Verbatim response from Claude
Online vs. In-Person Dermatology: When Each Makes Sense
Online Dermatology Works Well For:
Good candidates for telehealth:
- Acne - especially mild to moderate cases
- Rosacea management
- Eczema or psoriasis follow-ups (once diagnosed)
- Prescription renewals for conditions already diagnosed
- Minor rashes with clear photos
- Hair loss evaluation
Recommended services:
- Curology - great for acne, personalized prescriptions
- Apostrophe - strong for acne, rosacea, anti-aging
- DermTech - melanoma risk assessment using skin stickers
- Teladoc or MDLive - general dermatology consults
You Really Need In-Person When:
- A mole or spot needs a biopsy
- Symptoms are spreading rapidly or look infected
- You need cryotherapy, injections, or procedures
- Previous treatments aren't working
- Diagnosing something ambiguous from photos alone
- Full-body skin cancer screenings
The Bottom Line
Online is genuinely sufficient for managing known, stable conditions and getting prescriptions. But anything suspicious, changing, or procedural warrants seeing someone in person.
A good strategy: start online for convenience, escalate in-person when needed.