Emergency dermatologist: consult online quickly

In short:

• A dermatological emergency requires prompt care (a few hours to a few days) due to a severe skin condition. A quick consultation is therefore needed to avoid complications, after-effects or worsening symptoms.

• A life-threatening emergency puts the patient's life at immediate risk: this is a situation where essential functions (blood circulation, breathing, consciousness, etc.) are threatened and immediate care is required (calling the emergency services, resuscitation, etc.).

Dermatological emergencies are serious skin situations. However, they are not immediately life-threatening if treated quickly. They often require a prompt consultation at a practice, sometimes in an emergency department or with an on-call dermatologist. These situations may include:

• Extensive skin infections and/or infections that are progressing rapidly (spreading cellulitis, suspected necrotising lesions, large abscesses, etc.).

• Extensive or deep burns, or burns affecting functional areas (face, hands, perineum).

• Severe allergies or severe drug-induced skin reactions (Stevens-Johnson syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis, acute generalised exanthematous pustulosis, requiring hospitalisation).

• Extensive bullous dermatoses (risk of infection and skin loss).

• Widespread skin rash, particularly in immunocompromised patients.

• A suspicious necrotic skin lesion or a mole that bleeds heavily (urgent referral to a dermatologist).

Feeli offers a fast solution for consulting a dermatologist without an appointment within 24 hours. Available 24/7, Feeli instantly connects patients with qualified dermatologists trained in teleconsultation. Thanks to the secure sending of photos and a short medical questionnaire, the dermatologist is able to make a reliable diagnosis, while communicating smoothly with the patient via secure instant messaging. Feeli also secures and stores your health data in accordance with the recommendations of the HAS (French health authority), and offers integrated follow-up to adjust treatment. Teledermatology is particularly well suited to non-life-threatening skin problems, such as superficial infections, limited allergic reactions, rashes or minor burns. Feeli thus avoids an unnecessary trip and makes access to care easier. However, in the event of life-threatening signs (loss of consciousness, respiratory distress, significant bleeding), you must contact the emergency services (call 15 for the SAMU in France, or 112 across the EU) or go to an emergency department.

It is entirely possible to make a reliable diagnosis from photos, particularly for common skin conditions (eczema, acne, hives, superficial infections, minor burns, mild allergic reactions...). Feeli also allows the secure sending of high-resolution images, together with a short pre-diagnosis questionnaire. These elements enable effective care ahead of the exchange with the dermatologist. However, some situations may require a physical examination or medical procedures (biopsy, dermoscopy...). In these cases, an in-person consultation will be unavoidable. But in most situations, Feeli enables a reliable remote diagnosis for many conditions. This remote option is particularly valuable for people with busy schedules or those facing medical deserts. As a reminder, dermatology teleconsultation with Feeli is available within 24 hours, compared with several weeks — or even several months — for an in-person consultation.