Recognizing and treating five common dermatologic conditions seen in primary care.

Skin conditions are one of the most common chief complaints encountered in the primary care setting. Primary care providers (PCPs) may not have not received enough exposure and education on dermatologic conditions. Of all skin conditions, atopic dermatitis, acne vulgaris, cellulitis/abscess, verruca vulgaris, and benign skin lesions are typically the most common to present in the primary care setting. PCPs must be well educated on these topics and confident in their diagnostic and management skills. This article reviews the five most common skin conditions encountered in primary care so that PCPs can reduce the number of referrals to dermatology for conditions that can easily be managed by PCPs.