Not sure what your rash is?
An online dermatologist can tell you.
A board-certified dermatologist reviews your photos personally. Written assessment in 8, 24, or 48 hours. No appointment. No personal data.
Consultations from $34.95 · Fully anonymous
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What is a rash? | Identify your rash | Why First Derm | How It Works | User Reviews | FAQ | Condition Library
UNDERSTANDING YOUR SKIN
What is a rash?
A rash is any change in your skin that wasn’t there before. In colour, texture, or the way it feels. Some clear up in a few days without you doing anything. Others are worth getting looked at. The hard part is not knowing which you’re dealing with.
Redness & Inflammation
Skin that turns red, feels warm, or flares up in a pattern is usually reacting to something. Where it appears on the body and whether it spreads are often the first things a dermatologist looks at.
Itching — With or Without a Visible Rash
Persistent itch, especially at night or in the same spot, is worth taking seriously. Sometimes it shows before anything visible appears on the skin.
Bumps, Spots & Blisters
Raised or flat, fluid-filled or solid. The details matter more than people realise. Small differences in how a spot looks or feels can point to very different conditions.
Dry, Scaly or Thickened Skin
Patches that keep coming back in the same spots usually have a name. Eczema, psoriasis, and seborrhoeic dermatitis all look different and need different approaches.
CONDITION GUIDE
Identify your rash:
By appearance, cause & location
Most rashes fall into recognisable patterns. Browse by what it looks like, what may have caused it, or where on your body it appears.
By Appearance: What does it look like?
Start with what you can see. How a rash looks is usually the first and most useful clue.
Red spots on skin
Red spots can be many things. Shingles, insect bites, contact dermatitis, telangiectasia, pityriasis versicolor, cherry angiomas. Some are harmless. Some need attention. The guide covers the most common causes with pictures to help you identify what you’re looking at.
Itchy rash: common types & causes
Not all itchy rashes are the same condition. Some are inflammatory, some infectious, some caused by a fungus or parasite. This guide covers the most common types with pictures — organised by what’s causing the itch, not just what it looks like.
Itchy red bumps
Raised and itchy is one of the most common combinations — and one of the hardest to self-diagnose. The same appearance can come from very different causes. How it started, where it is, and how the itch behaves are what separate them.
Non-itchy flat spots & raised bumps
No itch doesn’t mean nothing to worry about. Flat spots, raised bumps, and patches that don’t cause irritation still have causes worth understanding. Some are benign. Some are skin changes that are easier to address when identified early.
By Cause: What triggered it?
If something changed recently, a new medication, an illness, heat, or something your skin came into contact with, start here. Sometimes knowing the trigger is the shortest route to knowing what the rash is.
Drug rash
Started a new medication recently? A rash that appears one to two weeks after is worth connecting to what you’ve been taking. Drug rashes can spread quickly and are often mistaken for something else. The guide covers what they look like, which medications commonly trigger them, and what to do next.
Heat rash (Miliaria)
Small red or clear bumps that appear when sweat glands get blocked. Common in hot weather, humid conditions, or after exercise. Most cases settle once the skin cools down. In infants, or when it spreads or persists, it is worth getting looked at.
Viral rashes
Several common viruses produce skin rashes that are regularly mistaken for allergic reactions. Measles, chickenpox, shingles, roseola, hand foot and mouth disease. Each looks different and behaves differently. If a rash appeared during or shortly after an illness, that context matters when identifying what it is.
Scabies
Caused by a tiny mite that burrows into the skin. The itch is relentless, typically worse at night, and concentrated between the fingers, around the wrists, and in skin folds. It spreads through close contact and won’t clear with antihistamines or moisturisers. It needs specific treatment to resolve.
By body location: Where is it?
Where a rash appears is often as telling as how it looks. Skin in different parts of the body behaves differently. Heat, friction, and moisture all affect what conditions are likely in that area.
Armpit rash
The armpit is warm, enclosed, and frequently in contact with deodorants and fabrics. That combination makes it prone to a specific set of conditions. Chafing, heat rash, contact dermatitis, fungal infections, and inverse psoriasis are among the most common. Most respond well once the right cause is identified.
Buttock rash
More common than people think, and usually straightforward to identify. Folliculitis, contact dermatitis, fungal infections, and inverse psoriasis are the most frequent causes.
