- Redness spreading rapidly over hours or red streaks tracking up your arm or leg
- High fever, shaking chills, confusion, or feeling severely unwell (signs of potential sepsis)
- Severe pain out of proportion to the skin appearance, skin blistering, or dark/blackened skin
- Infections on or near the eye, face, or deep puncture wounds
Online Skin Infection Treatment with Australian Telehealth GPs
Get fast, expert medical assessment for mild-to-moderate skin infections from home. Consult an AHPRA-registered GP via video for condition evaluation, antibiotic e-Prescriptions (when indicated), and medical certificates.
📸 How to Prepare for Your Online Skin Assessment
To help your GP accurately evaluate your skin condition during your appointment:
- Mark the Border: Use a pen to draw a light line around the current outer edge of the redness. This helps track if the infection is spreading or receding.
- Good Lighting: Join your video call in a well-lit space so the GP can assess skin texture, color, and swelling.
- Clear Photos: Have close-up, high-resolution photos ready to show or upload if requested.
Common Skin Infections Assessed Online
Explore common bacterial and superficial skin conditions managed via telehealth.
| Condition | Typical Presentation | Telehealth GP Care & Management |
|---|---|---|
| Early Cellulitis | Localized redness, warmth, and mild swelling on skin without fever or systemic illness. | Visual assessment, oral antibiotic eScript (if appropriate), and tracking instructions. |
| Impetigo (School Sores) | Contagious superficial sores or honey-colored crusting around mouth, nose, or limbs. | Topical or oral antibiotic prescription, exclusion advice for school/childcare. |
| Boils (Furuncles) & Folliculitis | Painful, pus-filled inflamed hair follicles or small red bumps. | Warm compress guidance, oral antibiotic evaluation, or referral if drainage is needed. |
| Infected Cuts & Paronychia | Redness, pain, or minor pus around a nail fold, insect bite, or small skin cut. | Antiseptic/antibiotic treatment plan, wound care guidance, and work rest certificates. |
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a telehealth GP prescribe antibiotics for a skin infection online?
Yes. If clinically appropriate following a thorough visual and clinical assessment, an Australian GP can issue an e-Prescription for oral or topical antibiotics sent directly to your phone via SMS, ready to collect at any pharmacy.
What if my skin infection needs to be drained or seen in person?
If your GP determines during the video call that you have a large abscess requiring incision and drainage, severe spreading cellulitis, or systemic symptoms, they will safely direct you to an in-person clinic, urgent care center, or emergency department immediately.
Can I get a medical certificate for time off work or school?
Yes. If your skin infection (or contagious condition like impetigo) prevents you from working or studying, your GP can provide an official medical certificate or school exclusion letter following your assessment.
Can a Telehealth GP Assess a Skin Infection?
In many cases, yes.
During a NewTeleDoc Medical telehealth consultation, your GP can ask about your symptoms, when the infection started, any previous skin infections, medications, allergies and other relevant medical conditions.
You may be asked to show the affected area using your camera. Good lighting and a clear view of the skin can help the GP assess the appearance of the infection.
Depending on the situation, your GP may recommend:
- Treatment at home
- Prescription medication
- An electronic prescription
- A wound or pathology swab
- An in-person GP appointment
- An urgent-care assessment
- Incision and drainage of an abscess
- Specialist assessment for recurrent or unusual infections
- Follow-up after treatment
Your GP will let you know if an in-person examination is needed.
When Should You Go Straight to an Emergency Department?
Some skin infections can become serious and require urgent treatment.
Do not wait for a telehealth appointment if you have:
- Redness that is rapidly spreading
- Red streaks travelling up an arm or leg
- High fever or shaking chills
- Severe pain that seems much worse than the appearance of the skin
- Blistering or significant skin breakdown
- Skin becoming dark, dusky or unusually discoloured
- A facial infection, particularly around the eye
- A rapidly progressing infection of the hand or genital area
- Confusion or unusual drowsiness
- Symptoms suggesting severe infection or sepsis
- A serious infection while significantly immunocompromised or with poorly controlled diabetes
If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 000.
How Can NewTeleDoc Medical Help With a Skin Infection?
A NewTeleDoc Medical GP can assess many uncomplicated skin infections through telehealth and determine the appropriate next step.
