New online option for getting skincare medication is cheaper

FOX 32 NEWS - If you've recently gone to a dermatologist for acne medication or anti-aging creams, you're probably still dealing with sticker shock. The price of prescription skincare medications has sky rocketed.

But there's a new, lower priced option that involves taking a selfie and getting a prescription remedy in the mail in just a matter of days.

Shawntae Calhoun makes her living as a model, so dealing with adult onset acne isn't something she can tolerate.
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"I was getting some blemishes and bumps in my face and just going through photo shoots and shows and it wasn't getting any better,” Calhoun said.

But then someone told her about a new product called Dermacare. You go online, fill out a questionnaire and send in a selfie, and within a matter of days a customized prescription arrives at your door.

"It's 2016 so everyone's taking selfies, so what better way to take a selfie and improve your skin right?” Calhoun said. "This is kind of a revolutionary way of treating skin."

The idea was created by primary care physician Dr. Alex Jovanovich..

"Based on current guidelines, we've created an algorithm for ourselves, so a chart that lets us look down where you fit in and we prescribe the specific meds for you,” he said.

Dr. Jovanovich says they use compound pharmacists to create the customized prescription creams. They are made up of a combination of commonly prescribed medications to treat skin conditions such as acne and wrinkles. By combining the medications, he says he can save patients money. It cost 90 dollars for one bottle or 20 dollars a month with unlimited refills.

"The only other way to get this medicine is to go to a pharmacy and it would come in several tubes and cost several hundreds of dollars,” he said.

Jess Keys is a lifestyle blogger. She tested Dermacare and is excited to share it with all her followers.

"I was astonished at how seamless the process was to get the product and then how well it worked. Nothing has worked like this before for me,” Keys said.

Dr. Jovanovich says he is not trying to replace a primary care physician or dermatologist, but he believes that 90% of all acne can be treated at a fraction of the price.

Telemedicine has been around, especially in dermatology, for some time now. The American Academy of Dermatology says before you order anything online, do your research. Make sure the doctor is board certified and if you have a more serious condition that can't be evaluated remotely, make an appointment to visit a doctor in person.

Dermacare says it hopes to soon make the process even easier by offering an app that people can use on their phone.