Photo, Virtual or In-Person? Choosing the Right Dermatology Consultation

By Dr Naomi Mackle, Dermatology Specialist and Medical Director, Adare Dermatology Clinics

Getting expert advice about your skin should be easy. At Adare Dermatology Clinics we now offer three ways to see a dermatology expert: photo consultations, virtual video consultations and in-person consultations in Dublin, Limerick and London. Each has its place. Choosing the right one means you get the right answer, safely, without paying for more than you need, or for less than your skin actually requires.

Why we offer different types of consultation

Everyone is on social media, and skin advice is everywhere. But much of it is generic, contradictory or simply wrong, and many questions cannot be answered without someone looking properly at your skin and your history. Our aim is to give patients quick, convenient access to a qualified dermatology expert, while keeping to strict safety standards, professional ethics and regulatory rules.

Our doctors have extensive experience in skin cancer prevention, diagnosis and removal, hair loss, acne, rosacea, acne scarring, keloid and hypertrophic scarring, and laser treatment. That means you get an independent, unbiased opinion on what is likely to work for you, based on real clinical experience rather than trends.

Photo consultations

You submit photographs of your skin with a short questionnaire, and a dermatology expert reviews them and replies with advice and, where appropriate, a prescription for a topical (cream or gel) treatment.

You are welcome to send us a photo of any skin concern. What matters is understanding what a photo consultation can and cannot do. It is designed to be quick, simple and effective: for a skin problem that is clinically clear from a good-quality photograph, where you know what you need but cannot get the right treatment without a prescription. If you are confident about your problem and can send a clear photo, an experienced dermatology expert can usually give you what you need.

Why we only prescribe creams and gels: we have extensive experience in dermatology, and topical treatments act mainly on the skin, so the potential for harm is limited. Tablet treatments are different. Stronger acne tablets, hormonal tablets including the contraceptive pill, and other oral medicines all carry risks, and a proper history needs to be taken by an experienced doctor before any of them is prescribed. That is why we never prescribe oral medicines from a photo consultation.

What a photo consultation cannot do:

• Assess moles or skin lesions: these need dermoscopy, a specialised magnified examination. A photo of a complex mole, particularly in a sensitive area or one that has not responded to previous treatment, needs to be seen in person.

• Diagnose hair loss: this needs trichoscopy, a magnified examination of the scalp, in person.

• Replace a full assessment for severe or long-standing problems: for example, severe scarring acne that has failed several treatments needs a virtual or in-person consultation, not a prescription from a photograph.

Knowing when to escalate: perhaps the most important part of any consultation is recognising when something does not add up. If the doctor is not happy with what they see, or a photo consultation is not the right route, they will tell you and recommend a virtual or in-person appointment with one of our dermatologists or dermatology experts. We know how difficult it can be to access dermatology care in Ireland and the UK, so we will arrange that appointment quickly.

Virtual consultations

A virtual consultation is a live video call with a dermatology expert. You can also send high-quality photographs beforehand for the doctor to review.

Best for: more complex or persistent problems, such as moderate to severe acne or rosacea that has not responded to creams, or anyone who wants detailed advice about their treatment options.

A conversation allows the doctor to tease out the subtle clues in your history: what you have tried, what has and has not worked, your general health and any medications. That detail matters. Tablet treatments are generally much stronger than creams and need a careful assessment, so if you may need a stronger, oral treatment, a virtual or in-person consultation is required.

Virtual consultations are also an excellent starting point if you are unsure what you need. If you have questions about which laser or treatment might suit you, the doctor can give you sound, experienced advice. That way, if you go on to book a treatment, it is the right one for your skin.

Wherever you live, ongoing care can usually be virtual

Our clinics are in Dublin, Limerick and London city centres, but we see patients from all over Ireland and the UK. Some of the stronger tablet treatments used for severe acne and inflammatory skin conditions are complex: they need careful prescribing, regular reviews and monitoring blood tests. Even so, in most cases the whole journey can be managed virtually. After your initial assessment, follow-up reviews can usually be done by video call, and blood tests and other checks can usually be arranged locally with your own GP, so you do not need to travel to us every few weeks.

In-person consultations

An in-person consultation at one of our clinics is the most thorough option, and is essential for some problems.

Best for:

• first-time consultations, especially for complex skin problems;

• mole checks, skin cancer screening and mole mapping, which need dermoscopy;

• hair loss, which needs trichoscopy;

• problems that may need a diagnostic skin biopsy, fungal scrapings or other tests;

• assessment for laser and in-clinic treatments.

Which consultation do I need?

Why the cheapest option is not always the best

Our consultations are priced to reflect what each involves. In-person consultations cost the most, virtual consultations a little less, and photo consultations are priced for what they are: a quick, expert response for simple problems.

It is tempting to choose the cheapest option, but the right consultation depends on your problem, not your budget. If your skin needs a tablet treatment, a mole needs examining or your hair loss needs a proper diagnosis, a photo consultation cannot provide that safely, and you will need to book a virtual or in-person appointment. Choosing the right consultation first saves you time and money in the long run.

Our commitment to safety

• Every consultation is with a qualified dermatology expert.

• We only prescribe when it is safe to do so, and never prescribe tablet treatments from photographs alone.

• If anything is uncertain or concerning, we escalate it and arrange a timely in-person review.

• We follow strict professional, ethical and regulatory standards in Ireland and the UK.

Summary

Photo consultations are a quick, convenient way to get expert advice and prescription creams for skin problems that are clear from a photograph, with the reassurance that we will escalate if anything needs a closer look. Virtual consultations suit more complex problems and anyone who needs stronger treatment or detailed advice. In-person consultations are essential for moles, hair loss, tests and laser assessment. Whichever you choose, you will be seen by an experienced dermatology expert, and if a different type of consultation is needed, we will guide you there.

Not sure which to book? Start with the option that best matches your concern above, or contact Adare Dermatology Clinics and our team will help you choose.

This article is for general information and does not replace a consultation. Prescription treatments are only provided after an appropriate medical assessment.