What teledermatology is
Teledermatology is dermatology delivered at a distance. The American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) describes three ways it happens: a video visit, a phone call, or sending pictures and written descriptions securely through a portal.[1] Through it, a dermatologist can examine a skin, hair or nail problem, keep a chronic condition on track and prescribe medication if needed.
A teledermatology service is the business or clinic that runs this for you: a national app, a dermatology practice's own video visits, or a benefit included with your health plan. They differ in who reviews your case, how fast they answer, whether they prescribe, what they charge and what happens after the first answer. That is what this guide compares.
Who sets the bar
The AAD's teledermatology standards ask for care directed by a board-certified dermatologist, an option to be seen in person, licensure in the patient's state, an adequate history before prescribing, and HIPAA-compliant communication.[2] We use those standards as the yardstick throughout.
The main types of service
Almost every service is built on one of these care models, or mixes them.
Store-and-forward
You upload photos and answer questions; a clinician reviews them later and replies with a diagnosis and plan. No appointment.
Live video
A scheduled video visit. You can talk the problem through and the clinician can ask you to move the camera.
AI-assisted with clinician review
Software analyzes your photos and answers first; a licensed clinician reviews and approves any diagnosis and prescription.
eConsults and hybrid care
Your primary care clinician sends photos to a dermatologist for advice, or a practice mixes online follow-ups with office visits.
The AAD also allows audio-only visits, but only for patients already seen in person who can't use video or photos, or whose condition is stable.[2] Step-by-step walk-throughs of each model are on How teledermatology works.
Who it suits, and who it doesn't
It tends to suit
- People with a visible, common problem such as acne, rosacea, dark spots or a mild rash.
- People who live far from a dermatologist, or can't easily take time off for an appointment.
- Anyone on long-term treatment who needs regular check-ins and prescription adjustments.
- Clinics and primary care teams who want a dermatologist's opinion before referring.
Start in person if
- A mole or spot is new, changing, bleeding or matches the ABCDE warning signs.[9]
- A rash comes with fever, blistering, peeling, or swelling of the lips, tongue or throat.
- You need a procedure: a biopsy, a mole removal, lasers, injections or patch testing.
- The problem is under hair, inside the mouth or in places a camera can't show well.
What it can treat
How well online care fits depends on the condition. Here is the summary; each links to a full page with what a visit involves and the signs that mean in-person care.
| Condition | Fit for online care |
|---|---|
| Acne | Usually suits online care |
| Rosacea | Usually suits online care |
| Eczema | Sometimes suits online care |
| Hyperpigmentation and melasma | Usually suits online care |
| Wrinkles and photoaging | Usually suits online care |
| Moles and changing spots | Start in person |
| Rashes and hives | Sometimes suits online care |
Skin cancer is the clearest limit. A Cochrane review of teledermatology for diagnosing skin cancer found the evidence limited and warned that some melanomas could be missed or delayed.[8] More on what teledermatology can and can't treat.
What it costs
Services charge in one of three ways: a fee per visit, a monthly subscription that usually bundles a prescription formula, or through your insurance like any other visit. We quote prices only as each service lists them on its own site, because they change:
- DermatologistOnCall lists “$95 or less per visit” and accepts FSA/HSA.[3]
- First Derm lists anonymous consultations from $34.95, priced by response time.[5]
- Nolla Derm lists plans from $9.99 a month.[7]
- Teladoc's price depends on your health plan, and it says it can be as low as $0 with insurance.[4]
Medicare Part B covers certain telehealth services; after the deductible you usually pay 20% of the Medicare-approved amount.[12] Details, and what to ask before paying, are on Costs and insurance.
How to choose a service
Judge any service on six things before you pay. Our full checklist and directory are on Compare services.
- Licensure: the clinician is licensed in the state you are in when you get care.[2,11] Look them up on DocInfo[17] and Certification Matters.[18]
- Clinician review: a named, licensed clinician reviews your case before any diagnosis or prescription.
- Pricing clarity: you can work out the full cost, including medication and renewals.
- Prescribing: it can prescribe what your condition may need, and you know where it goes.
- Follow-up: there is a way to ask questions, adjust treatment and get to in-person care.
- Privacy: the policy says how your photos are stored and whether they're shared.[14,15]
Worked examples
Three common situations, and how the checklist points to a different kind of service for each.
Persistent acne at 27
- Situation
- Breakouts on the jaw and chin for two years; over-the-counter benzoyl peroxide helped a little. No cysts or scarring.
- Fit
- Good for online care: acne is diagnosed by how it looks and behaves, and treatment is judged over weeks.
