Derm Quest
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Derm Quest: A Free Dermatology Adventure Game
Derm Quest is a free dermatology game for kids, teens and adults from Rixis Dermatology in Columbus and Dublin, Ohio. It runs in your web browser on a phone, tablet or computer, with no download or sign-up. Play as a Skin Ranger in busy Maple City: ride the bus between neighborhoods, rotate through five dermatology clinics, help patients you meet on the street, learn from visiting lecturers, and pick the right treatment for each of 34 skin conditions, from acne and eczema to sunburn and skin cancer. Medical content is based on American Academy of Dermatology patient guidance.
Derm Quest is for education and fun. It is not medical advice. If you have a skin concern, schedule a visit with a board-certified dermatologist.
How to play
Walk with the arrow keys (or WASD) or the on-screen pad. Press A, Enter or Space to talk and choose. In a battle, the creature is the condition, never the patient. Use Examine to diagnose, then Treat or Meds to clear it. The right treatment works best. Some wrong choices do nothing, and a few make things worse. Store-bought items are optional: the right one makes many cases faster, but your skills and free prescription samples can treat every condition. Check each patient's chart for drug allergies, and watch for patients with more than one problem. Cross streets at the striped crosswalks, talk to everyone you meet, and look for hidden gift boxes. Your progress saves on your device.
The Skin-dex: 34 skin conditions in the game
Condition names with links go to their treatment pages at Rixis Dermatology. You can also browse all of our dermatology treatment services.
Sunburn
Skin damage from too much ultraviolet (UV) light: red, hot, sore skin that can blister. Get out of the sun, take cool baths or showers, use a moisturizer with aloe or soy, and drink extra water. Do not pop blisters. Prevent it with shade, protective clothing and broad-spectrum, water-resistant SPF 30+ sunscreen, reapplied about every 2 hours. Get medical care for a severe, widely blistered burn or if you feel sick.
Acne
Clogged pores plus oil, bacteria and inflammation. Wash gently twice a day, use benzoyl peroxide or a retinoid like adapalene on the whole area, and give treatment 6 to 8 weeks. Do not scrub or pop. A dermatologist can help with acne that hurts, scars or will not improve, using prescription creams, pills, and for big painful cysts, a cortisone shot.
Seborrheic dermatitis (dandruff)
A common condition that causes a flaky, itchy scalp and sometimes red, scaly patches on the face. It is not caused by being dirty. Medicated dandruff shampoos with ingredients like zinc pyrithione, selenium sulfide or ketoconazole control flakes when used regularly. On the face, an antifungal cream or a short course of a mild steroid can calm a flare. Stress and cold, dry weather can trigger it.
Cold sores (fever blisters)
Small, painful blisters on or near the lips caused by the herpes simplex virus. They spread through kissing and sharing drinks, utensils or lip balm. Treatment works best at the first tingle: a dermatologist can prescribe antiviral pills, and a store-bought cold sore cream can shorten an outbreak. Sun can trigger them, so use an SPF 30+ lip balm. Do not pick them.
Bug bites and stings
Most bites and stings from mosquitoes, ants and bees cause an itchy or sore bump that fades in a few days. Wash with soap and water, use ice or a cool compress, and try calamine lotion, hydrocortisone cream or an antihistamine for itching. Scrape a bee stinger out sideways, and try not to scratch. Prevent bites with insect repellent containing DEET or picaridin, put on after sunscreen. Get emergency care for trouble breathing or swelling of the face, lips or throat.
Hives (urticaria)
Itchy, raised welts that come and go. Each welt usually fades within 24 hours. A non-drowsy antihistamine and cool compresses help, and so does avoiding known triggers. Get emergency care right away for swelling of the face, mouth or throat, trouble breathing or swallowing, or feeling faint. See a dermatologist if hives last longer than 6 weeks.
Poison ivy rash
An allergic reaction to urushiol, an oil in poison ivy, oak and sumac. Wash your skin right away, under your nails too, and wash clothes, tools and pets that touched the plant. Cool compresses, calamine and hydrocortisone help mild rashes. The rash itself is not contagious. A widespread or severe rash may need prescription treatment. Get emergency care for trouble breathing or swallowing, a swollen face or eyes, or a rash over most of your body.
Allergic contact dermatitis
An itchy rash where the skin touched something you are allergic to. Nickel in jewelry, watches and belt buckles, and fragrance, are common causes. A dermatologist can do a patch test: small patches of common allergens stay on your back for 2 days to find the cause. Avoiding the allergen is the real fix. Hydrocortisone helps a mild rash, a bigger one may need a prescription, and cool compresses ease the itch.
Heat rash (miliaria)
When sweat gets trapped under the skin, tiny itchy or prickly bumps can pop up, often on the neck, chest, back and skin folds. Cool off: move to shade or air conditioning, take a cool shower, wear loose cotton clothes and let skin air-dry. Skip heavy creams and ointments, which can trap more sweat. Calamine lotion can ease the itch. Heat rash usually clears in a few days once the skin stays cool.
