OpenTelemed Services LLC, a pioneer in comprehensive telehealth solutions, today announced the launch of its Teledermatology for Acne Management: A Comprehensive Clinical Framework, an evidence-based virtual care program designed to address the full spectrum of acne vulgaris presentations through structured teleconsultation pathways, standardized assessment protocols, and integrated treatment algorithms. Delivered by a network of board-certified dermatologists and advanced practice providers, this program brings expert acne care directly to patients nationwide, addressing one of the most prevalent dermatologic conditions affecting millions of Americans.

Acne vulgaris is one of the most frequent dermatoses in adolescents and young adults, affecting approximately 40% of patients in their 20s and persisting into the 30s in almost half of adults . If left untreated, it may cause physical and psychological scars, including dyschromia, permanent scarring, and profound impacts on quality of life associated with low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, and social withdrawal . The growing shortage of dermatologists results in delayed appointments, which increases these risks . Teledermatology, including teleconsultation and tele-expertise, offers a powerful solution to improve access while maintaining clinical quality .

"Acne is not merely a cosmetic concern—it is a chronic inflammatory dermatosis that, when inadequately treated, can cause lifelong physical and emotional sequelae," said the clinical leadership team at OpenTelemed. "Our Teledermatology for Acne Management framework synthesizes the latest evidence from international guidelines and expert consensus to provide a structured, safe, and effective pathway for virtual acne care. Whether a patient requires initial assessment, ongoing follow-up, or escalation to advanced therapies, we ensure that every individual receives dermatologist-guided care that meets the highest clinical standards."

Evidence-Based Teledermatology Framework

The program is grounded in rigorous peer-reviewed research and expert consensus, incorporating recommendations from the American Academy of Dermatology, European guidelines, and the Personalising Acne: Consensus of Experts (PACE) panel :

Program Component Description and Clinical Application
Initial In-Person or High-Quality Video Assessment Consistent with expert recommendations, an initial face-to-face visit—or its high-quality video equivalent—is recommended before proceeding with teleconsultation for new acne patients . This establishes accurate diagnosis, assesses severity using validated tools such as the Investigator Global Assessment (IGA), and rules out mimickers .
Structured Teleconsultation for Follow-Up Care Teleconsultation is of particular interest during the follow-up of patients, enabling ongoing monitoring, treatment adjustment, and early identification of complications . Regular follow-up visits are scheduled based on acne severity, treatment phase, and patient response.
Tele-Expertise for Primary Care Providers For patients initially evaluated by primary care clinicians, the program offers tele-expertise consultation with dermatologists in specific cases including severe acne, risk of scarring, atypical presentations, or treatment failure . A structured tele-expertise questionnaire guides referring providers in capturing essential clinical information and standardized images.
Standardized Image Capture Protocol Following validated teledermatology workflows, patients and referring providers use OpenTelemed's secure mobile application to capture and upload high-quality clinical images according to standardized protocols . Images are transmitted to OpenTelemed's HIPAA-compliant platform for dermatologist review.
Personalized Acne Care Pathway (PACP) Building on the PACE consensus, the program implements a personalized care pathway encompassing patient profile assessment, prognostic factors, goal setting, and management of expectations . This patient-centered approach promotes treatment adherence and long-term success.
Comprehensive Treatment Algorithms Across the Severity Spectrum

The program incorporates evidence-based treatment recommendations aligned with the 2024 American Academy of Dermatology guidelines and international consensus statements :

