Did you know that in 2016, over 1,500 people visited an urgent care facility on average? Urgent care centers are a convenient place to receive quick medical care. Although life-threating emergencies should be taken to an emergency room, urgent care can treat you for just about anything else. Your urgent care doctor will also be able to refer you to a specialist if your condition cannot be treated in their patient room. You do not need an appointment to be seen at an urgent care clinic, so you can walk in the day you start to feel your symptoms come on. If you are considering seeking medical advice for a skin condition, check out these seven things to know about dermatology treatment before going in for your appointment.

What Is Dermatology?

Dermatology is a branch of science that works to help treat and diagnose skin conditions. This can include anything from athletes foot to acne to ingrown toenails and nail fungus. Your skin covers your entire body, so it’s no surprise that skin is also the body’s largest organ. It is for this reason that taking care of your skin is important, and can even prevent deadly skin complications like cancer.

General Dermatology Services

Urgent care centers can provide general services for treating your skin condition, regardless of how progressed the condition has become. This can include diagnosing and treating common rashes, eczema, skin lesions, psoriasis, and infections.

Wart Treatment

Warts are a common skin problem people face. Warts can appear anywhere on the body, but they are most commonly found on the hands and feet. All warts are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV), but there are many different types of warts. For example, the common wart develops on your hands, but a plantar wart will develop on the soles of your feet. After being diagnosed with a wart, the treatment is fairly simple. You will have the option of choosing between getting the wart frozen off, burned off, cut off, or you can cover the wart in medication that will slowly peel it off. It is always best to get a wart looked at by a professional before trying to remove it home, as it could require medical attention.

Acne Treatment

Acne can develop on anyone at any age and can be caused by a number of different factors. The first thing you want to be prepared to talk to your doctor about is your diet. Cutting out certain foods that contain high levels of sugar or refined carbohydrates can be an easy way to prevent breakouts. Your doctor also may discuss a number of different face washes or ointments as well. If you have already tried different washes, tell your doctor. Your condition may require stronger medicine.

Skin Cancer Screening And Treatment

The most common type of cancer in the United States is skin cancer. This type of cancer generally starts with discoloration of the skin, skin itching, or as an abnormal growth that does not go away. The American Cancer Society recommends that everyone above the age of 20 receives a skin relate cancer screening every three to five years. If you are above the age of 40, the recommendation is to have a screening every year. The earlier you can catch developing cancer, the easier it will be to treat. Applying sunscreen regularly can also significantly decrease your risk for developing skin cancer.

Nail And Hair Treatment

In addition to skin-related ailments, the dermatologists at an urgent care center can also treat and diagnose problems you may experience with your nails and hair. This can include ingrown toenails, dead nails, hair loss, and nail trauma.

Cosmetic Dermatology

Many urgent care patients may be surprised to learn that their dermatologist can perform cosmetic procedures. These can include removing skin tags, moles, non-cancerous lumps, and other skin flaws. Although these conditions may not pose a serious risk to your health, speaking with a dermatologist can help you get your confidence back if you feel your condition is holding you back.

Final Thoughts

Urgent care is a cheaper and quicker alternative to visiting the emergency room or trying to schedule an appointment with a doctor’s office. The primary care providers can treat and diagnose any dermatology-related condition you may be facing, and even recommend a specialist or send out lab samples if you need additional treatment. Whether you’re facing a wart problem, uncontrolled acne, or even just looking to receive your annual skin cancer screening appointment, head to urgent care and be seen the same day you walk in.