Career Diaries: Dr. Aimee Pike on how her passion for changing patients' lives led her to online dermatology

Accessing a dermatologist is easier than ever with online consultation platforms such as apostrophe is a one-stop shop for planning, consulting and getting skincare prescriptions from dermatologists nationwide. Ahead we chatted with brand medical director Aimee Pike, MD about her dermatologist career, Why taking care of your skin important and how to find the right online consultation platform for you. 

How did you get into the field of dermatology?

My father was a dermatologist, so when I entered medical school, I decided that I would do something else. I studied all the different specialties in medicine, but when I finally chose dermatology, I fell in love with it. The types of conditions we treat are very broad. And while many skin conditions like acne aren't life-threatening, they can have a huge impact on self-esteem. I find skin treatment incredibly helpful.

What attracted you to work with the online dermatology consultation service?

While dermatology services are important, accessing a dermatologist can be very difficult, especially if you don't live in a big city. Online consultations can fill a huge gap. Apostrophe quickly connects patients from all over the country with a certified dermatologist. Apostrophe expands access and also makes skin care more convenient. Finally, I really liked how Apostrophe only focuses on skin conditions that are well-suited for telehealth, such as acne and rosacea. This allows us to increase access without sacrificing quality. I think there is a real need for services like ours.

Tell us about the apostrophe process and how it works.

From beginning to end, the apostrophe process consists of only three steps. Users send photos of affected areas and answer questions about their medical history. A certified dermatologist then evaluates each patient and develops an individualized treatment plan within 24 hours. Finally, users can purchase prescription drugs for direct home delivery. 

How can a patient know if a service like Apostrophe is right for them? 

The waiting time for an appointment with a dermatologist in most regions of the country is several months. It may be difficult to take time off from work or school, or it may be physically challenging to go to the doctor with young children. For patients who want to be treated now, Apostrophe is a fantastic solution. Apostrophe does an excellent job of asking the right questions about patients' skin and their medical history. 

As dermatologists, we have all the information you need to properly evaluate patients and we have the medications you need to create effective treatment plans tailored to each individual. I truly believe that the care we provide at Apostrophe is equivalent to, and potentially even better than, the care given by dermatologists in the office. Patients can refer to their treatment plans and recommendations at any time. They may contact doctors directly to address specific questions or concerns. Photographs are great for showing a patient's improvement, which can be quite dramatic. 

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Over 20 years of research beautifully packaged in an airless dispenser bottle and delivered straight to your door✨⁠⁠ Tretinoin has been dermatologists' longtime gold standard for treating dark spots, acne, fine lines and wrinkles. ⁠ ⁠ Tretinoin acts at the molecular level to tighten enlarged pores and improve cell renewal. Best of all, it helps maintain and create new ✨collagen✨ with continued use! ⁠ ⁠ Collagen is what gives the skin its structure, firmness and elasticity - that is, youth. Repeated sun exposure destroys collagen, and as we age, cells produce less and less collagen to repair damage.⁠ ⁠ Remember: sun protection always! Especially when tretinoin is part of your regimen ☀️

A post posted by Apostrophe (@hi_apostrophe) on Mar 6, 2020 9 at 02am PST

What is the best advice you would give to patients who seek advice online? 

Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation out there. You must remember that every patient is different. What worked for one person may not work for you. A certified dermatologist is best for medical skin care. A dermatologist is a doctor who has completed three years of specialized skin training, known as residency (following four years of medical school), and has passed a medical exam to ensure they have the proper knowledge base. 

What is the hardest thing about doing online consultations?

There are certain skin conditions that are well suited for telemedicine, such as acne and rosacea. We can easily evaluate and diagnose these conditions through images. Other skin conditions are more complex. They can be located in different parts of the body, require additional tests to make a diagnosis, or drugs that require close monitoring. The difficulty lies in the fact that patients come, wanting to be treated for diseases that we do not treat. I would like to be able to help all patients, but I believe that some conditions, such as eczema or psoriasis, require a personal examination by a dermatologist in order to receive the best possible care. Screening for skin cancer is also important to do in person. 

How has working on Apostrophe affected your life and what moment in your career (so far!) are you most proud of?

I have had several Apostrophe patients thank me generously for changing their lives. They are so grateful that this service exists and it makes everything worthwhile for me. There is no better reward. 

If you weren't into dermatology, what would you be doing?

I feel happy every day working in the field of dermatology. There are so many exciting advances in our field right now, and the opportunities to help our patients are only growing. I don't like to think of an alternative. There is nothing else I would like to do. It's really a passion!

How do you see the future of Apostrophe and other online dermatology centers? 

The development of Apostrophe is due to the fact that we listen to the feedback of our customers in order to find out how we can further improve the process. In addition, Apostrophe is constantly releasing new formulas to better meet the needs of our patients. We have just launched a new Azelaic acid formula, which contains niacinamide, glycerin, and five percent more azelaic acid (Rx only) compared to over-the-counter formulas that contain only 10% azelaic acid. This formula is an important treatment for rosacea, acne, melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation. 

What advice would you give to a budding dermatologist?

Dermatology is one of the most competitive specialties in medicine. This can turn off many people who think they have no chance and don't want to go through the process. But my advice: if you love dermatology, it's worth it. Dermatology is much more than just cosmetics. We treat important and unpleasant skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, vitiligo and hair loss, not to mention skin cancer. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication, but it's one of the most rewarding professions I can think of. 

Finally, what does skincare mean to you? 

Taking care of my skin means so many things. Taking care of your skin means taking care of yourself: eat well, sleep well, exercise, and satisfy your emotional needs. It also means protecting my skin from the sun. The sun causes 80% of skin aging, which is why I am absolutely religious about sun protection. I use zinc oxide sunscreen every single day and wide-brimmed hats when I'm outside. It also means using the tretinoin formula every night to repair sun damage and help prevent fine lines. This means a gentle and kind attitude towards my skin, the rejection of unnecessary or aggressive products.