GP Skin Consultation vs. Specialist Dermatology Consultation
Global Health offers two levels of skin care:
- GP skin consultation — appropriate for the majority of acute and non-urgent skin presentations. Eczema, mild to moderate acne, rashes, skin infections, routine mole checks, and chronic skin conditions managed at GP level. This is the right starting point for most skin concerns.
- Specialist dermatology consultation — conducted by Global Health's OMC-registered dermatologists. Appropriate for complex, treatment-resistant, or specialist-level presentations — including severe acne with isotretinoin consideration, suspicious lesions requiring high-resolution dermoscopy, complex psoriasis, and conditions requiring coordinated biopsy.
Not sure which level is right for your concern? Start with the GP skin consultation — if your presentation requires specialist dermatology assessment, your GP refers you directly to our dermatology service within the same platform.
Who This Service Is For
This consultation is appropriate for adults and children presenting with:
- A new rash, skin change, or lesion that needs clinical assessment
- An existing skin condition that is flaring or not responding to current treatment
- Mild to moderate acne — comedonal, inflammatory, or mixed
- Eczema or atopic dermatitis — flare assessment and ongoing management
- Psoriasis — non-complex presentations at GP level
- A mole or skin lesion for routine monitoring
- Allergic skin reactions — urticaria, contact dermatitis, or drug reactions
- Scalp conditions — seborrhoeic dermatitis, scalp psoriasis, or fungal conditions
- Skin infections — bacterial, viral, or fungal
- Chronic skin conditions managed at GP level
- Patients who need a dermatology referral letter
Conditions Commonly Assessed
Inflammatory conditions
- Eczema and atopic dermatitis — flare management, trigger identification, ongoing care
- Psoriasis — non-complex presentations at GP level
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis — scalp and facial presentation
- Rosacea — assessment and management at GP level
- Perioral dermatitis
Acne
- Mild to moderate acne — comedonal, inflammatory, and mixed
- Acne in teenagers and adults
- Hormonal acne in women — assessed alongside hormonal assessment where indicated
- Post-acne pigmentation and scarring assessment
- Acne management review — patients already on treatment who need clinical review
Severe acne that may require isotretinoin needs assessment by our specialist dermatology service — your GP refers you directly if your presentation warrants this.
Allergic and reactive conditions
- Urticaria — acute and chronic hives
- Allergic contact dermatitis — assessment and allergen avoidance advice
- Drug reactions affecting the skin
- Angioedema — assessment and management at GP level
- Food allergy-related skin presentations
Infections
- Impetigo — bacterial skin infection
- Cellulitis — assessment and management with escalation where indicated
- Folliculitis
- Fungal skin infections — tinea corporis, tinea pedis, tinea versicolor
- Molluscum contagiosum
- Warts and verrucae
- Herpes simplex — cold sores and cutaneous herpes
- Shingles — assessment and management
Pigmentation and lesions — routine monitoring
- Moles and skin lesions for routine clinical monitoring — with direct referral to our specialist dermatology service where indicated
- Post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation
- Melasma — assessment and management
- Vitiligo — assessment and referral where indicated
Suspicious lesions requiring dermoscopy or biopsy are referred to our specialist dermatology service.
Scalp conditions
- Seborrhoeic dermatitis of the scalp
- Scalp psoriasis — non-complex presentations
- Scalp folliculitis
- Tinea capitis — fungal scalp infection
Paediatric skin conditions
- Eczema in infants and children
- Nappy rash and infant skin concerns
- Childhood viral rashes — assessment and guidance for parents
- Impetigo and skin infections in children
- Molluscum contagiosum in children
What Your Consultation Includes
Visual clinical assessment
Skin conditions are uniquely suited to video consultation — your doctor can observe the lesion, rash, or skin change directly during the call. Good lighting and a clear camera view significantly improve the quality of assessment — your doctor guides you on positioning during the call.
Comprehensive history
Your doctor reviews the onset, progression, distribution, associated symptoms, triggers, previous treatments, relevant medical history, medications, and family history of skin conditions.
Diagnosis and management plan
Based on the assessment, your doctor advises on the most likely diagnosis, the appropriate management approach, and what to expect from treatment.
Clinical documentation — at the doctor's professional discretion
When clinically indicated, your doctor issues appropriate clinical documentation valid at any pharmacy in Spain.
Note: Controlled substances cannot be issued electronically under Spanish law.
Investigation requests where indicated
Where blood tests — including allergy panels or inflammatory markers — are clinically indicated, your doctor issues the request the same day.
Direct referral to specialist dermatology — where needed
Where specialist dermatology assessment is required, your GP refers you directly to our specialist dermatology service within the same platform the same day — including for suspicious lesions, severe acne, complex or treatment-resistant conditions.
Moles and Skin Lesions — When to Act Promptly
Any change in a mole or skin lesion warrants clinical assessment. The ABCDE criteria are the standard clinical guide:
- A — Asymmetry — one half does not match the other
- B — Border — irregular, ragged, or blurred edges
- C — Colour — variation in colour within the lesion
- D — Diameter — larger than 6mm
- E — Evolution — any change in size, shape, colour, or any new symptom
If your lesion meets any of these criteria, book an assessment promptly. Your GP assesses visually and, where indicated, refers you directly to our specialist dermatology service for dermoscopy assessment.
Preparing for Your Skin Consultation
- Good lighting — natural daylight or a lamp directed at the affected area gives your doctor the clearest view
- Clear photos — take clear photos of the affected area before your consultation
- Multiple angles — show the lesion or rash from multiple angles during the call
- Note the history — when it started, how it has changed, what makes it better or worse, and what you have already tried
Skin Conditions in Spain — A Note for Visitors and Expats
Spain's climate — high UV index, humidity in coastal areas, dry heat inland — creates specific skin patterns that differ from Northern Europe. Sunburn reactions, heat rash, fungal infections in humid environments, and sun-related pigmentation changes are among the most common skin concerns in tourists and expats.
For common skin conditions, GP-level assessment covers the majority of clinical need. Our service provides this assessment same day, from anywhere in Spain. When specialist dermatology input is genuinely needed, your GP refers you directly to our specialist dermatology service within the same platform.
