How to describe a rash to your doctor
A rash can change from one day to the next, so it helps to write down what you see while you see it. Short, dated notes are enough to bring to an appointment.
Where it is
Say where it sits and whether it has moved or spread:
- one spot or several
- one side of the body or both
- arms, legs, torso, face or scalp
- skin folds, hands or feet
- somewhere else, in your own words
What it looks and feels like
Pick the words that fit, or use your own, and give an itch or soreness number from 0 to 10 if you can:
- red, pink, brown or paler than the skin around it
- flat or raised
- dry, flaky or scaly
- bumps, blisters or patches
- itchy, sore, burning or no feeling at all
What was going on around it
Write down what had changed in the days before. These are the details that tend to get forgotten:
- new soap, laundry product, cream or cosmetic
- new food, medicine or supplement
- time outdoors, heat, sweat or sun
- plants, animals or fabrics you touched
- anyone around you with a similar skin change
When it started
Write when you first noticed it, even as a range, or "not sure". The day you first wrote it down can be later, so keep that date separate. If you take a photo, note the date it was taken. If it comes and goes, note each time with its own date.
A note to take with you
Copy the prompts that matter to you:
- Where it is:
- What it looks and feels like:
- What was going on around it:
- When I first noticed it, or "not sure":
- What I want to ask:
To put your notes on one printable page, use the free visit summary.
Related guidance: NHS: preparing for an appointment
Keep dated notes in Ever Since
A symptom entry can include where it is, how strong it feels, and your own words. Each entry keeps the date it was logged. Symptom logging is included in the free plan.
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