Usually fine online

  • Dark marks left after acne or other inflammation.
  • Melasma: patches of brown or gray-brown color, often on the cheeks, forehead, nose or upper lip.
  • Uneven skin tone that hasn't improved with over-the-counter products.

Go in person instead

  • A single spot that is new, growing, changing color or shape, itching or bleeding: have it checked in person.
  • Chemical peels and laser treatments are done in a clinic, and in darker skin tones need a clinician experienced with them.

What an online visit involves

  • Photos in daylight without makeup, from the front and both sides.
  • Questions about sun exposure, pregnancy and hormonal medicines, which can trigger melasma, and what you've already used.
  • A plan that combines a prescription with daily broad-spectrum sunscreen, and a realistic time frame.

Photo tips: Use the same spot, light and distance each time: pigment changes slowly. Turn off any beauty or HDR mode. More in how to take good photos.

Where Nolla Derm fits

Nolla Derm lists hyperpigmentation and melasma among its concerns, with a prescription formula that is adjusted each month. It is not for checking an individual dark spot that's new or changing.[4]

Services that treat it

  • Nolla Derm: asynchronous, ai-assisted care with clinician review.
  • DermatologistOnCall: store-and-forward (message-based) visits with board-certified dermatologists.
  • Curology: subscription prescription skincare with a licensed dermatology provider.

Judge any of them with the six-point checklist. The AAD recommends every platform offer an in-person option when you need one.[5]

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.

  1. Melasma: Overview · American Academy of Dermatology
  2. How to fade dark spots in darker skin tones · American Academy of Dermatology
  3. What to look for: ABCDEs of melanoma · American Academy of Dermatology
  4. Nolla Derm · Nolla
  5. AAD Teledermatology Standards · American Academy of Dermatology

Keep reading

How teledermatology worksStore-and-forward, live video and AI-assisted care, step by step.What it can and can't treatAcne, rosacea, eczema, pigment, wrinkles, moles and rashes, and when to go in person.How to compare servicesA six-point checklist and a directory of services judged on it.Costs and insurancePer-visit versus subscription, insurance questions and what to ask before paying.AI and clinician oversightWhat AI does in skin care, where it falls short, and why sign-off matters.Prepare for your visitPhotos, symptoms, medications, and how to read the care plan you get back.