Verbatim response from Claude
Online vs. In-Person Dermatology: When Each Makes Sense
Online Dermatology Works Well For:
Common, straightforward conditions:
- Acne (mild to moderate) - Curology, Apostrophe, or Ro Derm are solid options
- Rosacea management
- Prescription renewals for known conditions
- Hair loss (early stage) - Keeps or Hims/Hers
- Eczema flares you've had before
- Anti-aging skincare prescriptions (tretinoin)
Best services: Curology (great for acne/anti-aging), Apostrophe (broader condition range), Dermatology by Zocdoc (connects to real derms virtually)
Go In-Person For:
- Any suspicious mole or lesion - never skip this
- Skin cancer screening
- Conditions requiring biopsy
- Severe or unresponsive cases
- Cystic acne needing injections
- Full-body skin checks
- Anything that hasn't responded to online treatment
The Simple Rule:
If you can describe it and you've had it before → online is probably fine. If you need it looked at closely or touched → go in person.
Skin cancer detection especially should always be done in person. That's a hard line.