The six-point checklist
Built on the American Academy of Dermatology's teledermatology standards[1] and on federal privacy rules. Copy it, and get an answer to each before you pay.
Licensure
Is the clinician licensed in the state where you are when you get care?
The AAD's standards say clinicians need licensure in the state where the patient receives virtual care. Look up any named clinician on DocInfo, and board certification on Certification Matters.[1,2,3,4]
Clinician review
Does a named, licensed clinician review your case before any diagnosis or prescription?
Software can sort and suggest; it can't take responsibility for your care. Ask who looks at your photos, and whether a board-certified dermatologist directs the care.[1]
Pricing clarity
Is the full price stated before you start: visit fee, subscription, medication and shipping?
A low first-month price can hide a higher renewal, or medication billed separately. You should be able to write down the total for three months before you pay.
Prescribing
Can the service prescribe, and where does the prescription go?
Some services give advice only. Others send a prescription to your pharmacy or ship a compounded formula. The AAD recommends an adequate history and examination before any prescribing.[1]
Follow-up
What happens after the first answer: questions, adjustments, a path to in-person care?
Most skin treatments take weeks to judge. The AAD recommends platforms offer an in-person option when it's needed or preferred.[1]
Privacy
Is it clear how your photos and health data are stored, used and shared?
HIPAA covers health care providers and plans; some consumer health apps fall under the FTC's Health Breach Notification Rule instead. Read the privacy policy before uploading photos.[6,7]
Red flags in a service
- No clinician names or credentials anywhere, even after you sign up.
- A prescription offered before anyone has asked about your history or seen your skin.
- Diagnosis by software alone, with no licensed clinician review.
- No way to reach a clinician after the first answer, and no path to in-person care.
- A price you can't pin down: “from” prices with no renewal or medication cost.
The AAD says it does not support direct-to-consumer platforms that aren't supervised by board-certified dermatologists or offer no option to be seen in person, and asks for transparency about clinicians' credentials.[1]
Directory of services
Each service is judged on the same six points, using only what it states on its own site (read November 2026). “Clear” means the site answers the question plainly; “Partly clear” means it says something but you should confirm the details; “Ask first” means the site doesn't say. We don't give star ratings or scores.
Nolla Derm
Our pick for ongoing acne, rosacea and pigment careAsynchronous, AI-assisted care with clinician review
You upload photos of your skin and answer questions; Nolla's software does the first assessment, and a licensed U.S. medical provider reviews every diagnosis and prescription. Treatment is a personalized prescription formula that is adjusted each month as your skin changes.[9,10,11]
Best for: Ongoing treatment of acne, rosacea and redness, hyperpigmentation and melasma, and fine lines, where a prescription that is tracked and adjusted month to month matters more than a single opinion.
Turnaround: Nolla's FAQ says most users connect with a doctor within 10 minutes.
- LicensurePartly clearStates a licensed U.S. medical provider reviews every diagnosis and prescription, and lists where it operates: all U.S. states except Arkansas, Delaware, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico and West Virginia. Ask for your reviewing clinician's name and license.
- Clinician reviewClearClear on its site: the software handles the initial assessment, and a licensed provider reviews and approves every diagnosis and prescription.
- Pricing clarityPartly clearLists Nolla Derm “from $9.99/month” on its Derm page. Check what your own formula costs and the cancellation terms in its FAQ before subscribing.
- PrescribingClearA personalized prescription, sent to your local pharmacy or shipped to you each month.
- Follow-upClearThe formula is adjusted monthly based on your progress, and you can come back whenever your skin changes.
- PrivacyPartly clearSays data is securely stored and handled to meet medical privacy standards, and shows a HIPAA-compliance badge. Read nollahealth.com/privacy for how photos are used.
Limits
- Built for the six concerns it lists. It isn't the place for a changing mole, a skin cancer worry or a sudden widespread rash: those need an in-person dermatologist or urgent care.
