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First Derm: A Good Direction For Medicine

I’m a big fan of new online medical services like First Derm.

Instead of trying to schedule a doctors appointment when you have a skin problem, you just snap a photo with your iPhone and pay a flat rate for same-day feedback from a dermatologist. It costs about the same amount as the co-pay for a doctors visit in the US. So it’s a no-brainer to do this instead.

As a bonus, their system is anonymous. This is an especially desirable feature for the millions of people every year who are worried about potential STDs — but who may be too embarrassed to immediately seek conventional medical attention from legacy doctors. These kinds of systems are also good for the millions of people who live in backwater places like Serbia or the United States where the average wait time to see a doctor can often exceed the outbreak times of transient skin infections.

Hopefully the FDA doesn’t attempt to regulate these sorts of companies out of existence.

Author Description

Louie Helm is a Machine Learning Engineer

8 Responses to “First Derm: A Good Direction For Medicine”

  1. June 1

    Alden Mackie

    can they provide Rx’s through the system as well, or is it just for diagnosis?

  2. June 1

    Christopher Rasch

    “Hopefully the FDA doesn’t attempt to regulate these sorts of companies out of existence.”

    Ahahahaaha…*cries*

  3. June 1

    Louie Helm

    They do not provide Rx. The doctors are all in europe so they will probably start by adding in Rx service there before the US.

  4. June 1

    Louie Helm

    They do not provide Rx. The doctors are all in europe so they will probably start by adding in Rx service there before the US.

  5. June 1

    Louie Helm

    They do not provide Rx. The doctors are all in europe so they will probably start by adding in Rx service there before the US.

    • June 23

      First Derm

      Great piece Louie! Thanks!

      Hi, we are based in San Francisco. The service is in 5 languages. We are a quick Q&A service on what to do next on those skin issues that have been bothering you. 70% of our users can use over-the counter medication. The other 30% that send in are recommend to see a doctor because they need further tests, diagnosis and treatment. Dermatologists already get daily smartphone images sent to them from family and friends, and friends of friends…

  6. June 1

    Louie Helm

    hahaha… I think my phone screwed up posting that comment.

  7. June 2

    Amanda Winther

    I recently met the founder of a similar startup here in the US that apparently DOES give rx– https://www.dermlink.md/ the website looks pretty outdated but he’s still working on it AFAIK (believe updating that site now)