The rise of telehealth services over the last few years has been particularly noticeable in dermatology. Online skin clinics have increasingly made accessing prescription acne treatments easier, cheaper and more convenient. Despite this there often remains lingering concerns that these consultations can only ever a lite-version of in-clinic care. However, that doesn’t have to be the case. When done properly, online skin consultations can provide the same in depth analysis and personalised care as face-to-face appointments. In this article, we review what should happen during an online acne consultation and what to look for.
Types of Online Acne Consultations
First of all, not all clinics offer the same online consultations. Generally speaking, there are two types of virtual appointments. These are either a video consultation or a form assessment. The majority of online acne clinics tend to offer form assessments. You complete an online form alongside submitting photos. Then a clinician reviews these and gets back to you with a treatment plan. Some services (in particular GP platforms that address a number of general needs) offer video consultations. Here you get to speak in real time with a clinician. A tiny minority, like City Skin Clinic, offer the option of either a video or form online acne consultation so patients can choose whichever they prefer. As long as a through assessment and review is done, it shouldn’t matter what type of consultation option you choose.
Who Will Do My Consultation?
This varies from clinic to clinic but it should always be a registered clinician. Many of the clinics that offer online form consultations have them reviewed by registered pharmacists or nurses who are able to diagnose and prescribe for acne. Clinics that offer video consultations tend to use doctors to perform these assessments. You should always check with the clinic that a registered medical professional will perform your consultation and handle your after care.
What Happens During an Online Acne Consultation?
Regardless of which consultation option you choose, you should expect a structured assessment which ends with a diagnosis and treatment plan if appropriate. However, before you even commence your online acne consultation, check what each clinics requirements and exclusions are. For example, some clinics will only serve a set geographic region or age group (for example UK based patients over the age of 18 only). Also check that they offer treatment for your acne as some online clinics only offer treatments for face and neck acne but not the rest of the body.
If you opt for an online form consultation, this normally entails filling in a structured medical questionnaire and upload photographs of your skin. For a video consultation, you will book an appointment and receive joining instructions. Your clinician will then ask you detailed questions. Usually following the video appointment you may need to subit baseline photographs and contemplete some paperwork. The aim of video or form online consultations is to assess your acne, overall skin, medical history and find a suitable treatment. The key areas that either consultation type should cover include:
- Acne history, including onset, recurrence and previous treatments
- Distribution of acne across the face and body
- Triggers such as hormonal changes, stress or medication
- Skin sensitivity and previous reactions
- Medical history
- Current medications and allergies
- Lifestyle and if relevant pregnancy or breastfeeding status
- Examination of your skin (through photos and/or video)
A good clinic will also ask if you have any concerns or preferences so they can try and take these into account where possible. The accuracy and completeness of this information directly affects the quality of the treatment plan.
Do I Have to Provide Photos?
Yes, this is essential regardless of whether you have an online form or video acne consultation. The photos are the only way to evaluate your acne type, inflammation, hyperpigmentation and scarring. Your clinician will use these to assess your baseline and start you on the most appropriate treatment. These photos are also extremely important to gauge your progress throughout your treatment journey. You should normally expect to submit multiple unedited photos of your whole face from different angles. If your acne is on a different part of the body then you will normally still need to submit a photo of your face and then photos from multiple angles of teh affected part.
What Happens After the Consultation?
Following your online form or video consultation, your clinician will decide whether your acne is something they can treat and if so what would be the most appropriate treatment. You should expect a detailed treatment plan from your clinician including how they want you to use your treatment and side effects to look out for. They should then monitor your progress (your clinican will advise on when to send updates) to assess how your acne behaves over time. This will help them advise on any further adjustmenst to your protcols and also inform your next treatment onec you complete this course.
In some cases, treatment options may be limited by safety considerations. Although this can be disappointing, a good clinic should proiritse safety at all times.If for any reason your clinician does not feel taht you are suitable for treatment, they should explain why. Usually a good clinican will also advise on alternatives they think you can consider even if it is noyt soemyjinf they provide.
Will I Get a Prescription Treatment After an Online Acne Consultation?
Whilst online acne consultations are sometimes seen as a short cut to prescription acne treatments, this is not the case. Just like with in-person consultations, prescription treatments are only offered when appropriate. If your clinican feels you would benefiyt from a prescription acne treatment then they will advise you on what that is and how to access it. One thing to eb aware if is taht not all onlibe acne clinics offe rteh same tretament options. They usually offer either custom compounded treatments or off-the-shelf branded products that they deliver to you. Some may just offer a prescription script that you then take to a pharmcy. Also some clinics only offer topical treatments whereas others use orl medicines or a combination. It is important to check beforehand exactly what type of tretaments each clinic offers before arranging a condulattion.
Follow-up is as Important as the consultation
Acne is a dynamic and complex condition. The quality of follow-up often determines long-term success more than the first consultation. That’s why effective acne treatment requires ongoing reassessment. Any decent online acne clinic will offer ongoing after-care following your consultation. This is normally through email or their online portal and your clinician will generally advise you when to submit an update. You should also be able to contact your clinician or team at anytime if you have questions, need advice or are experiencing side effects. If your treatment requires oral medications like roaccutane then you will need blood tests as part of your monitoring.
For many people, online consultations improve access, reduce delays and allow earlier intervention especially for chronic or recurrent acne. They can be effective when done properly, they can deliver outcomes comparable to traditional consultations, without sacrificing safety or quality. However, online consultations are only effective if they are through, performed by registered clinicians and provide ongoing aftercare.
At City Skin Clinic, we are beyond passionate about personalised skincare. Our virtual skin clinic offers safe and effective custom acne skin treatments. Where appropriate our doctors use ingredients such as Tretinoin, Hydroquinone, Azelaic acid, Clindamycin and Spironolactone to treat skin conditions like acne, hyperpigmentation, melasma and skin ageing. Start your online consultation today. The journey towards great skin starts here.
This article is intended for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always consult a qualified medical provider for any medical concerns or questions you might have.
