Because of FutureDerm, I get lots of detailed emails from family members, friends, and readers, asking me questions about their skin.
There are the questions that are fine for me to answer:
Which products should I use? I have sunspots and am starting to see wrinkles.
I’m a 39-year-old woman from Dallas, TX. For the past three years, I’ve been using retinol and alpha hydroxy acid, but you said that’s not a great idea. What harm could I have done to my skin?
And then there are the questions I don’t want to go near with a ten-foot pole:
Is this psoriasis or not? [encloses photos of silvery patched skin]
My derm says I should use a steroid cream to take down this swelling, but I don’t like it. Can you tell me what to use instead? [photo of a butt cheek with swelling is attached]
And the infamous:
Can you look at this mole for me?Â
Clearly, there is a need for people to see dermatologists. Unfortunately, the average wait time to see a dermatologist is now two-and-a-half months (Merritt Hawkins, 2014). NBC News went so far as to say that the ridiculous wait times to see a derm could “literally, leave you dying to be seen” (NBC News, 2011).
And if you think that seeing a primary care physician for your skin ailment is the same thing, you’re wrong. Studies show that primary care physicians not only take longer to diagnose conditions of the skin, hair, and nails than dermatologists do (Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 1999), but also misdiagnose more often than their counterparts who are trained in these areas (Journal of General Internal Medicine, 2006).
Meanwhile, studies show equivalent diagnoses for many skin conditions when you see a derm in person or via electronic consult (Science Codex, 2014).
Thankfully, there is Dermatologist on Call, a 24/7 service available online. For just $59, you can get to consult a board-certified dermatologist. The average appointment is the same length as your typical in-person dermatologist visit, and the convenience and one-on-one dedicated attention can’t be beat!
More complicated diagnoses will require you to take photos of your skin, upload, and submit. The vast majority will receive a response within 11 hours, but you are guaranteed a response within three days.
What Conditions Can Dermatologist on Call Dermatologists Treat?
Dermatologist On Call dermatologists all undergo specialized training to ensure that you are getting consistent advice and experience with each of their dermatologists. The Dermatologist On Call dermatologists are trained to treat over 3,000 conditions of the hair, skin, and nails, but these are the most common conditions they treat:
Is It Easy to Use?
The Dermatologist On Call website is quite simple and easy-to-use. Once you fill out the registration (similar to the paperwork in a waiting room), you will be prompted to upload photos and a written description of your condition. You may also ask questions and provide comments.
And that’s it! You will receive a response promptly — most persons receive a diagnosis and treatment plan within 11 hours, but you are guaranteed a response within three business days. Aside from weekends and holidays, you should not be waiting longer than 72 hours.
Once you receive your diagnosis and treatment plan — including prescriptions you can directly take to your nearest pharmacy — you will be able to communicate with a dermatologist via the Dermatologist On Call website for up to 30 days, including the date of your appointment.
Who Can Use It?
Currently, residents of the following states can use Dermatologist On Call:
- California
- Colorado
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Michigan
- Missouri
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- Utah
- Wisconsin
- West Virginia
This Service is Not Available in My State. What Should I Do?
Please send me an email at nicki[at]futurederm[dot]com. I will inform the good guys at Dermatologist On Call of the issue. While it may not help you right away, the more interest they know exists within a particular state, the more likely they are to focus on extending Dermatologist On Call:services there next.
Are there Detriments to this Form of Seeing a Derm?
The best data on whether or not teledermatology works comes from our friends in the U.K. Across the Atlantic Ocean, the Brits are much more avid fans of derms than we are here in the states, with 24% of them reporting that they see a derm at least once a year (Good Practice Initiative, 2013).
As you might imagine, hordes of Brits wanting to see the derm results in even more overcrowding than we experience here. Hence teledermatology has become a huge industry in the U.K., with several million uses of the technology each year.
More teledermatology patients results in more relevant data. Teledermatology has become such a ubiquitous and well-accepted practice in the U.K. for skin conditions such as warts, herpes, acne, vitiligo, and eczema that the U.K. Department of Health recommends teledermatology. In fact, the U.K. Department of Health has reported it condones teledermatology specifically “to support delivery of the quality, innovation, productivity, and prevention (QIPP)[of dermatological conditions]” (Good Practice Initiative, 2013).
How Much Does it Cost?
Dermatologist On Call is just $59, and includes a diagnosis, treatment plan, and access to a board-certified dermatologist for up to 30 days. You may not use health insurance until January 1. On that date,Dermatologist On Call will accept Highmark insurance in Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Delaware. Contact Highmark for more details on your particular plan and coverage rates/co-pays.
However, you can use Health Spending Accounts (HSA), Health Reimbursement Accounts (HRA) or Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) for care.
Bottom Line
It’s hard to beat the convenience and quality of the Dermatologist On Call system. For just $59, you will receive a treatment plan and diagnosis catered towards your condition within 3 days, and will have access to a board-certified dermatologist for up to 30 days. Considering that the average wait time for a dermatologist is nearly three months, and the average appointment is over an hour including wait times, Dermatologist On Call is a brilliant, modern way to get quality care for your skin, hair, and nails super fast!
What are your thoughts on teledermatology or the Dermatologist On Call service? Do you have questions? Reach out in Comments below!
A special thanks to Perlora Pittsburgh, my favorite home furnishings store, for providing the elegant and modern background for this and several other posts this week. If you like any of the furnishings in this post, visit ModernLiving.Perlora.com, or call 412-431-2220.
To learn more about the Dermatology on Call teledermatology service or to get started with an appointment today, visit DermatologistOnCall.com.
