“Dermatologic emergencies” sounds like an oxymoron. Are there dermatologic emergencies?

Yes. Several groups of diseases in dermatology are emergencies. In some, the skin is the primary organ affected (e.g., pemphigus vulgaris) and, in others, the cutaneous manifestations are an important diagnostic finding of a severe underlying condition (e.g., meningococcemia). Rapid recognition and diagnosis of dermatologic emergencies are important because these conditions are often acutely lethal but can be treated successfully if the diagnosis is made early in the disease course.