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Dr. Chrysoula I. Liakou MD, PhD
- Treated online: Yes, usually. Most common skin conditions can be recognised on camera and treated; moles, growing lumps and procedures need in-person care.
- Most common: fungal skin infections (8.9% of European adults in a year), eczema (5.5%) and acne (5.4%), then psoriasis, hives, cold sores, warts and dry, itchy skin.
- Diagnosis: how a rash looks, where it is and how it started usually tell a doctor what it is; good daylight helps on camera.
- Look-alikes: some conditions look similar but need opposite treatment, such as ringworm and eczema.
- Emergency: call 112 for a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it, or swelling of the lips or tongue.
Call 112 for a rash that does not fade when you press the side of a clear glass against it, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, difficulty breathing, or blistering, peeling skin with sores in the mouth or eyes. A mole or spot that is changing, bleeding or growing needs an in-person check, not a video call.
Can an online doctor treat common skin conditions?
Yes, usually. Most skin conditions are diagnosed by looking at the skin and asking how the problem started, which works well on camera in good light. A doctor can recognise conditions such as eczema, acne, psoriasis, fungal infections, hives and cold sores, tell look-alikes apart, and prescribe creams, tablets or other treatment. A changing mole, a lump that is growing and procedures such as removing a lump or draining an abscess need in-person care, and the doctor tells you when.
How an online consultation helps with a skin problem
- A name for it: The doctor looks at the skin and the pattern, and tells you what the condition is.
- The right treatment: Creams, tablets or a treatment plan for that condition, rather than trial and error.
- Look-alikes ruled out: Eczema or ringworm, cold sore or impetigo: the doctor tells similar conditions apart.
- A clear next step: When a spot, mole or lump needs an in-person check, and how soon.
What the doctor checks in an online skin consultation
The doctor asks about:
- What you see: a rash, spots, patches, blisters, a lump or a colour change, and how it looks now compared with the start.
- Where it is: one area or many, the face, hands, feet, skin folds, scalp, nails or intimate skin.
- Symptoms: itching, pain, burning, oozing, and whether you feel unwell or have a fever.
- Triggers: new products, medicines, plants, animals, heat, sun, cold, and other people with the same problem.
- Your health: eczema, psoriasis, diabetes, a weakened immune system, pregnancy, and the medicines you take.
- What you have tried: creams and tablets, for how long, and what changed.
Before the call, find good daylight, remove make-up or creams from the area, and take sharp photos: one close up and one further away. Photos taken a few days apart show how a rash is changing.
How common are skin conditions?
Very common. In a survey of 44,689 adults across Europe, 43% had at least one skin condition in the previous 12 months, an estimated 185 million people, and more than 94 million Europeans live with uncomfortable skin sensations such as itching, burning or dryness. These were the most common:
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Adults affected | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Fungal skin infections | 8.9% | Treated online |
| Eczema (atopic dermatitis) | 5.5% | Treated online |
| Acne | 5.4% | Treated online |
Women more often reported hair loss, acne, eczema and rosacea, and men more often psoriasis and sexually transmitted infections.
Itchy rashes
Many skin conditions itch. The pattern of the rash usually points to the cause:
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| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Eczema | Dry, itchy, inflamed patches, often in skin creases, coming and going | Treated online |
| Contact dermatitis | An itchy or sore rash where something touched the skin | Treated online |
| Hives | Raised, itchy welts that move around within hours | Treated online |
| Scabies | Intense itching at night, small spots between the fingers and on the wrists | Treated online |
| Discoid eczema | Very itchy, coin-shaped patches, often on the legs | Treated online |
| Pompholyx | Tiny, itchy blisters on the palms, fingers and soles | Treated online |
| Heat rash | Tiny itchy or prickly spots after heat and sweating | Treated online |
| Itchy skin | Itching with or without a rash, including at night | Treated online |
Red, scaly or flaky patches
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Psoriasis | Thick, red, scaly plaques, often on the elbows, knees and scalp | Treated online |
| Seborrhoeic dermatitis | Flaky, greasy patches on the scalp, eyebrows and sides of the nose | Treated online |
| Ringworm | A ring with a raised, scaly edge that slowly grows | Treated online |
| Pityriasis rosea | One larger patch first, then oval patches on the chest and back | Handled online |
| Pityriasis versicolor | Pale, pink or brown patches with fine scale on the chest and back | Treated online |
| Actinic keratosis | Rough, scaly patches on sun-damaged skin | Partly online |
| Dry skin | Rough, tight, flaky skin, worse in winter | Treated online |
Spots and bumps
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Acne | Blackheads, whiteheads and red spots on the face, chest and back | Treated online |