Lyme disease rash
Lyme disease spreads through the bite of an infected tick. A red rash that slowly grows around the bite, sometimes shaped like a bullseye, can show up days to weeks later, often with fever, tiredness or achy joints. See a doctor: Lyme disease is treated with antibiotic pills such as doxycycline. Use repellent, wear long pants on trails and check for ticks after time outdoors. Remove a tick with fine-tipped tweezers by pulling straight up with steady pressure.
Ringworm (tinea)
A common fungal infection, not a worm, that often makes a scaly, ring-shaped patch. Antifungal cream used as directed clears most cases on the body. Ringworm on the scalp or nails needs prescription medicine. Keep using it after the rash fades so it does not return. Keep skin dry and wash towels and bedding. Pets can spread it. Steroid creams can make a fungus worse.
Athlete's foot
A fungal infection of the feet, often between the toes, with itching, peeling or cracking. Use an antifungal cream, dry well between your toes, change sweaty socks, and wear sandals in locker rooms and shared showers.
Nail fungus
A fungal infection that makes nails thick, yellow or crumbly, often along with athlete's foot. Prescription antifungal pills work best. Medicated nail solutions can help mild cases, but store-bought creams cannot treat nails. A clear nail takes months to grow out; toenails can take 12 to 18 months. Keep feet dry, wear shower sandals in locker rooms, and do not share nail clippers.
Tinea versicolor
A yeast that normally lives on the skin can overgrow in hot, humid weather and cause small spots that are lighter or darker than the skin around them, often on the chest, back and shoulders. It is not contagious. Dandruff shampoo with selenium sulfide or ketoconazole, used as a body wash, often clears it, and antifungal creams treat small areas. Even color can take months to return, and it tends to come back, so a dermatologist may suggest using the wash now and then.
Common warts
Rough bumps caused by a virus that can spread to other skin and other people. Salicylic acid used daily for weeks often helps. Skip home treatment for warts on the face or genitals, or if you have diabetes or poor circulation. Cover warts and do not pick or shave over them. A dermatologist can freeze warts or try other treatments if home care does not work.
Molluscum contagiosum
Small, shiny bumps with a tiny dimple in the center, caused by a virus and most common in kids. It often clears on its own, so your dermatologist may suggest waiting. Do not squeeze the bumps; that can spread the virus or cause infection.
Impetigo
A contagious bacterial skin infection, common in children, with honey-colored crusts. It is treated with prescription antibiotic ointment, or pills for more widespread cases. Gently wash crusts, cover sores and do not share towels. With treatment it is usually no longer contagious within 24 to 48 hours.
Head lice
Tiny insects that live on the scalp and glue their eggs, called nits, to hairs. Lice cannot jump or fly. They spread mostly through head-to-head contact, and having them has nothing to do with being dirty. Store-bought lice treatment used exactly as directed, often repeated 7 to 10 days later, plus combing wet hair with a fine-tooth nit comb, clears most cases. Wash bedding, hats and brushes in hot water, and do not share combs or hats. A dermatologist can prescribe other options if lice keep coming back.
Eczema (atopic dermatitis)
A long-term condition that makes skin dry, itchy and inflamed. Moisturize with a fragrance-free product right after bathing, avoid triggers like harsh soap, fragrance and wool, and use medicated creams for flares. Moderate to severe eczema may be treated with newer options, including biologics. It cannot be cured yet, but it can be controlled.
Keratosis pilaris
Rough little bumps, often on the upper arms, thighs or cheeks, that can feel like sandpaper. It is harmless, very common in kids and teens, and often fades with age, so treatment is optional. Moisturize every day, try a lotion with urea, lactic acid or salicylic acid, use a gentle cleanser and take short, lukewarm showers. Do not scrub, which can make the bumps redder.
Psoriasis
An immune system condition that makes skin cells build up into thick, scaly patches. It is not contagious. Triggers include stress, skin injury, infections like strep throat, and cold, dry weather. Treatments include steroid and vitamin D creams, light therapy, and pills or biologic shots for more severe psoriasis.
Rosacea
Facial redness and flushing, sometimes with bumps or visible blood vessels. Common triggers include heat, sun, alcohol and spicy food. Gentle skin care, daily sunscreen and prescription treatments like azelaic acid, metronidazole or ivermectin help. Steroid creams can make rosacea worse.
Vitiligo
The skin loses its color in patches. Vitiligo is not contagious and is not harmful to your health, and whether to treat it is your choice. Treatments include prescription creams and light therapy, which can bring back color over many visits. Skin without color sunburns easily, so sunscreen and sun-protective clothing help.
Alopecia areata
The immune system attacks hair follicles, causing round, smooth patches of hair loss. It is not contagious. Hair often grows back on its own, though it can take months and can fall out again. A dermatologist may use corticosteroid shots into the patches, steroid creams or foams, or pills for severe hair loss.
Shingles
A painful, blistering rash, usually in a band on one side of the body, caused by the chickenpox virus waking up years later. Antiviral pills work best when started within 3 days of the rash. Cool, wet compresses ease pain, and calamine helps itching once blisters scab. You cannot catch shingles, but someone who never had chickenpox or its vaccine can catch chickenpox from the blisters, so keep the rash covered. The shingles vaccine is recommended for adults 50 and older.
