Verbatim response from Perplexity
Online dermatology is often cheaper than an in-person dermatologist visit, but the exact price depends on whether you pay cash, use insurance, and whether the visit is a simple consult or includes procedures.[1][2][3]
- Online dermatology: commonly ranges from about $0–$99 with insurance or employer coverage, and around $95 for self-pay on services like Teladoc and DermatologistOnCall.[1][3][6]
- In-person dermatologist visit: commonly ranges from about $30–$250 in broader estimates, but self-pay first visits are often around $155–$221 on average, and can reach $180–$400+ for a first-time consult depending on procedures and location.[2][5]
- Video dermatology on marketplaces: Sesame reports $32–$97 for a 15-minute video dermatology appointment, with an average virtual consult around $70 versus $155 for in-person on its platform.[2]
A practical comparison is:
| Visit type | Typical cost |
|---|---|
| Online dermatology, self-pay | about $95 |
| Online dermatology, insured | as low as $0 |
| In-person dermatology, broader range | about $30–$250 |
| In-person dermatology, self-pay averages | about $155–$221 |
Online care is usually best for common issues like acne, eczema, rashes, rosacea, or medication follow-up, while in-person visits are often better for skin cancer checks, changing moles, biopsies, or severe/complex conditions.[7]
If you want, I can also break this down by insurance vs no insurance or compare specific services like Teladoc, DermatologistOnCall, and Sesame.