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Developed a Skin Rash or Infection in France?

Developed a Skin Rash or Infection in France? Here Is How to Get It Assessed

A rash or skin infection that appears while you are travelling can be difficult to identify without medical advice — and in France, finding that advice in English is not always straightforward. I am Dr Simon Gordon, a British GP (MB ChB) registered with both the GMC and the Ordre des Médecins, and based in Valbonne on the Côte d’Azur. Skin reactions — from sun exposure, insect bites, heat, and sea swimming — are among the most common problems I see in visitors to the Côte d’Azur.

During a video consultation I can assess your skin concern visually, advise on what it is likely to be, and where treatment is needed email you a French prescription (ordonnance) the same day.

Unlike anonymous telemedicine platforms, you know exactly who you are speaking to: a named, locally-based GP with specific familiarity with the skin conditions common to visitors in this part of France.

How it Works

You book a video consultation using the link below. During the call I will ask you to show me the affected area and take a clinical history — how long it has been present, whether it is spreading, any associated symptoms, recent sun exposure or insect bites. Where a prescription is appropriate I will email it to you. You take that prescription to any pharmacy in France and your medication is dispensed immediately.

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What I can assess and prescribe

I can assess a range of common skin presentations including allergic rashes, contact dermatitis, heat rash, infected insect bites, impetigo, cellulitis, and fungal infections — all of which are particularly common in visitors to the South of France during summer months. I can prescribe antihistamines, topical and oral antibiotics, steroid creams, and antifungal treatments as clinically appropriate. Each case is assessed individually. If I feel a physical examination or further investigation is needed, I will tell you and advise accordingly.

Book a video consultation
For the majority of common skin rashes and infections seen in visitors to France, a visual assessment by video is sufficient to guide treatment. Sending me a photo prior would also be very helpfuI will ask you to show me the affected area clearly during the call, in good light if possible. Where I feel that a physical examination is necessary I will say so and advise you on the best next step, including local clinics in the that can see you in person.
The consultation fee is €100. This covers the video consultation and the emailed prescription. There are no additional charges.
Many travel insurance policies cover urgent medical consultations abroad. I can provide a receipt and a clinical summary for your insurer. I would recommend checking your policy before the consultation if you are unsure.
Please seek emergency care immediately — by calling 15 (SAMU) or going to the nearest emergency department — if you have a rapidly spreading rash, significant facial swelling, difficulty breathing, or a high fever alongside skin changes. For rashes that are uncomfortable but not rapidly worsening, a video consultation is a reasonable first step.
France has good pharmacy coverage and the standard range of skin treatments — antihistamines, topical steroids, antibiotic creams, antifungals — is widely available. I will only prescribe medications that are readily dispensed in French pharmacies.

About the Author

This page was written by Dr Simon Gordon MB ChB, a British-trained GP registered with the General Medical Council (UK) and the Ordre des Médecins (France). Dr Gordon trained at the University of Glasgow and has over 20 years of experience in general practice across the UK, Israel, and the French Riviera, including time at the London Clinic on Harley Street. He is based in Valbonne on the Côte d’Azur, where Cabinet Medical Gordon has been providing English-speaking medical services for over 30 years.

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Dr Simon Gordon, British GP in Valbonne, France
This page is for informational purposes only. Dr Simon Gordon (MB ChB) is registered with the Ordre des Médecins in France and the General Medical Council in the UK. All consultations are conducted in accordance with French medical regulations and the deontological rules of the Ordre des Médecins. This service does not replace emergency medical care — if you are experiencing a medical emergency, please call 15 (SAMU) or 112 immediately.