We all know we should talk to our doctors about our health. And yet, almost all of us at some point will encounter a symptom or condition we’d rather not mention.

That’s OK. What’s not OK is to suffer in silence or let a small problem develop into a serious condition just because it’s something you don’t want to talk about.

Fortunately, this is yet another area where HealthTap’s virtual primary care doctors have a huge advantage over a traditional in-person visit to the doctor’s office — for all those difficult health conversations that might be made easier by being in the comfort of your own home.

What kinds of awkward conversations can be made easier over a video call? We’ve rounded up a list of common conditions that our doctors can help treat.

Smelly, Itchy Feet

Many people experience this, no one really likes to talk about it. Luckily, there are a lot of straightforward solutions that you don’t need to see an in-person doctor for. 

If you need a prescription — for instance, for an aggressive case of athlete’s foot — our doctors can provide that, too. And HealthTap members can save up to 75% off the cost of prescriptions with our prescription discount card.

Sweating (a lot)

Here’s another treatable issue that we don’t like admitting to. Hyperhidrosis — the medical term for excessive sweat — can get in the way of your daily activities and be embarrassing in social settings when sweat shows through your shirt. Luckily, it’s also a condition HealthTap can help you manage.

Using our free doctor Q&A, our doctors can suggest home remedies like over-the-counter products or techniques to manage sweat triggers. And if those methods don’t work, you can consult with a doctor to see if you need a prescription-strength antiperspirant or cream to tackle the problem. 

Don’t plan your outfits around your pit stains. Take action to minimize your sweating and wear whatever you like.

Gas

It’s hard to feel comfortable talking about something that’s always served as a bad punchline. But HealthTap doctors can offer simple ways for you to reduce gassiness and improve your health and comfort, without the need for direct eye contact. 

Fixing gas can be as simple as changing your diet, exercise, or other daily habits. All you need to do is start the conversation with your doctor, and they’ll take it from there, offering advice or prescriptions to help you feel better in no time. 

Diarrhea

Listen, talking about diarrhea isn’t the most comfortable of conversations, and it can be hard to get to the doctor’s office while you’re sick. 

HealthTap doctors understand that and are able to offer prescriptions and at-home remedies for diarrhea at a primary care visit, without requiring that you leave your house (or bathroom) to see your doctor. You get to stay where you’re most comfortable and still quickly get in contact with a doctor who can help.

Constipation

Constipation is common throughout America, yet so many simply live with the discomfort because it's an embarrassing topic to bring up with your doctor. 

The discomfort you are put through is not the only reason why this situation is bad — if untreated, constipation can also lead to serious health issues. 

How can a HealthTap doctor help? They can help uncover the causes of your constipation and offer solutions so that you can begin to feel your best.

Body Odor / Smelly Parts

We’re all guilty of doing the occasional subtle armpit sniff to see if it’s us stinking up the room. But if you’re dealing with persistent body odor — especially if it’s coming from a private area — it’s time to check in with your HealthTap doctor. 

A virtual visit with your doctor can be enough to help solve the mystery of what is causing your odor and you can leave your appointment with a solution that can help you start to feel more comfortable. Not to mention, the ease of our virtual visits will make this conversation nearly painless.

Itchy Parts

Itchiness is one of the more uncomfortable conditions to put off fixing due to embarrassment. 

Don’t just deal with it. Use our Q&A forum to find potential causes or, better yet, talk to your doctor today to help you solve the problem.

Sex Issues (including lack of desire; pain; dysfunction; STIs)

Most sexual health issues can feel embarrassing to talk to your doctor about, but that doesn’t diminish the importance of discussing any problems you might be having. 

As a HealthTap member, you can get the help you need without the need for an uncomfortable face-to-face visit. Whether it’s learning your options for STI testing or treating erectile dysfunction, your doctor can help you during a primary care visit. 

If you don’t need to schedule an appointment, HealthTap has a bank of previously asked sexual health questions that you can read. 

Don’t push off getting the care you need — talk to your doctor and find your course of action.

Bad Breath

If you’re struggling with chronic bad breath, something about talking to a doctor who can smell your breath might not sit right with you. 

Luckily, HealthTap doctors can help find the cause of your bad breath and offer a straightforward cure, all without you stressing over whether your doctor can smell your breath.

There are many causes for bad breath, ranging from your diet to sinus infections. You can easily schedule a primary care visit to talk about the possible causes of your bad breath and ways that you can manage it.

Changes in Nipples

We know that all bodies are different and are constantly changing. Some changes are normal, but it is still important to monitor certain ones with your doctor. 

It can feel weird to talk to your doctor about changes in your nipples, but some — like changes in shape — can be signs of more serious conditions. A quick video visit with your HealthTap doctor can help determine if the changes you see are perfectly normal or if you should take extra precautions.

Running out of medication

If you are running low on important medication, it can be hard to schedule a last-minute in-person doctor’s visit before you run out. 

Our primary care visits can easily fit into your schedule, and your doctor can assess your need for the medication and write an online prescription to be sent to your pharmacy. We can help avoid the dangerous side effects of not taking your medication or just be an easier way for you to get a refill.

Alcohol overuse

When it comes to more serious medical issues, our HealthTap doctors are well equipped to help. If you have concerns about alcohol overuse, it can be hard to admit this to someone else and even harder to reach out for help. 

HealthTap eliminates the barriers that can stop you from reaching out for the care you need. The virtual setting makes meetings with your doctor more comfortable, and free 24/7 texting with your doctor makes it easy to reach out for advice and stay in contact with your doctor as you go through the process of improving your health. 

Drug or substance abuse

Drug and substance abuse is stigmatized, which makes it hard to talk about. But to give you the best care possible, your doctor needs to know about all your habits. 

On HealthTap, you can read doctor insights on how specific drugs affect your overall health and find out if you need to change your lifestyle and, if so, receive advice from your doctor on how to do so.

Hair growth in weird places

Hair growth in unexpected areas can make you feel uncomfortable with your own body, and you might not be excited to share that information with someone else. Most hair growth is normal, but if you have changes in hair growth, you should always check in with your doctor. 

HealthTap takes the awkwardness out of the situation by allowing you to do so without being face-to-face with your doctor. Your doctor can assess the situation in a video visit, and any awkwardness is over and done with quickly.

Hair loss

Virtually learning about treatment options for hair loss is a painless alternative to setting up a traditional in-person appointment. You can read through other questions about hair loss on the Doctor’s Insight page or you can talk about it in your next primary care visit.

HealthTap doctors can give medical advice, check lab tests, and/or quickly send prescriptions that can improve underlying causes of hair loss. Get results without putting yourself in a situation that makes you feel self-conscious.

Anxiety & Depression

Social acceptance of mental healthcare has come a long way in recent years. But that doesn't mean everyone is suddenly comfortable with talking openly about their mental health concerns. 

If you’ve been holding back on talking to someone, consider bringing it up with your HealthTap Personal Care Doctor. They can start the conversation and suggest basic factors in your life — diet, exercise, sleep, alcohol and drug use, etc. — that might be impacting your mental health, and how to remedy those things. 

In our clinic, we treat issues such as depression, fatigue, excessive worry, alcohol overuse, anxiety, insomnia, and work or school stress.

For anything beyond that, we can refer you to a Talkspace online therapist, who can provide traditional therapy on a video call. We offer $100 off a Talkspace subscription for anyone with a HealthTap subscription.

Is there an awkward medical conversation you’re putting off?

Subscribe to HealthTap to schedule an appointment with a Primary Care doctor — someone who will get to know you and offer medical advice based on your unique health history.

HealthTap Urgent Care doctors are available 24/7 with or without a subscription.