations are HSA and FSA eligible. Your visit cost is reimbursable through your Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account, making this accessible through your existing health benefits even without insurance.
Helpful resources
📚 Learn more
Your provider may reference these educational materials during your visit. Links go straight to the source.
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🔥 Shingles Shingles (Herpes Zoster) — Overview, Symptoms, and Treatment CDC Visit CDC → |
🦠 Cellulitis Cellulitis — Overview, Symptoms, and Treatment Mayo Clinic Visit Mayo Clinic → |
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⚠️ MRSA MRSA Infection — Overview and Prevention CDC Visit CDC → |
🧒 Impetigo Impetigo — Overview, Symptoms, and Treatment Mayo Clinic Visit Mayo Clinic → |
Something on your skin that needs attention today? Let's get you taken care of.
Answer a few questions, meet with a licensed provider same day, and get a personalized treatment plan. No required membership. Available in most states. Your prescription, if appropriate, goes straight to your pharmacy.
HSA & FSA eligible | No required membership | No charge if we can't help
Medical disclaimer & sources: The information on this page is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Diagnosis and treatment of skin conditions requires clinical evaluation by a licensed provider. Not all skin conditions are appropriate for telehealth management. Patients with rapidly spreading infection, high fever, suspected necrotizing fasciitis, large abscess requiring drainage, red streaks from a wound, or any signs of systemic illness should seek in-person or emergency care immediately. Shingles involving the eye requires urgent ophthalmology evaluation. Antibiotic and antiviral prescribing is determined by a licensed provider on a case-by-case basis. Content informed by CDC guidance on shingles and MRSA and current clinical practice standards for skin and soft tissue infections. MyPhysician360 services are available in most states. Services are not currently available in Mississippi or Alaska.