A rash that doesn't go away when pressed can be minor but people still need to get it checked.
That’s according to Dr Nina Byrnes in this week's 'Ask the GP' on Lunchtime Live.
One listener said they have rash on both feet and legs that does not go away when pressed and shows up as red, raised bumps.
"Meningitis, which is a very severe and life-threatening infection, can cause a rash that doesn't go away when you press on it," Dr Byrnes said.
"I would think that this is not something that has just appeared in the last number of hours, that it's been there for a while.
"There are a number of things that will cause what is effectively a vasculitic rash, it's a rash of inflammation in your blood vessels.
"There are things that children can get, there are things that adults can get.
"I had one patient come in number of years ago who came with a sore throat, had a rash like that, and it turned out to be leukemia.
"While it can be minor, a rash that doesn't go away when you press on it usually suggests there's something going on in the blood vessels.
"If it's only appeared in minutes to hours you go to A&E; if it's been there a while, you definitely need to go to your doctor.
"You most likely need some bloods done and it needs to be taken from there".
Chilblains
Another listener asked if there's anything they can do to stop chilblains, which are small and itchy patches that can appear on skin after you've been in the cold.
"We say to people if you know you tend to get them, make sure you keep your hands and feet warm," Dr Byrnes said.
"That can be wearing good gloves, leather gloves tend to be better.
"You can buy hand warmers now that you can put in your pockets; they're these little packs that you hit and they release heat.
"Double socks, warm shoes, all of those things.
"If they have come, sometimes actually a steroid cream can help reduce the pain and inflammation".
Cough
One woman said her husband has had a chesty cough for two weeks.
"If you had a cough for two weeks that's not getting better, your chest needs to be examined," Dr Byrnes said.
"Really you need to go to your doctor, you need to have an examination.
"While having a cough going on a long time doesn't mean there's something seriously wrong, it's never completely normal.
"If you've a cough that's lingering it's always worth going along to be examined," she added.