Scabies
Tiny mites burrow into the skin and cause intense itching. It spreads through close contact. Treatment is a prescription such as permethrin cream, and everyone in close contact needs treatment too, even without symptoms. Wash clothes, towels and bedding. Itch can get worse for a few days after treatment; skin should heal within about 4 weeks.
Seborrheic keratosis
A very common, harmless growth that looks waxy and stuck on. It does not need treatment, but a dermatologist can remove one that gets irritated. Some growths can look like skin cancer, so have new or changing spots checked.
Epidermoid cyst
A round lump under the skin, sometimes with a tiny dark opening on top. These cysts are not cancer, and many can be left alone. Do not squeeze one; it can get swollen or infected. A dermatologist can calm a red, swollen cyst with a cortisone shot, and removing the whole cyst, sac and all, usually keeps it from coming back.
Keloid
A raised, firm scar that keeps growing past the edges of the original wound. Keloids can form after piercings, acne, cuts or surgery, and they are more common in people with darker skin tones. They are not cancer. A dermatologist may flatten a keloid with cortisone shots, freezing or silicone gel or sheets. Removing one with surgery alone often makes it come back bigger, so surgery is usually combined with other treatment, such as shots or superficial radiation therapy (SRT). If you get keloids, ask before new piercings or tattoos.
Actinic keratosis
A rough, scaly spot caused by years of sun exposure. Actinic keratoses are precancerous, so they are worth treating. Options include freezing, prescription creams such as fluorouracil or imiquimod, and photodynamic therapy (PDT). Daily sunscreen helps prevent new ones.
Basal cell carcinoma
The most common type of skin cancer. It can look like a shiny bump, a scaly patch, or a sore that does not heal or heals and comes back. A biopsy confirms it. Treatments include Mohs surgery, which has the highest cure rate, and surgical excision. Superficial radiation therapy (SRT) is an option when surgery is not a good fit, and some thin, surface ones can be treated with prescription creams.
Squamous cell carcinoma
The second most common type of skin cancer, linked to sun exposure. It can look like a rough, scaly patch, a raised growth with a dip in the center, a wart-like growth, or a sore that does not heal or heals and comes back. A biopsy confirms it. Common treatments are surgical removal and Mohs surgery. Superficial radiation therapy (SRT) is an option when surgery is not a good fit. Caught early, most can be cured.
Normal mole
Most moles are harmless: one even color, round, with a smooth border, and not changing. Check your skin regularly (try our Skin Spot Self-Checker), and see a dermatologist for a mole that is new, looks different from your others, or is changing, itching or bleeding.
Melanoma
A serious skin cancer that can start in a mole or as a new spot. Know the ABCDEs: Asymmetry, Border that is uneven, Color that varies, Diameter usually larger than 6 mm (a pencil eraser) though it can be smaller, and Evolving (changing). Anyone can get melanoma, including people with darker skin. Found early, it is highly treatable, usually by removing it, so skin cancer screening matters.
Skin myths busted
Myth: A base tan protects you. Fact: A tan means UV has already damaged your skin.
Myth: You can skip sunscreen on cloudy days. Fact: Up to 80% of UV rays pass through clouds.
Myth: Scrubbing clears acne. Fact: Scrubbing irritates skin. Wash gently twice a day.
Myth: Poison ivy blisters spread the rash. Fact: Only the plant oil spreads it.
Myth: Ringworm is a worm. Fact: It is a fungus.
Myth: Head lice mean you are dirty. Fact: Anyone can get lice. They spread by head-to-head contact.
Myth: Psoriasis is contagious. Fact: It is not. It comes from the immune system.
Myth: Dandruff means you are not clean. Fact: It is not from being dirty. A medicated shampoo helps.
Myth: Vitiligo is contagious. Fact: It is not, and it is not harmful to your health.
Myth: People with darker skin cannot get skin cancer. Fact: Anyone can, and it is often found later.
Questions about Derm Quest
Is Derm Quest free?
Yes. It is free to play in any web browser, with no download, account or ads.
Who is it for?
Kids about 8 and up, teens and adults. Relaxed mode is gentler and gives hints. Challenge mode is for skin experts.
Does it work on phones and tablets?
Yes. Use the touch controls on a phone or tablet, or the keyboard on a computer.
Does it save my progress?
Yes. The game saves in your browser on that device, so you can pick up where you left off. Progress does not move between devices.
Can teachers use it in class?
Yes. It is free with no sign-up, it runs in the browser on school laptops and Chromebooks, and each student's progress saves in their own browser.
Play it in our office
Waiting for your appointment at our Columbus or Dublin office? Pull up Derm Quest on your phone. Your progress saves in your phone's browser, so you can finish at home.
Rixis Dermatology has offices at 4300 Clime Rd, Suite 100, Columbus, OH 43228 and 5156 Blazer Pkwy, Suite 120, Dublin, OH 43017. Call 614-887-7723 or see our locations and hours.