Expert acne care,
built for college students
Expert dermatology care, from your phone, for $49. No insurance needed. Response within 1–7 days.
Complete assessment, personalized treatment plan, and prescription
Progress review, treatment adjustments, and continued care
Ready to clear your skin?
We're launching Summer 2026 in Texas with a limited 100-patient beta.
Beta spots are limited — once we hit 100, you'll be added to the general waitlist and notified when we open up again.
Why we built this
Starting college means a lot of firsts — new city, new independence, and often, the first time navigating healthcare on your own. You might have just aged off your parents' insurance, moved somewhere without a car, and have no idea how to even find a dermatologist. Meanwhile, your skin isn't waiting. DermFlo exists so that a $49 visit from your phone is all it takes to get a real answer from a real clinician.
Response within 1–7 days
Submit your case entirely from your phone. No finding a clinic, no Uber to an unfamiliar part of town, no sitting in a waiting room between classes.
Evidence-based treatment
Every treatment plan follows established dermatology guidelines. We don't guess — we follow the same clinical protocols used in dermatology practices nationwide.
Priced for students
$49 for a new visit. $29 for follow-ups. No insurance required, no subscription, no hidden fees. We'll always help you find the most affordable medication option — we make no money from what we prescribe.
Your health is private
HIPAA-compliant infrastructure from day one. Your data is never sold, never used for advertising, never shared without your explicit consent.
We genuinely care about the people we treat and the people we work with. Acne affects how you show up in the world — we take that seriously. And we hold our team to the same standard of care we'd want for ourselves.
Ready to clear your skin?
We're launching Summer 2026 in Texas with a limited 100-patient beta.
Beta spots are limited — once we hit 100, you'll be added to the general waitlist and notified when we open up again.
How it works
No referral. No three-month wait. No $300 copay. Just tell us about your skin, and a clinician will have a treatment plan ready for you — within 1–7 days.
- 01
Complete your intake
Answer a structured questionnaire about your skin, current medications, and health history. Upload a few clear photos of the affected area. Takes about 10 minutes — you can do it from your dorm.
- 02
A clinician reviews your case
A licensed dermatology clinician reviews your photos and history, makes a clinical assessment, and creates a personalized treatment plan following evidence-based guidelines.
- 03
Get your prescription
We partner with Mark Cuban's Cost Plus Drugs to make your medication as affordable as your consultation. Transparent pricing, no hidden markups — we make nothing from what we prescribe.
- 04
Follow up when you need to
Check in at $29 per visit to review your progress, adjust your treatment, or renew your prescription. No auto-billing, no mandatory check-ins — care on your schedule.
Ready to clear your skin?
We're launching Summer 2026 in Texas with a limited 100-patient beta.
Beta spots are limited — once we hit 100, you'll be added to the general waitlist and notified when we open up again.
Understanding acne
Acne is one of the most common conditions a dermatologist treats — and one of the most misunderstood. Here's what's actually happening in your skin, and what can actually fix it.
Acne begins deep in the pilosebaceous unit — the follicle and its attached sebaceous gland. Four processes drive it: excess sebum production (often triggered by androgens), abnormal shedding of follicular keratinocytes that creates a plug, colonization by Cutibacterium acnes (the bacteria that thrives in that anaerobic, lipid-rich environment), and the resulting inflammatory cascade.
That inflammatory response is why acne isn't just a hygiene issue — washing your face more aggressively doesn't address the underlying hormonal and follicular biology. It also explains why the same person can have both non-inflamed comedones and angry pustules at the same time: they're different points on the same continuum.
Acne affects roughly 50 million Americans annually and is the most common skin condition in the country. Prevalence peaks in the late teens and early twenties — driven by androgen activity, stress, and changes in sleep and diet that are, frankly, unavoidable in college. Despite this, the vast majority of affected individuals manage entirely with over-the-counter products, never receiving a proper clinical evaluation.
Open comedones (blackheads)
A follicular plug that's open to the surface. The dark color is oxidized melanin and sebum — not dirt. Responds well to retinoids and salicylic acid.
Closed comedones (whiteheads)
A follicular plug that's closed off from the surface, creating a small flesh-colored or white bump. The precursor to inflammatory lesions.
Papules and pustules
Red, raised lesions with or without a visible white center. Result from C. acnes proliferation triggering an immune response in the follicle wall.
Nodules and cysts
Deeper, larger lesions that develop when inflammation extends beyond the follicle. More likely to scar. Typically require prescription-strength treatment.
Topical retinoids (tretinoin, adapalene) are the workhorse of acne treatment — they normalize follicular shedding, reduce comedone formation, and have long-term anti-inflammatory effects. They require a prescription and take 8–12 weeks to show meaningful results, which is why most people abandon them before they work.
Isotretinoin remains the only treatment that can produce long-term remission in severe acne. It works by dramatically reducing sebaceous gland size and sebum output. Because of its side effect profile and teratogenicity, it requires monthly monitoring labs and enrollment in the FDA's iPLEDGE program — which is why it needs to be managed by a dermatologist.
Ready to clear your skin?
We're launching Summer 2026 in Texas with a limited 100-patient beta.
Beta spots are limited — once we hit 100, you'll be added to the general waitlist and notified when we open up again.