During your consultation, the GP may be able to:
- Assess the appearance and location of the infection
- Review your symptoms and medical history
- Assess whether antibiotics may be appropriate
- Provide an electronic prescription when clinically appropriate
- Arrange a pathology or wound swab where appropriate
- Recommend an in-person assessment if required
- Refer you for specialist assessment when clinically appropriate
- Provide a medical certificate when appropriate
- Arrange follow-up to check whether the infection is improving
For infections that require a physical procedure, such as drainage of a larger abscess, your GP can direct you to an appropriate in-person service.
Treatment for Bacterial Skin Infections
Treatment depends on the type, location and severity of the infection.
Boils
Small uncomplicated boils may sometimes improve with warm compresses and appropriate wound care.
Do not squeeze or attempt to cut open a boil yourself, as this can potentially spread the infection.
Larger or more complicated boils may require an in-person procedure to drain the pus.
Impetigo
Small areas of impetigo may sometimes be treated with topical treatment and appropriate hygiene.
More widespread infections may require oral antibiotics depending on the clinical assessment.
Children with impetigo may need to remain away from school or childcare until they have received appropriate treatment and meet the relevant exclusion requirements.
Cellulitis
Cellulitis generally requires prompt medical assessment.
Depending on the severity, location and individual circumstances, treatment may involve oral antibiotics.
More severe cellulitis, particularly when accompanied by fever or other systemic symptoms, may require hospital treatment and intravenous antibiotics.
Abscesses
An abscess is a collection of pus and may require incision and drainage.
A telehealth GP can assess the situation and advise whether you need to attend a clinic or urgent-care service for drainage.
Do All Skin Infections Need Antibiotics?
No.
Not every skin problem is caused by bacteria, and not every bacterial skin infection requires the same treatment.
A GP will consider the appearance of the infection, its location, how extensive it is, your symptoms, medical history, allergies and other factors before recommending treatment.
Antibiotics should only be used when clinically appropriate. Using antibiotics unnecessarily can contribute to antibiotic resistance.
Recurrent Skin Infections and MRSA
If you repeatedly develop boils or other skin infections, your GP may investigate why they are occurring.
Recurrent infections can sometimes be associated with bacterial carriage, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), commonly referred to as golden staph.
A GP may recommend a wound swab to identify the bacteria and determine which antibiotics are likely to be effective.
Depending on the circumstances, treatment may also involve measures to reduce bacterial carriage and prevent further infections.
Repeated infections in areas such as the armpits or groin may sometimes indicate another condition, such as hidradenitis suppurativa, which may require further medical or dermatological assessment.
When Should You See a GP Early?
You should consider speaking with a GP promptly if:
- The redness or swelling is getting larger
- The infection is becoming increasingly painful
- You notice pus or discharge
- You develop a fever
- You have recurrent boils or skin infections
- The infection is not improving
- You have diabetes
- You have a weakened immune system
- You have recently had surgery
- You are unsure whether the skin problem is infected
Early assessment can help determine whether you need antibiotics, a procedure, testing or an in-person examination.
How to Prepare for Your Telehealth Appointment
To help your GP assess the skin infection, it can be useful to:
- Have the affected area clean and visible.
- Find a well-lit area for your video consultation.
- Be ready to explain when the symptoms started.
- Tell the GP whether the redness or swelling has been spreading.
- Tell the GP about any fever, chills or other symptoms.
- Have a list of your current medications available.
- Tell the GP about any medication allergies.
- If requested, provide clear photographs of the affected area.
If possible, keeping track of how quickly the redness changes can also provide useful information for your GP.
Can I Get a Medical Certificate for a Skin Infection?
If your skin infection prevents you from working, studying or performing your usual activities, a GP may provide a medical certificate when clinically appropriate following your consultation.
Whether a certificate can be issued and the period covered will depend on the GP's clinical assessment.
Book a Telehealth GP Consultation With NewTeleDoc Medical
If you have a mild or uncomplicated skin infection and are unsure whether you need treatment, a NewTeleDoc Medical telehealth consultation may be a convenient first step.
A GP can assess your symptoms, look at the affected area and advise whether you can be treated online or need an in-person medical assessment.
Book a NewTeleDoc Medical telehealth appointment today and speak with a GP from the comfort of your home.
Important Medical Information
This article provides general health information and does not replace individual medical advice. Antibiotics and other prescription treatments are only provided when clinically appropriate following a medical assessment.
If a skin infection is rapidly spreading, you have severe pain, high fever, confusion, significant facial swelling, difficulty breathing or other serious symptoms, seek urgent medical attention rather than relying on telehealth.