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.
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