- Choose
- An ongoing service with clinician review and monthly adjustment. Nolla Derm is built for this: an AI-assisted assessment, a licensed provider approving the prescription, and a formula adjusted each month.[7,6]
- Watch for
- Deep, painful cysts or scarring: those need a dermatologist in person.
A new itchy rash after starting a new detergent
- Situation
- Red, itchy patches on the arms and trunk for four days. No fever, no blisters, no swelling of the face.
- Fit
- Often suits a dermatologist-run photo service.
- Choose
- A per-visit store-and-forward service that prescribes and allows follow-up questions, such as one where a board-certified dermatologist reviews each case.[3,4]
- Watch for
- Fever, blistering, peeling skin or swelling of the lips or tongue: get urgent care instead.
A mole that seems to be getting darker
- Situation
- A mole on the back that a partner says looks bigger and darker than last summer.
- Fit
- Start in person. “Evolving” is one of the ABCDE warning signs of melanoma.[9]
- Choose
- A board-certified dermatologist near you, found through the AAD's directory.[16] A photo service can help with how urgently to book, not with ruling cancer out.
- Watch for
- Bleeding, itching or a sore that won't heal: book sooner.
Glossary
- Teledermatology
- Dermatology care delivered remotely by video, phone or securely sent photos and history.
- Store-and-forward (asynchronous)
- You send photos and answers; a clinician reviews them later. Neither side has to be online at the same time.
- Synchronous (live) visit
- A real-time video or phone visit with a clinician.
- AI-assisted care
- Software analyzes images and answers to support the clinician, who stays responsible for diagnosis and treatment.
- eConsult
- One clinician asks a specialist for advice about a patient, usually with photos, without a separate visit.
- Board-certified dermatologist
- A physician who completed dermatology residency and passed the specialty board's exams; you can check on Certification Matters.
- Licensure
- A state license to practice medicine. For telehealth, it generally has to match the state where the patient is.
- Compounded formula
- A prescription cream mixed for one patient, often combining several ingredients in one product.
- HSA / FSA
- Tax-advantaged accounts for medical costs. Whether a particular service qualifies depends on IRS rules and your plan.
- Biopsy
- Removing a small piece of skin to examine under a microscope. Always done in person.
Questions people ask
What are teledermatology services?
Services that deliver skin, hair and nail care remotely. You share photos and answers to questions, or join a video call, and a licensed clinician diagnoses the problem, writes a plan and, where needed, a prescription.[1]
Is teledermatology as good as an in-person visit?
For visible, common conditions such as acne, rosacea and many rashes, good photos and a clear history give a clinician most of what they need.[1] It is weaker for skin cancer: a Cochrane review found the evidence limited and that some melanomas could be missed or delayed.[8] A changing mole needs an in-person exam.
Can an online dermatologist prescribe medication?
How long does a teledermatology visit take to get an answer?
Does insurance cover teledermatology?
Sometimes. Medicare Part B covers certain telehealth services,[12] and private plans vary. Many direct-to-consumer services are cash-pay. Ask your plan whether the service and visit type are covered, and whether HSA or FSA funds apply.[13] More on the costs and insurance page.
Is it safe to send photos of my skin online?
Is AI-only skin diagnosis reliable?
Not on its own. Performance of skin-image AI dropped on a diverse, curated image set, especially on darker skin tones.[10] Choose services where a licensed clinician reviews every diagnosis and prescription. See AI in teledermatology.
Every section of the guide
Sources
Every numbered claim on this page points here. Providers' own pages were read in November 2026; prices and terms change, so check them again before you pay.
- What is telemedicine? · American Academy of Dermatology
- AAD Teledermatology Standards · American Academy of Dermatology
- DermatologistOnCall · DermatologistOnCall
- Teladoc Health online dermatology · Teladoc Health
- First Derm online dermatology · First Derm
- Nolla frequently asked questions · Nolla
- Nolla Derm · Nolla
- Teledermatology for diagnosing skin cancer in adults (Cochrane review, 2018) · Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews
- What to look for: ABCDEs of melanoma · American Academy of Dermatology
- Disparities in dermatology AI performance on a diverse, curated clinical image set (2022) · Science Advances
- State telehealth policies for cross-state licensing · Center for Connected Health Policy
- Telehealth coverage · Medicare.gov
- Publication 502, Medical and Dental Expenses · Internal Revenue Service
- Health information privacy for individuals · U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- Health Breach Notification Rule · Federal Trade Commission
- Find a Dermatologist · American Academy of Dermatology
- DocInfo: look up a physician's license · Federation of State Medical Boards
- Certification Matters: check a doctor's board certification · American Board of Medical Specialties