Verbatim response from Claude
Online vs. In-Person Dermatology: When Each Makes Sense
Online Dermatology Works Well For:
Good candidates for telehealth:
- Acne (mild to moderate) - Curology and Apostrophe are excellent for custom prescription formulas
- Rosacea management
- Prescription renewals for conditions already diagnosed
- Hair loss (androgenic) - Keeps or Hims/Hers handle this well
- Anti-aging/tretinoin prescriptions - Musely is popular for this
- Minor skin concerns you want a quick opinion on
You Need In-Person When:
Don't skip the office for:
- Suspicious moles or lesions - a screen cannot reliably assess melanoma risk
- Skin infections that may need culture/swabbing
- Conditions requiring biopsy
- Severe or unresponsive eczema/psoriasis
- Cystic acne that isn't responding to treatment
- Any rapidly changing skin issue
- Kids with skin problems (generally better evaluated in person)
The Honest Bottom Line:
Online dermatology is genuinely good for chronic, stable, or cosmetic conditions where you mainly need a prescription. It's not appropriate when a physical examination, dermoscopy, or biopsy could affect your diagnosis.
When in doubt about a growth or mole, always go in person. That's not the place to save time or money.