Acne Severity First-Line Treatment Recommendations
Mild Acne (Primarily Comedonal) Topical retinoid monotherapy (tretinoin, adapalene, tazarotene) or fixed-dose combination therapy with benzoyl peroxide plus topical retinoid . For mild inflammatory acne, benzoyl peroxide may be combined with a topical antibiotic and/or topical retinoid .
Moderate Acne (Papulopustular) Fixed-dose combination therapy with benzoyl peroxide plus topical retinoid, or benzoyl peroxide plus topical antibiotic . European guidelines emphasize initial topical combination therapy with benzoyl peroxide and either a topical retinoid or topical antibiotic .
Moderate-to-Severe Acne Oral antibiotics (doxycycline, minocycline, sarecycline) combined with topical therapy including benzoyl peroxide and topical retinoid to prevent antibiotic resistance . Systemic antibiotic use should be limited to the shortest duration possible, typically no longer than 3-4 months .
Severe Nodular/Conglobate Acne or Treatment-Resistant Acne Oral isotretinoin is the only FDA-approved treatment for severe recalcitrant nodular acne . Candidates also include patients with moderate acne that is treatment-resistant, scarring, or produces psychosocial distress . All patients must enroll in and adhere to the iPLEDGE Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program .
Hormonal Acne in Females Combined oral contraceptives (norgestimate/ethinyl estradiol, drospirenone/ethinyl estradiol, and others) or spironolactone are conditionally recommended . Clinicians may consider combining hormonal agents with other acne therapies early in treatment to promote faster response.
Skincare Integration for Optimized Outcomes

Recognizing that epidermal barrier disruption is a major driver of acne pathogenesis and severity—particularly in adult female acne—the program incorporates the NECASA II algorithm for skincare integration :

Physiologic pH Cleanser: Gentle, pH-balanced cleansing to maintain barrier integrity without exacerbating irritation

Emollient with Humectants and Lipids: Restores epidermal barrier function, mitigates treatment-related irritation, and improves tolerability of topical therapies

SPF 50+ Sunscreen: Daily broad-spectrum sun protection to prevent post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and photodamage, particularly important during retinoid and isotretinoin therapy

For mild acne, skincare monotherapy may be sufficient. For moderate-to-severe acne, adjunctive skincare supports prescription treatment. Maintenance skincare continues after active treatment to prevent relapse .

Special Populations and Considerations

The program addresses unique needs across diverse patient groups following PACE consensus recommendations :

Population Clinical Considerations
Skin of Color Increased risk for post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) requires proactive prevention strategies and treatment of dyspigmentation alongside active acne lesions .
Pregnancy and Lactation Topical azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, erythromycin, and clindamycin are not likely to cause fetal harm. Salicylic acid may be used with limited exposure area and duration. Topical retinoids are contraindicated, as are tetracycline-class oral antibiotics .
Truncal Acne Affecting more than half of patients with facial involvement, truncal acne requires specific attention in treatment planning and may necessitate different therapeutic approaches .
Adolescents Tetracycline-class antibiotics are contraindicated in children younger than 9 years during tooth development. Treatment selection accounts for developmental stage and adherence considerations .
Patients with Scarring Risk Early identification of patients at risk for scarring triggers more aggressive intervention and consideration of isotretinoin .
Antibiotic Stewardship and Resistance Prevention

The program emphasizes rigorous antibiotic stewardship aligned with AAD guidelines :

Topical antibiotic monotherapy is not recommended owing to the potential for antibiotic resistance

Systemic antibiotics should not be used as monotherapy for acne

Concomitant benzoyl peroxide is recommended for patients receiving combination therapy with topical retinoid plus topical antibiotic

Limit systemic antibiotic use to the shortest duration possible (typically ≤3-4 months)

Avoid using antibiotics indicated for community-acquired infections (pneumonia, urinary tract infections) as first-line acne therapy

Isotretinoin Management via Teledermatology

For patients requiring isotretinoin therapy, the program implements a structured teledermatology workflow validated in published research :

Initial Teleconsultation Assessment: Dermatologist evaluates suitability for isotretinoin based on acne severity, treatment history, and risk factors

Patient Education and Consent: Electronic delivery of information sheets about benefits and adverse effects, intake instructions, and consent forms

Baseline Laboratory Coordination: Orders for complete blood count, lipid profile, liver function tests, and pregnancy test (for patients with pregnancy potential) at local facilities

iPLEDGE Compliance: Enrollment and adherence monitoring through the FDA-mandated Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy program

Electronic Prescribing: Isotretinoin prescribed through OpenTelemed's e-prescribing platform, available at patient-selected community pharmacies

Follow-up Teleconsultations: Scheduled at 2 months after start and after treatment completion, with additional visits as needed for adverse events

Integration Within OpenTelemed's Comprehensive Ecosystem

The Teledermatology for Acne Management program operates as a fully integrated component of OpenTelemed's unified telehealth platform:

Unified Health Record: All consultation documentation, clinical images, treatment plans, and laboratory results are incorporated into the patient's lifetime electronic health record, accessible to all authorized providers across medical and specialty care.