| Rosacea | Flushing, redness and spots across the cheeks and nose | Treated online |
| Perioral dermatitis | Small red bumps around the mouth and nose | Treated online |
| Folliculitis | Red or pus-filled spots around hairs | Treated online |
| Keratosis pilaris | Small, rough bumps on the upper arms and thighs | Treated online |
| Molluscum contagiosum | Small, pearly spots with a dimple in the middle | Handled online |
| Warts | Rough, raised growths, often on the hands and feet | Treated online |
| Hidradenitis suppurativa | Painful lumps that keep coming back in the armpits and groin | Partly online |
Skin infections
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Cellulitis | Red, hot, swollen, painful skin that spreads | Treated online |
| Impetigo | Sores that burst and leave golden crusts | Treated online |
| Cold sores | Tingling, then small blisters on the lip | Handled online |
| Shingles | A painful, blistering rash on one side of the body | Treated online |
| Chickenpox | Itchy spots that blister and crust, all over the body | Treated online |
| Fungal skin infection | Itchy, red, scaly rashes in warm, damp areas | Treated online |
| Athlete’s foot and jock itch | Itchy, peeling skin between the toes, or a rash in the groin | Treated online |
| Skin abscess | A painful, swollen lump full of pus | Partly online |
Changes in skin colour
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Vitiligo | Milky-white patches with no scale | Partly online |
| Melasma | Flat brown patches on both sides of the face | Treated online |
| Pityriasis versicolor | Pale or brown flaky patches on the chest and back | Treated online |
| Unexplained bruising | Bruises without a clear injury | Assessed online |
Moles, lumps and growths
These need care to get the right check at the right speed. A doctor by video can judge how urgent a spot looks, but cannot diagnose or rule out skin cancer from a photo.
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| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Melanoma | A mole that is new or changing in shape, size or colour | Assessed online |
| Basal cell carcinoma | A pearly lump or a sore that does not heal, on sun-exposed skin | Assessed online |
| Lump under the skin | A new or changing lump | Assessed online |
| Sebaceous cyst | A smooth, round lump under the skin | Assessed online |
| Wart removal | Warts that have not cleared with treatment | Partly online |
See a doctor about a growth on your skin that is getting bigger or has changed colour or texture, or an area that hurts, itches, bleeds, crusts or scabs for more than 4 weeks.
Nails, scalp, mouth and intimate skin
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Fungal nail infection | A thick, white or yellow, crumbly nail | Treated online |
| Paronychia | A red, swollen, painful fold around a nail | Partly online |
| Ingrown toenail | A sore, red toe where the nail digs in | Partly online |
| Itchy scalp | Itching and flaking of the scalp | Treated online |
| Angular cheilitis | Sore, cracked corners of the mouth | Treated online |
| Lichen planus | Purple-red bumps on the skin, white patches in the mouth | Treated online |
| Lichen sclerosus | Itchy white patches on the genitals | Partly online |
| Anal itching | Itching around the bottom | Treated online |
Skin problems from sun, heat, cold and sweat
Swipe sideways to compare →
| Condition | Typical signs | Online care |
|---|---|---|
| Sunburn | Red, hot, painful skin after the sun | Treated online |
| Sun allergy | An itchy rash hours to days after strong sun | Treated online |
| Chilblains | Itchy red or purple patches on toes or fingers after cold | Treated online |
| Frostbite | Numb, hard, pale skin after severe cold | Partly online |
| Cold urticaria | Hives after cold water or cold air | Treated online |
| Hyperhidrosis | Sweating far more than the body needs | Treated online |
Other skin pages cover skin allergies, skin rash, intertrigo, erysipelas, carbuncle, foot infection, hand, foot and mouth disease, orf, stoma skin problems, pins and needles and dermatomyositis.
What causes skin problems, and what makes them worse?
Most skin problems come from one of a few causes:
- Infections: bacteria in impetigo, fungi in ringworm, and mites in scabies.
- Inflammation and the immune system: eczema, psoriasis and hives, and vitiligo, where the cells that give skin its colour are destroyed.
- Allergens and irritants: soap, washing detergent, pets, some fabrics, pollen and house-dust mites, as in eczema and contact dermatitis.
- Blocked hair follicles: oil, bacteria and dead skin cells clog the follicles in acne.
- Sun, heat and cold: sunburn, sun allergy, heat rash and chilblains.
Can stress cause skin problems?
Stress can make some skin conditions worse: it is a known trigger for flare-ups of eczema and psoriasis. Other common triggers of eczema are irritants such as soap and detergent, skin infections, heat or changes in temperature, and hormonal changes such as pregnancy. Psoriasis can also be set off by smoking, alcohol, some medicines, infections, sunlight, and cuts or scratches to the skin.
Which skin conditions are contagious?
Infections can spread. Impetigo is very contagious, scabies passes on through close skin contact, and ringworm spreads through contact with an infected person or animal, or with bedsheets, combs or towels. Eczema and psoriasis are not contagious: you cannot catch them or pass them on.
