Online acne treatment
A telehealth visit: send photos, get a prescription (tretinoin, spironolactone) and a treatment plan once a dermatologist or licensed provider reviews them. Medicine is delivered or sent to your pharmacy; cost and insurance rules differ by service.
- Online Intake
- Photo Upload
- Provider Review
- Prescription & Delivery
Last reviewed · Sources: American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), Mayo Clinic, FDA
How it works
The four steps of an online acne visit:
-
Online Intake
- What you do
- Answer questions about your skin, health history and the medicines you've tried.
- Who's involved
- Just you, on the service's website or app.
- What drives the cost
- A visit or consultation fee. Some services don't bill insurance for it.
-
Photo Upload
- What you do
- Upload clear photos of your acne. Some services use text, a call or video instead.
- Who's involved
- You. Photos go to your secure account.
- What drives the cost
- Part of the visit fee.
-
Provider Review
- What you do
- Answer any follow-up questions.
- Who's involved
- A provider licensed in your state, sometimes a board-certified dermatologist. They decide if telehealth is safe for you.
- What drives the cost
- A one-time visit or a subscription.
-
Prescription & Delivery
- What you do
- Pick it up at a pharmacy, sometimes same day, or get it by mail.
- Who's involved
- A local or mail-order pharmacy.
- What drives the cost
- The medicine, priced by your insurance plan. Some services add a monthly fee.
| Route | Best for | Who looks at your skin | Prescription? | What you pay for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over-the-counter products | Mild acne: blackheads, whiteheads, small pimples. Many people do well if they treat pimples at home first. | You | No | The product |
| AI skin analysis (acne.today) | Knowing your acne type and likely cause before you pay for treatment Start my analysis | AI, from a face scan and short quiz | No, it doesn't prescribe | A one-time report |
| Online prescription service | Mild to moderate acne that store products haven't cleared | A licensed provider or dermatologist, from photos or chat | Yes, if it's right for you | A visit or subscription, plus medicine |
| In-person dermatologist | Severe acne, deep nodules or cysts, scarring | A board-certified dermatologist, face to face | Yes, plus office procedures | An office visit, medicine and any procedures |
What online providers can prescribe
An online acne prescription is the same medicine a clinic prescribes, written after a telehealth review. It means the provider picks from four groups. The options of online acne treatment:
- Topical Retinoids
- Tretinoin, adapalene or tazarotene to clear pores, usually applied in the evening.
- Topical Antibiotics & Cleansers
- Clindamycin, used with a benzoyl peroxide product to limit antibiotic resistance.
- Oral Medications
- Antibiotics such as doxycycline or minocycline, and for women, birth control pills or spironolactone.
- Custom Blends
- Combination creams with two or three medicines in one, such as a retinoid with benzoyl peroxide.
Itchy, same-size bumps may be fungal acne instead, so mention any itching. Not sure which kind you have? Check your acne type from a photo first.
What usually needs an in-person visit
An in-person visit is an exam in a dermatologist's office. It means procedures and close monitoring. The cases of in-person acne care:
- Isotretinoin: patients enroll in the FDA's iPLEDGE program and have regular follow-ups, in person or by telemedicine. Anyone who can get pregnant takes the pre-treatment pregnancy test in a medical setting. Some online services, such as Nurx, don't prescribe it.
- Nodules and cysts: a dermatologist can inject a corticosteroid into a large, painful breakout.
- Scarring: acne that leaves scars needs a dermatologist's exam.
How to compare services
A service comparison is a check of how each online clinic runs its care. It means looking past the ads at who treats you and how you pay. The questions of a fair comparison, with examples from two services:
| Question | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Who reviews my photos? | Some services use licensed providers, others board-certified dermatologists. Nurx uses providers licensed in your state, advised by a board-certified dermatologist. |
| Subscription or one-time visit? | GoodRx Care offers both. Nurx ships automatic refills until you pause or cancel. |
| Does it take my insurance? | Nurx bills most private plans for medicine but not for the consultation, and doesn't accept Medicare, Medicaid or Tricare. GoodRx Care says no insurance is needed. |
| Delivery or pharmacy pickup? | Nurx mails medicine, typically 3 to 5 days after it's filled. GoodRx Care sends it to your pharmacy for same-day pickup. |
| Can I message the provider later? | Nurx includes follow-up messaging and a check-in about 10 weeks in. |
| Who can't use it? | GoodRx Care acne visits are for ages 18 to 65. Nurx doesn't treat people who are pregnant, breastfeeding or trying to conceive. |
Is online treatment right for you
Online treatment is a good fit for mild to moderate acne. It means your acne shows clearly in photos and nothing needs an exam. The limits of online care:
- Good fit: blackheads, whiteheads and pimples that store products haven't cleared in a few months.
- In person instead: painful nodules or cysts, scarring, sudden severe acne, signs of another medical condition, or pregnancy if you want prescription treatment.
Once your skin is clear, a topical retinoid can keep it that way, and how to prevent acne covers the daily habits that help.