Secure Image Capture and Transmission: OpenTelemed's mobile application supports standardized image capture following validated teledermatology protocols, with end-to-end encryption ensuring complete privacy .

Seamless Care Coordination: When patients require in-person procedures—such as lesion extraction, chemical peels, or laser therapy—the platform facilitates warm handoffs to OpenTelemed's network of affiliated dermatology centers.

Prescribing and Pharmacy Integration: Prescriptions for topical and oral therapies are transmitted electronically to patient-selected pharmacies, with automated refill reminders supporting adherence. The platform supports iPLEDGE compliance tracking for isotretinoin patients.

Patient Portal and Mobile Access: Patients access their personalized care plans, skincare education resources, treatment timelines, and communication tools through OpenTelemed's secure patient portal and mobile application.

Quality of Life Assessment: The program systematically tracks patient-reported outcomes, recognizing that acne severely impacts quality of life and that patients with facial and truncal acne have a burden exceeding that of facial acne alone .

A Transformative Opportunity for Dermatology Providers

For board-certified dermatologists and advanced practice providers specializing in medical dermatology, OpenTelemed's Teledermatology for Acne Management program offers a meaningful practice opportunity:

Focus on Meaningful Work: Providers apply their expertise to a condition with profound impact on patients' quality of life, self-esteem, and emotional well-being, experiencing the satisfaction of improving visible outcomes while preventing permanent scarring.

Flexible Practice Model: Clinicians maintain complete autonomy over their schedules, practicing as little or as much as desired while serving a nationwide population of patients seeking acne expertise.

Complete Practice Support: OpenTelemed provides full malpractice insurance coverage, comprehensive billing and coding support for dermatology services—including teleconsultation and tele-expertise codes—and immediate access to a growing population of patients seeking acne management.

Professional Independence: Providers build their practice within OpenTelemed's supportive ecosystem while maintaining clinical autonomy and professional decision-making authority.

No Administrative Burden: The platform handles all credentialing, scheduling, billing, and documentation, allowing clinicians to focus entirely on clinical care and patient relationships.

Regulatory Compliance and Quality Assurance

The Teledermatology for Acne Management program operates within OpenTelemed's rigorous compliance framework, aligned with professional guidelines from the American Academy of Dermatology, European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology, and international consensus bodies :

State-Specific Licensure Management: Verification of active, unrestricted licenses in all states where care is delivered, with support for interstate licensure compacts

Evidence-Based Practice Standards: Adherence to current AAD guidelines and international consensus recommendations for acne diagnosis and management

Controlled Substance Compliance: Rigorous adherence to DEA regulations for controlled substances where applicable

iPLEDGE Compliance: Structured protocols for managing patients on isotretinoin with complete REMS program adherence

Quality Monitoring: Ongoing peer review, competency assessments, and patient outcome tracking ensuring maintenance of highest care standards

HIPAA-Compliant Infrastructure: Enterprise-grade encryption, access controls, and regular third-party security audits ensuring complete protection of patient health information

Availability and Partnerships

OpenTelemed's Teledermatology for Acne Management program is available immediately to patients nationwide through the OpenTelemed platform and mobile application. Patients may enroll directly or be referred by their primary care provider, pediatrician, or other health professional.

Board-certified dermatologists and advanced practice providers interested in joining OpenTelemed's provider network are invited to apply through the company's credentialing portal.

OpenTelemed is actively forming strategic partnerships with:

Dermatology practices seeking to expand virtual service offerings

Primary care networks managing acne across large populations

Pediatric and adolescent medicine practices

College and university health services

Health plans and Medicare Advantage organizations

Acne research and clinical trial centers

Cosmetic and laser centers offering adjunctive procedural care

Media Contact:
OpenTelemed Services LLC
[email protected]
(833) 948-2009
www.opentelemed.services