Frequently asked questions

Do you accept medical insurance?

We do not accept commercial insurance, Medicare or Medicaid. Our fees are reasonable and transparent. You may pay with an HSA/FSA account if it uses a card that can be used as a credit card. Our consultation report will provide visit and diagnosis codes, should you wish to submit to your insurance company for reimbursement.

Do you offer in-person visits?

Access Dermatology currently does not offer in-person visits. We offer convenient Telehealth consultations. If you require an in-person visit, we can expedite an appointment with a Dermatology practice in central New Jersey, which accepts most commercial insurance plans and Medicare.

Are there geographical restrictions?

The Dermatologist is licensed in New Jersey. The services are intended for residents of New Jersey and visitors.

What is a Telehealth visit?

Telehealth visits are synchronous real-time 2-way audio/video consultations. They are scheduled on our website, and you will also submit an eVisit form prior to the Telehealth consultation to efficiently collect information and photos needed for the visit.

Who performs the Telehealth consultations?

All Telehealth consultations are performed by Dr. Alexander Shraga, MD, a board-certified Dermatologist.

What conditions can you treat?

This practice is suitable for many people with common dermatological conditions that can be treated medically, including acne/rosacea, dermatitis/eczema, hives, hidradenitis, hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating), psoriasis, hair loss, nail disorders, skin discoloration (dark spots/white spots), among others, and for second opinions regarding treatment options. It will not be suitable for patients who require procedures or complete skin exams, or who are not comfortable with the technological platform.

Can you write prescriptions?

Yes, after the Doctor assesses your condition, prescriptions may be written and sent electronically to your pharmacy or to a specialty pharmacy, depending on your preferences and the Doctor's assessment. We can write any prescription that is appropriate. We do NOT prescribe Controlled Substances.

Can you prescribe Accutane (isotretinoin)?

Yes.

Do you give prescription refills?

Yes. The number of refills given depends on the condition treated and the prescriptions used. For a mild condition treated with medications that do not require frequent monitoring and with a low risk of side-effects, we can allow 1 year of refills. Most prescriptions are written with refills to last 3 months to 1 year. Before you run out of your prescriptions, simply schedule a Telehealth. Some prescriptions, like Accutane (isotretinoin), do not allow any refills due to regulations, and require a visit monthly. The Doctor will notify you in your consultation report.

What if I can't fill my prescription or have questions after the Telehealth visit?

After completing a visit, you may securely message / text directly with the Doctor using our Spruce Health portal regarding any questions related to the visit. If your question involves a different skin condition or occurs after the time-period which the Doctor requested a follow-up visit, we ask you to schedule an additional Telehealth visit.

What if the Doctor can't make a diagnosis/treatment plan?

It is very important to completely fill out the eVisit form and submit accurate, in-focus, representative photos of your condition. If this is not done, the Doctor may request additional information and/or photos. In some situations, the Doctor's assessment is that your condition requires an in-person visit. The Doctor may expedite an appointment at a central New Jersey Dermatology practice, or if you prefer, you can follow-up with a provider of your choice.

How To Take Good Photos of Your Skin Condition

Photograph demonstrating how to correctly photograph a skin condition.

Clear, In-Focus Photos Are Crucial to Properly Assess Your Skin Condition

Please follow these steps to obtain quality photos:

Use your phone's main camera, not the “selfie” camera. Have someone else take the photos if possible.
Check that your camera lens is clean.
Photograph in a bright area with lots of natural light, but avoid direct sunlight on the skin condition. Turn OFF the flash.
Make sure the light is shining onto the skin, and that your assistant doesn’t cast a shadow over the skin area being photographed.
Place the area to be photographed on a plain background without visual distractions (such as a plain towel or wall). This should be a neutral color (such as grey or light blue) as a white background can cause the photograph to be too dark, and a black background can cause the photograph to be too light.
Make sure the area to be photographed is held still, ideally by resting it on a surface and trying to hold still.
Orient the camera parallel to your skin; do not angle up or down.
Hold the phone steady with both hands.
Focus your photo by tapping the part of the phone screen you want the camera to focus on and capture the photo.

Ideally, you should:

take an orientation (wide) photo, about 2-3 feet away from the area; and
close-up photos, 4-5 inches from the skin problem. Try to get as close as you can get in order to achieve a sharp focus. If you get too close, the camera won’t be able to focus. The focus is the most important thing.
Check that the image is in focus and easy to see. If it's blurry, retake the photo. The skin condition needs to look the same on the screen as it does in real life.
Try to take close-ups of the condition from more than one viewpoint (but always orient the phone parallel to the skin).
Only send the best photos of the skin condition.
If given the option, reduce the image file size to between 500Kb and 1Mb.

Frequently asked questions

How To Take Good Photos of Your Skin Condition

Clear, In-Focus Photos Are Crucial to Properly Assess Your Skin Condition

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