Which skin treatment might the doctor recommend?
Treatment follows the diagnosis. These are the main types of treatment and what they are used for, in line with NHS and dermatology guidance:
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| Treatment | Used for | Suitable for online care? | When in-person care is needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emollients and soap substitutes | Dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and many itchy rashes | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Steroid creams and ointments | Eczema, contact dermatitis, psoriasis, lichen planus | Yes | If it does not respond |
| Antifungal creams, shampoos or tablets | Ringworm, athlete’s foot, jock itch, pityriasis versicolor, fungal nails | Yes | For nail clippings or blood tests |
| Antibiotics | Impetigo, cellulitis, infected eczema, acne | Yes | If you are unwell or it spreads |
| Antivirals | Cold sores, shingles, chickenpox in adults | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Antihistamines | Hives and itching | Yes | Not usually needed |
| Procedures | Removing lumps and moles, draining abscesses, freezing warts | Yes, to assess | For the procedure |
Not sure what your skin problem is? A doctor can look at it on camera and plan treatment in one consultation.
See available times →Looking after your skin while it heals
What you can do yourself
- Use an unperfumed emollient regularly, and wash with it instead of soap.
- Pat or tap itchy skin instead of scratching, and keep nails short.
- Protect your skin from the sun with shade, clothing and a broad-spectrum sunscreen.
- Take dated photos of a rash, spot or mole, so you and the doctor can see how it changes.
Prescription treatment
A prescription is never issued without a consultation. The doctor chooses treatment for the diagnosis: a steroid cream of the right strength for eczema, an antifungal for a fungal rash, antibiotics for a bacterial infection, or an antiviral for cold sores or shingles. Many skin conditions need treatment for weeks rather than days, and the doctor tells you how long to carry on. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
What does not help
A steroid cream on a fungal infection lets it spread, and an antifungal cream does nothing for eczema, so guessing can make a rash worse. Squeezing spots, lumps or cold sores pushes infection deeper. Perfumed soaps and products irritate most rashes.
Special situations
Brown and black skin
Redness can be harder to see on brown or black skin, where rashes may look purple, grey or darker brown, and patches can be paler or darker than the skin around them. Check paler areas, such as the palms and soles, for a rash, and show the doctor in good daylight.
Pregnancy
Itching or a new rash in pregnancy can sometimes need checking, and some treatments are not used in pregnancy. Tell the doctor, and contact your midwife about itching or a new rash.
Diabetes or a weakened immune system
Skin infections can be more frequent and more serious, so see a doctor early rather than waiting.
Children
Mobi Doctor consultations are for adults aged 18 and over. A child who is unwell needs a paediatrician or a local doctor in person, and emergency signs in a child mean 112.
When skin conditions are treated online, and when you need in-person care
Treated online: most rashes, eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea, fungal and bacterial skin infections, cold sores and shingles, hives and allergic rashes, warts, dry and itchy skin, and follow-up of treatment.
In-person care: moles and lumps that are changing or growing, skin biopsies, removing lumps or warts, draining an abscess, light treatment, and any emergency.
When to get in-person care
Call 112 or go to an emergency department now for:
- a rash that does not fade when you press the side of a clear glass firmly against it, especially with a fever
- swelling of the face, lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing or swallowing
- blistering or peeling skin with sores in the mouth, eyes or genitals
- red, hot, spreading skin with a high temperature and feeling very unwell, faint or confused
Get medical advice the same day for:
- a red, hot, painful, swollen area that is spreading
- a painful, blistering rash near the eye, or a red, painful eye
- a rash with a high temperature
How Mobi Doctor works
- Book a time that suits you: daily 7am–11pm CET. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes. No subscription, and the exact price is shown before you pay.
- Speak to a licensed doctor about your skin: show the problem on camera in good daylight, share photos of how it has changed, and list what you have tried.
- Leave with a plan: what to do, what to use and for how long, and which signs mean you should be seen in person. If the doctor prescribes, use the prescription at a pharmacy near you.
No sign-up needed
Not sure which skin condition you have? Tick every symptom you have to see each condition page that mentions it. It finds the right page, not a diagnosis: a doctor gives you that on a video call.
Tap the body — an area or a point — to browse symptoms anywhere
Not sure this is the right page? Look up any symptom in the full symptom checker, or book and describe it to a doctor.
Frequently asked questions about common skin conditions
What are the most common skin conditions?
In European adults, fungal skin infections (8.9% in a year), eczema (5.5%) and acne (5.4%) are the most common. Psoriasis, hives, cold sores, warts, rosacea and dry, itchy skin are also common.
How many people have a skin condition?
Many. In a European survey of 44,689 adults, 43% had at least one skin condition in the previous 12 months, an estimated 185 million people.
Can stress cause skin problems?
