Verbatim response from Claude
Online vs. In-Person Dermatology: When Each Makes Sense
Online Dermatology Works Well For:
Good candidates for telehealth:
- Acne – especially maintenance or mild-to-moderate cases
- Rosacea – prescription management and monitoring
- Eczema/psoriasis – follow-up care and prescription refills
- Hair loss – initial evaluation for common causes like androgenic alopecia
- Minor rashes – when you can share clear photos
Recommended services:
- Apostrophe – strong for acne and anti-aging prescriptions, dermatologist-reviewed
- Curology – good for acne and customized topical formulas
- Hims/Hers – convenient for hair loss and acne
- Teladoc – broader platform with board-certified dermatologists
Go In-Person When:
- You have a suspicious mole or lesion (never skip this)
- You need a full skin cancer screening
- Symptoms are undiagnosed or changing rapidly
- You've tried treatments that aren't working
- You need a biopsy or procedure
- The condition involves large body surface areas
Bottom Line:
Online is genuinely sufficient for managing known, stable conditions. For anything involving visual inspection of potential cancer or undiagnosed growths, see someone in person. Your skin is worth it.