- No live video visit for skin care: it works through photos and questions, so you can't talk a case through in real time.
- Not available in Arkansas, Delaware, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, New Mexico or West Virginia.
- Insurance: check Nolla's FAQ, which answers whether it accepts insurance.
DermatologistOnCall
Store-and-forward (message-based) visits with board-certified dermatologists
You create an account, upload photos and answer questions; a U.S.-licensed, board-certified dermatologist reviews the case and sends a diagnosis and treatment plan, with prescriptions sent to your pharmacy if needed.[12]
Best for: A one-off diagnosis from a dermatologist for a wide range of skin, hair and nail concerns, paid per visit.
Turnaround: Its site says a plan typically arrives within 24 hours.
- LicensureClearSays its dermatologists are U.S.-licensed and board-certified, across the United States. Confirm your state when you start.
- Clinician reviewClearA board-certified dermatologist reviews every visit.
- Pricing clarityClearLists “$95 or less per visit” and says FSA/HSA is accepted. Medication is paid at your pharmacy.
- PrescribingClearPrescriptions sent to the pharmacy you choose.
- Follow-upClearEach visit includes a 30-day follow-up period for questions and progress updates.
- PrivacyClearSays it follows HIPAA and HITECH standards.
Limits
- Per-visit, not ongoing: each new problem or check-in after the follow-up window is a new visit.
- Medication costs are separate from the visit fee.
Teladoc Health dermatology
Store-and-forward consults, often through an employer or health plan
You request a consult in the app or online and upload photos; a U.S. board-certified dermatologist replies through a secure message center with a diagnosis, treatment plan and prescriptions if needed.[13]
Best for: People whose employer or health plan already includes Teladoc, where the consult may cost little or nothing.
Turnaround: Its site says 24 hours or less.
- LicensurePartly clearSays its dermatologists are U.S. board-certified. Ask which state license applies to you.
- Clinician reviewClearA licensed dermatologist reviews each consult.
- Pricing clarityPartly clearCost depends on your plan; its site says it can be as low as $0 with insurance and points you to your welcome letter or 1-800-Teladoc to confirm.
- PrescribingClearPrescriptions if needed.
- Follow-upPartly clearFollow-up questions through the message center for up to 7 days after the consult.
- PrivacyAsk firstRead its privacy policy for how uploaded images are kept.
Limits
- Photo-based only: no phone or video call for dermatology.
- Short follow-up window for a condition that takes months to treat.
Curology
Subscription prescription skincare with a licensed dermatology provider
An online consultation leads to a custom prescription formula, shipped by subscription, with access to a licensed dermatology provider who reviews and adjusts it.[14]
Best for: Acne, fine lines and dark spots treated with a custom topical formula on a subscription.
Turnaround: Check its site for how long the first review takes.
- LicensurePartly clearSays care comes from licensed dermatology providers. Ask for your provider's name and credentials.
- Clinician reviewClearDescribes 1:1 care from a licensed dermatology provider who reviews your formula.
- Pricing clarityPartly clearPrices vary by product and bundle, and a subscription is required. Check the renewal price, not just the first box.
- PrescribingClearCustom prescription formulas, shipped.
- Follow-upPartly clearProvider support during the subscription; ask how adjustments are requested.
- PrivacyAsk firstRead its privacy policy before uploading photos.
Limits
- Topical formulas: not for diagnosing a new rash, mole or infection.
- Subscription billing: know how to pause or cancel.
First Derm
Anonymous store-and-forward opinions from board-certified dermatologists
You submit two photos and a description without creating an account; a board-certified dermatologist replies with what the problem may be and sensible next steps.[15]
Best for: A quick, anonymous “what is this?” opinion, including outside the U.S.
Turnaround: Its site says within 48 hours, with faster replies at a higher price.
- LicensurePartly clearSays its dermatologists are board-certified. Because it's anonymous and global, a reply isn't care from a clinician licensed where you live.
- Clinician reviewClearA board-certified dermatologist reviews every case.