Breast rash
Most rashes on or under the breast are caused by friction, moisture, or skin conditions like eczema or intertrigo. But some presentations are associated with underlying conditions that are important not to miss. If you are unsure, a dermatologist can tell you what you are looking at.
Genital & intimate skin rash
Skin changes in the genital area can have a range of causes, from common skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and contact dermatitis, to infections that need specific treatment. The two guides below cover male and female presentations separately, with pictures to help identify what you are looking at.
FIRST DERM FOR RASHES
Online dermatologist consultations for rashes
A rash shouldn’t mean waiting weeks for an appointment. Send your photos, describe what you’re experiencing, and a board-certified dermatologist will write back with a clear opinion within hours.
A specialist's opinion within hours
Choose a response time of 8, 24, or 48 hours. A board-certified dermatologist reviews your photos and writes back within that window.
Specialist expertise, personally delivered
Every case is reviewed by a board-certified dermatologist. That means someone who has completed specialist residency training and passed recognised certification exams. Not an algorithm. Not a general practitioner. A dermatologist.
Guidance on over-the-counter care
Where a rash can be managed without a prescription, the dermatologist will say so and tell you what is worth trying. Specific products, what to avoid, and why.
Private by design — no personal data required
No account. No name. No address. You submit two photos and a short description. Nothing else is collected. For many people, particularly when the rash is somewhere private, that matters.
Clarity on what to do next
The written assessment tells you what the rash likely is, what it means, and what to do next. If you need to be seen in person, the dermatologist will say that clearly.
Available wherever you are
Wherever you are, a dermatologist’s opinion is available without needing to be in the same room. At home, travelling, or somewhere with limited access to a specialist.
THE PROCESS
How it works
The whole thing takes a few minutes to set up. Here’s exactly what happens between submitting your photos and receiving your assessment.
1. Take 2 photos
- One close-up of the rash itself.
- One showing where it sits on the body.
- Clear, natural light works best. No special equipment needed.
2. Describe what you're experiencing
When it appeared, whether it itches or has spread, and anything else that feels relevant. A few sentences is enough — the dermatologist will have your photos to work from.
3. Pick how quickly you need a response
8, 24, or 48 hours. Choose based on how urgent it feels. The faster option costs more, but it is there when you need it.
4. Receive a written assessment from a dermatologist
A board-certified dermatologist reviews your photos and description personally and writes back with their opinion. What the rash likely is, what it means, and what to do next.
Not sure what your rash is?
Two photos and a short description is all it takes. A dermatologist will review your case and send you a clear written assessment.
From $34.95 · No personal data · Response in 8–48 hours
USER FEEDBACK
What First Derm users say
Excellent help with clear advice
It’s a very helpful service! I paid for 48hr response but they got back to me in about 30hr. The issue I had was something I’d never would have been able to identify on my own since it didn’t appear as a result when googling or asking ChatGPT. Glad I used it instead of self-diagnosing!
Helped in 16 hours
Quick and Detailed Response!
I used First Derm when I had a rash and didn’t have time to visit the doctor’s office.
I received an answer within a few hours with a quick and detiled answer and an over the counter medicine recommendation.
Helped in 7 hours
Quick and insightful consultation
I had a rough patch of skin that, even after consulting two doctors, I couldn’t get a clear diagnosis. This was worrying me, so I turned to First Derm. The Doctor sent a detailed response back to me within two hours. This is such a nice service to have especially when it takes forever to get an appointment to see a dermatologist.
Helped in 11 hours
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FAQ: Online rash consultation
Can a dermatologist really tell what a rash is from photos?
Yes. Dermatology is a visual specialty. A significant part of what dermatologists do, in a clinic or online, involves looking carefully at how a rash appears and hearing how the person describes it. Photos do not replace every in-person examination, but they provide a genuine specialist opinion. If yours needs to be seen in person, the dermatologist will tell you.
How quickly will I get a response?
Is the service genuinely anonymous — do I need to provide personal details?
Will the dermatologist prescribe medication?
What types of rash can be assessed through an online consultation?
Can First Derm consultations be used for children's rashes?
How much does an online rash consultation cost?
CONDITION LIBRARY
