Acute dermatological emergencies

Abstract

Acute dermatological emergencies cover a wide range of severe skin eruptions. Several of these rashes are potentially life-threatening and carry significant morbidity and mortality. Dermatological emergencies occur across all spectrums of age, race and gender. Rapid diagnosis is vital to instigating appropriate treatment and reversing the underlying precipitant. High-quality multidisciplinary management with specialist nurses, general physicians and dermatologists is essential to ensure patients can be kept systemically stable while appropriate treatments are instigated. In this article we aim to cover some of the most significant emergency dermatological presentations and their management.