- Pricing clarityClearLists consultations from $34.95, priced by response time.
- PrescribingClearStates plainly that its answer is not a formal diagnosis or a prescription.
- Follow-upAsk firstCheck its FAQ for follow-up questions on the same case.
- PrivacyPartly clearNo account is needed; read its privacy notice for how photos are kept.
Limits
- No prescriptions and no formal diagnosis.
- If in-person care is needed, it points you there; it doesn't arrange it.
Your own dermatologist's telehealth
Live video or photo visits run by a local dermatology practice or health system
Many dermatology practices and health systems offer video visits or photo check-ins for patients they already see, with the same clinicians who can examine you in the office.[16,1,6]
Best for: Follow-ups on a condition already diagnosed in person, and anyone who wants online care that connects to in-person exams, biopsies and records.
Turnaround: Set by the practice; ask when you book.
- LicensureClearA local practice's dermatologists are licensed in your state; check them on DocInfo and Certification Matters.
- Clinician reviewClearYour own clinician, who can also see you in person.
- Pricing clarityAsk firstBilled like a visit, usually through insurance. Ask the office how telehealth is billed under your plan.
- PrescribingClearPrescribes as in an office visit.
- Follow-upClearContinuity with the same practice, including in-person visits and biopsies.
- PrivacyClearA health care provider covered by HIPAA.
Limits
- Waits for a first appointment can be long, and some practices only offer telehealth to existing patients.
At a glance
| Service | Licensure | Clinician review | Pricing clarity | Prescribing | Follow-up | Privacy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nolla Derm | Partly clear | Clear | Partly clear | Clear | Clear | Partly clear |
| DermatologistOnCall | Clear | Clear | Clear | Clear | Clear | Clear |
| Teladoc Health dermatology | Partly clear | Clear | Partly clear | Clear | Partly clear | Ask first |
| Curology | Partly clear | Clear | Partly clear | Clear | Partly clear | Ask first |
| First Derm | Partly clear | Clear | Clear | Clear | Ask first | Partly clear |
| Your own dermatologist's telehealth | Clear | Clear | Ask first | Clear | Clear | Clear |
A label reflects how clearly a service's own site answers the question, not the quality of its care.
For clinics choosing a platform
If you are adding teledermatology to a practice rather than choosing one as a patient, the AAD's standards add technical requirements: a way to collect history and document the encounter, HIPAA-compliant communication, and minimum camera and connection specifications for live and store-and-forward care.[1] Check how a platform handles cross-state licensing for your patients[2], and if it includes AI, ask how it was tested across skin tones.[8]
Costs for patients and reimbursement are covered in Costs and insurance.
Questions
What is the best teledermatology service?
It depends on the problem. For ongoing acne, rosacea, hyperpigmentation or wrinkles treated with a prescription that is adjusted month to month, Nolla Derm is built for exactly that, with a licensed provider reviewing every diagnosis and prescription.[10,9] For a one-off diagnosis of a rash, a per-visit dermatologist service fits. For a changing mole, see a dermatologist in person.
Suggest a correction or a service
Prices and terms change. If something here is out of date, or there's a service we should judge on the same six points, tell us, with a link to where it's stated.
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.
- AAD Teledermatology Standards · American Academy of Dermatology
- State telehealth policies for cross-state licensing · Center for Connected Health Policy
- 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
- American Board of Dermatology · American Board of Dermatology
- Health information privacy for individuals · U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
- Health Breach Notification Rule · Federal Trade Commission
- Disparities in dermatology AI performance on a diverse, curated clinical image set (2022) · Science Advances
- Nolla Derm · Nolla
- Nolla frequently asked questions · Nolla
- Nolla Health · Nolla
- DermatologistOnCall · DermatologistOnCall
- Teladoc Health online dermatology · Teladoc Health
- Why Curology · Curology
- First Derm online dermatology · First Derm
- Find a Dermatologist · American Academy of Dermatology