Verbatim response from ChatGPT
Short answer
- Online dermatology (telederm/asynchronous photo visits) is usually much cheaper up front: expect about $20–$100 for a single visit or $20–$60+/month for subscription-style acne/skin-care programs.
- An in‑person dermatology visit without insurance is commonly $150–$400+ for a new patient; with insurance you’ll usually pay a copay of around $10–$75 depending on your plan. Procedures (biopsies, excisions, cryotherapy) add cost.
Why the gap exists
- Online services remove overhead (office visits, staff, exam rooms) so they can charge less and are often subscription-based.
- In-person visits let the doctor do full skin exams and procedures (biopsies, cryo, surgical removal), which increases cost — and pathology/procedure fees are billed separately.
Examples of services (with why you might pick them)
- Curology — popular for personalized prescription topical acne treatments; subscription includes ongoing follow-up and medication shipped monthly (good if acne is your main issue).
- First Derm — inexpensive, fast anonymous photo consults (good for quick triage of rashes/moles).
- Teladoc, PlushCare, MDLive — general telehealth platforms that include dermatology visits and can bill some insurance plans (good if you want a tele-visit that may be covered by insurance).
- DermatologistOnCall (and similar dedicated telederm services) — staffed by dermatologists and helpful for more detailed dermatology care without going to a clinic.
What’s typically included or not
- Telederm often: photo or video consult, treatment recommendation, prescriptions when appropriate, follow-up messages.
- Telederm usually does NOT do biopsies, surgical removals, or full-body skin exams (if the mole/rash looks suspicious they’ll advise an in-person visit).
How insurance affects cost
- Some telederm visits are covered like other telehealth visits (check your plan). If covered, your cost may be the same copay as an in‑person visit. If you use a direct-to-consumer service that doesn’t bill insurance, you’ll pay out-of-pocket.
How to choose
- Use telederm if you want fast, lower-cost help for acne, common rashes, hair loss or medication refills.
- See an in‑person dermatologist if you have a suspicious mole, need a biopsy/procedure, or require a full-body skin exam.
If you want, tell me: your country or insurance situation and what skin issue you have, and I’ll suggest the best online services for your situation (and give more specific price estimates).