Question 1

How does Dr Derma work?

Accepted Answer

Dr Derma is a written consultation (instead of a video or phone call) where your dermatologist will review your consultation questionnaire and based on the information provided will either request more information, diagnose your case, or request an in-person appointment in their rooms (if the condition requires physical examination or a procedure)

You can complete your online dermatology consultation in 3 easy steps:

1.  SELECT YOUR DERMATOLOGIST
Search by region to find a dermatologist near you

2.  COMPLETE THE CONSULTATION QUESTIONNAIRE 
It takes about 10 minutes to complete your consultation

3.  MAKE PAYMENT
The final step is to make payment, this will complete your consultation and your file will be sent to your dermatologist's online waiting room.

Although most of our dermatologists will review your file within a day or two, please allow for 3 to 5 working days before you receive feedback.

Question 2

Can I use Dr Derma if I'm not South African?

Accepted Answer

Dr Derma is a service offered to all South Africans, as long as you have a valid SA ID number and cell phone number (with a +27 dialling code) to receive SMS notifications.

Neighbouring countries who can use Dr Derma include: 
Botswana (+267)
Namibia (+264)
Lesotho (+266)
Swaziland (+268)

Question 3

What if I am South African, but traveling to or living in another country?

Accepted Answer

If you’re a South African resident and traveling, you can still consult with your dermatologist on Dr Derma as long as your SA mobile number is on roaming and you're able to receive SMS notifications.

Please note: the script issued may not be accepted by pharmacies in other countries. Each country is governed by its own medical laws and regulating authorities.

THE BENEFIT TO YOU: You can get a diagnosis or treatment opinion from a South African dermatologist, all you’ll need to do in the country that they’re in, is take the dermatologist’s feedback, script or treatment opinion to a local GP, who will hopefully translate it into a local script that will be accepted by the pharmacies.

Question 4

What if my dermatologist is unable to diagnose my condition online?

Accepted Answer

Even though the large majority of consultations are successfully diagnosed online, we always recommend that you select a dermatologist in your region. It’s important to note that while Dr Derma offers you convenience, it may not be suitable for all cases. Some conditions may require physical examination or in-person procedures. In such cases, our dermatologists may request an appointment for you to visit their rooms.

THE BENEFIT TO YOU: Often our dermatologists use Dr Derma as a triaging or screening tool so that if they identify something that may need urgent attention, they will do their best to fast-track an in-person appointment for you.

Question 5

How long does it take to get feedback from my dermatologist?

Accepted Answer

The average turnaround time is about 2 working days.

If you have not heard back from your dermatologist within 5 working days, please send us an email to: support@drderma.co.za to follow up, or request to be moved to an available dermatologist.

Question 6

How do I know when my script is ready?

Accepted Answer

Dr Derma will communicate with you via SMS (to your valid SA cell phone number).

Once the doctor has reviewed your file and provided feedback or a script, you’ll be notified to login to your secure patient portal (login here: https://app.drderma.co.za/login/patient) to review the feedback or download your script.

Question 7

Will my medical aid pay for my consultation?

Accepted Answer

Whether your medical aid will cover dermatology services depends on your specific medical aid plan and its coverage policies. You pay for your online consultation up front, and once your dermatologist has completed your consultation, you’ll be able to download your payment receipt to claim back from your medical aid.

Question 8

How can I find my payment receipt?

Accepted Answer

Once your dermatologist has completed your consultation, you can download your payment receipt in your secure patient portal (login here: https://app.drderma.co.za/login/patient)

Question 9

What if I need to speak to my dermatologist after my consultation?

Accepted Answer

If you need to do a follow-up consultation, please let us know here: Support@drderma.co.za and we can request a follow-up consultation invitation link that will be sent to you via SMS.

Question 10

Why can't you just email or WhatsApp my script to me?

Accepted Answer

Patients trust their healthcare providers to protect their personal information and healthcare providers have an ethical duty to ensure the confidentiality of patient information, which is compromised when using unsecured communication channels like email or WhatsApp.

Dr Derma offers a secure online portal specifically designed for confidential communication, ensuring that all personal information is protected.

Question 11

Can my script (meds) be delivered directly to me?

Accepted Answer

YES! Your medications and recommended products can be delivered directly to you, anywhere in SA.

How it works:

👉 Complete your online consultation at www.drderma.co.za 
👉 Once your doctor has reviewed your file and provided feedback, you will get an SMS to your SA cell phone number (with a +27 dialling code) with a link to log into your secure profile
👉 You can select “ORDER ONLINE” and follow the steps to have your medications delivered directly to you, anywhere in South Africa! 🇿🇦

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