Before you start

  • Photos of every affected area, taken today (instructions below).
  • A few lines on when it started, how it has changed, and what makes it better or worse.
  • Every medicine, supplement and skin product you use, with doses.
  • Allergies, other conditions, and whether you are pregnant, breastfeeding or planning a pregnancy.
  • Your pharmacy's name and address, and your insurance card if the service bills insurance.
  • Older photos, if you have them, showing how it looked before.

How to take good photos

The AAD recommends a camera of at least 800×600 pixels for store-and-forward care, which any recent phone camera exceeds; what usually fails is light and focus, not resolution.[2] Services agree that clear, well-lit images make assessments more accurate.[3]

  1. Use daylight. Stand facing a window, out of direct sun. Turn off the flash, which flattens redness and texture.
  2. Take three distances. One wide enough to show where on the body it is, one at arm's length, and one close-up that is still in focus.
  3. Add a scale. For a spot or mole, put a ruler or coin beside it in the close-up.
  4. Keep it plain. No makeup, filters, beauty modes or editing. Use the rear camera if someone can help: it is usually sharper.
  5. Check before sending. Zoom in: if you can't see the edges of a bump or the texture of a patch, take it again.
  6. Repeat the same way next time. Same place, light and angles, so changes are real changes.

For hard-to-see places like your back or scalp, ask someone to help, or use a mirror as the AAD suggests for skin self-exams.[6]

How to describe symptoms

Answer these in a few short lines. Clinicians read hundreds of histories; specifics help.

CoverInstead ofWrite
Timing“A while”“Started 3 weeks ago on my left forearm”
Change“It's getting worse”“Spread to both arms in the last week; spots now merge”
Feel“It bothers me”“Itchy, worse at night; not painful”
TriggersNothing“Started after switching laundry detergent”
Tried“Some creams”“OTC 1% hydrocortisone twice a day for 5 days: slightly better”
Other symptomsLeaving it out“No fever, no joint pain, no new medicines”

For a mole or spot, describe it against the ABCDEs: asymmetry, border, color, diameter and evolving.[7] If any of them apply, book an in-person exam; see moles and changing spots.

Listing medications

The AAD's standards ask that platforms collect an adequate history before allowing a prescription.[2] That history is only as good as what you list:

  • Prescription medicines, with dose, including birth control and anything started in the last two months (new medicines can cause rashes).
  • Over-the-counter medicines and supplements, including vitamin A, biotin and herbal products.
  • Everything on your skin: cleansers, acids, retinol, sunscreen, and anything prescribed before.
  • Allergies and past reactions to medicines or skin products.
  • Pregnancy, breastfeeding or plans to conceive: several skin medicines aren't used in pregnancy, and isotretinoin has its own program, iPLEDGE, with pregnancy testing requirements.[8]

If it's a video visit

  • Send photos ahead if the practice allows it: still photos show more detail than video.
  • Join from a bright, private room, with the affected area easy to show.
  • Test your camera and connection beforehand; have a phone ready as backup.
  • Write down your questions, and the answers.

The AAD notes that a dermatologist may ask you to come in if something, such as a suspicious mole, needs to be tested or removed.[1]

Reading your care plan

A good plan answers each of these. If yours doesn't, ask before you start treatment.

What to look for

Diagnosis
What they think it is, and how sure they are. “Likely” or a short list is normal.
Treatment
Each medicine, how much, where, how often, and for how long.
Expect
When you should see improvement, and which side effects (dryness, peeling) are normal.
Stop if
Which reactions mean stopping and getting in touch.
Follow-up
When to send new photos or book the next visit, and how.
In person
What would mean seeing someone face to face, and how to arrange it.
Clinician
Who made the plan, with their credentials.

Not sure which service to start with? See how to compare services.

Questions

How many photos should I send to an online dermatologist?

Send what the service asks for, usually a close-up and a wider shot of each area. Some set a minimum: First Derm asks for two pictures,[5] and Teladoc requires images for a dermatology consult.[4]

Should I wear makeup in my photos?

No. Remove makeup, self-tanner and shiny skincare, and turn off filters and beauty modes: they hide what the clinician needs to see.

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. What is telemedicine? · American Academy of Dermatology
  2. AAD Teledermatology Standards · American Academy of Dermatology
  3. Nolla frequently asked questions · Nolla
  4. Teladoc Health online dermatology · Teladoc Health
  5. First Derm online dermatology · First Derm
  6. How to perform a skin self-exam · American Academy of Dermatology
  7. What to look for: ABCDEs of melanoma · American Academy of Dermatology
  8. iPLEDGE REMS program · iPLEDGE

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.