Skin concerns can’t wait. But a nationwide shortage of dermatologists has pushed appointment times from weeks to months – and they’re getting longer.

That’s why we brought together a group of leading dermatologists, all trained at the top medical schools in the United States, making their expertise available to patients and referring doctors quickly, easily and affordably.

A scarcity of dermatologists means typical wait times have grown to two months in urban areas and six months in rural communities. And many dermatologists have limited their practices to cosmetic issues, further reducing access for patients with other concerns. But availability isn’t the only barrier to top-quality dermatological care. Location, work and family responsibilities as well as other commitments can make it difficult for patients to visit a doctor. And rashes, bumps, spots and breakouts seem to show up at night, on weekends or at other inconvenient times.

Waiting for care isn’t an option. Small problems often get bigger. More serious concerns, such as skin cancers, become riskier and more challenging to treat.

We founded DirectDerm in 2010 to meet all these needs and to help lower costs for patients, employers and health plans. We believed – and still do – that giving patients and referring providers quick, easy access to board-certified dermatologists improves efficiency and cost-effectiveness in several ways. Early diagnosis by a skin-care expert allows patients to receive the right treatment more promptly, reducing days off work, time lost searching for answers and money wasted on ineffective drugs and treatments.

Patients and referring physicians can access DirectDerm from any electronic device at any time, withconsult reports, including diagnosis and treatment plan, returned in 48 hours max, often less than 24. DirectDerm’s diagnostic accuracy rate is equivalent to that of an in-office exam, but without the travel, hassle and wait.

Our role is to support and expand local medical care by assisting primary care providers, area dermatologists and other medical professionals in providing seamless and comprehensive patient care.