Stress can make some skin conditions worse. It is a known trigger for flare-ups of eczema and psoriasis, alongside irritants, infections, heat and hormonal changes.
Which skin conditions are contagious?
Skin infections can spread: impetigo is very contagious, scabies passes on through close skin contact, and ringworm spreads through contact with people, animals or shared towels and bedding. Eczema and psoriasis are not contagious.
Can skin conditions be diagnosed online?
Most can. Skin conditions are usually diagnosed by how they look and how they started, which a doctor can see on camera in good light. Moles and growing lumps need an in-person check.
How long do common skin conditions last?
It varies by skin condition: fungal infections such as ringworm and athlete’s foot clear in 2 to 4 weeks of antifungal cream, impetigo in about a week on antibiotics, hives usually within 24 hours per weal and under 6 weeks overall, a flare of eczema or psoriasis settles in 1 to 2 weeks with the right strength of steroid although the tendency is lifelong, acne needs 8 to 12 weeks of treatment before judging it, and cold sores heal in 7 to 10 days.
What can I do at home for an itchy skin rash?
Keep the skin cool and moisturised with a fragrance-free emollient, use a soap substitute, wear loose cotton, cut nails short and pat rather than scratch, take a non-drowsy antihistamine for itch, stop anything new you put on the skin in the week before the rash, and photograph the rash daily. A skin rash that spreads quickly, blisters, weeps or comes with fever needs a doctor rather than more home care.
How can I prevent common skin problems?
Moisturise dry skin daily and use soap substitutes, which prevents many eczema flares; keep skin folds and feet dry and never share towels, which stops fungal infections; use sunscreen and shade to prevent sunburn, sun allergy and skin cancer; wash hands and cover cuts to keep impetigo out; manage stress and sleep, which trigger eczema and psoriasis; and treat a new skin problem early, before scratching and infection set in.
How do I know if a rash is serious?
Call 112 for a rash that does not fade when you press a glass against it, swelling of the lips or tongue, difficulty breathing, or blistering skin with sores in the mouth or eyes.
How can I tell eczema from ringworm?
Ringworm is usually a ring with a raised, scaly edge that slowly spreads. Eczema is itchy, dry and inflamed, often in skin creases. They need different creams, so a doctor’s diagnosis helps.
Is it eczema, psoriasis, ringworm or hives?
Eczema is dry, itchy and inflamed, often in the creases of the elbows and knees, and comes and goes. Psoriasis forms thicker, well-defined plaques with silvery scale on the elbows, knees and scalp. Ringworm is a slowly spreading ring with a scaly raised edge and a clearer centre. Hives are raised, itchy weals that move around and fade within a day. A doctor tells these skin conditions apart on camera, and each needs a different treatment.
When should I worry about a spot or mole?
See a doctor about a skin spot or mole that is new or changing, a growth that is getting bigger, or an area that bleeds, crusts or does not heal for more than 4 weeks.
Can an online doctor prescribe skin creams?
Yes, when they are needed. After a video consultation a doctor can prescribe steroid, antifungal, antibiotic, retinoid and other creams, and tablets for some skin conditions such as acne, fungal infections and severe eczema, with the prescription usable at a pharmacy near you; a prescription is never issued without a consultation.
What should I show the doctor on a video call?
The affected skin in good daylight, without make-up or cream, from close up and from further away, plus photos of how the skin problem has changed over days or weeks and a note of anything new you have used on it. You choose what you show on camera, and intimate areas can be described or photographed rather than shown live.
Do rashes look different on darker skin?
Yes. On brown or black skin redness is harder to see, and rashes may look purple, grey or darker brown, while scaling, swelling and warmth are still obvious; some skin conditions, such as vitiligo and keloid scars, are also more common in darker skin. Showing the skin in good daylight, and comparing it with unaffected skin, helps the doctor.
Can I see a doctor online about a skin problem?
Yes. You can see a doctor over video, usually within 15 minutes, daily 7am–11pm CET, and the doctor tells you what the skin problem is and what will help.
- Meningitis: symptoms, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 12 June 2026.
- Non-melanoma skin cancer: symptoms, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 16 September 2026.
- Itchy skin, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 19 July 2023.
- Ringworm, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 3 August 2023.
- Tinea cruris, DermNet, New Zealand, updated June 2021.
- Prevalence of most common skin diseases in Europe: a population-based study, Richard MA et al., EADV burden of skin diseases project, Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, 2022.
- Atopic eczema: causes, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 6 September 2024.
- Atopic eczema, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 6 September 2024.
- Psoriasis: causes, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 10 March 2026.
- Impetigo, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 6 June 2024.
- Scabies, NHS, National Health Service (UK), reviewed 21 November 2023.
- Skin diseases, NIAMS, US National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, accessed 15 October 2026.
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for a medical consultation. Guideline links are provided for transparency; treatment decisions are made with your doctor.
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