Consult by instant messaging with a See a dermatologist quickly

When should you see a dermatologist quickly?

With the rise of telemedicine, it is now possible to see a dermatologist quickly, without needing to book an appointment beforehand. More than just a convenience, a teleconsultation with a dermatologist via Feeli is a concrete answer to a major public health issue. Indeed, in France, waiting times to get a dermatology appointment are among the longest of all medical specialties. In many regions and départements, it is not uncommon to have to wait between 3 and 6 months – or even longer – for a first in-office consultation. Yet, during this time, some skin conditions can progress silently, worsening the prognosis or complicating treatment. This prolonged wait can therefore be a real problem, particularly for potentially serious skin diseases, such as skin cancers. According to the recommendations of the French National Authority for Health (HAS), early detection of melanoma and other skin tumours is essential, as prompt care increases the chances of a cure. In this context, online consultation represents a major step forward. With Feeli, patients can see a dermatologist within 24 hours, including weekends and public holidays, without having to travel. However, the aim of teleconsultation is not to replace in-office follow-up, but rather to fill a gap caused by excessively long waiting times. In practice, teledermatology becomes a genuine triage tool, helping to identify benign conditions that can be treated remotely from those requiring a physical consultation.

What are the emergency situations that require seeing a dermatologist quickly?

Certain conditions, considered dermatological emergencies, require a prompt dermatologist consultation, namely:

  •  Acute atopic dermatitis or severe eczema: if usual treatments fail to control a widespread, weeping or intensely itchy eczema flare-up, it is necessary to see a dermatologist as soon as possible.

  •  Severe allergic reactions: for example, sudden hives with swelling of the face, lips or tongue (angioedema) is a life-threatening emergency. This appears as local (or generalised) swelling requiring immediate care. If you have breathing difficulties or significant swelling, contact the emergency services immediately (call 15 for the SAMU in France, or 112 across the EU).

  •  Severe skin infections: some severe skin infections (erysipelas, necrotising fasciitis, necrotising bacterial dermohypodermitis) require immediate care. Similarly, some patients may develop ophthalmic shingles (affecting the ophthalmic nerve around the eye), a condition requiring prompt attention. It can indeed worsen quickly and threaten vision.

  •  Suspected melanoma or a suspicious lesion: a mole that changes (size, shape, colour) or any unusual pigmented lesion requires prompt medical attention. The HAS states that "a suspicious melanocytic lesion should prompt a consultation with the patient's regular doctor, who will refer them to a dermatologist if needed." Early diagnosis often allows intervention before a metastasis forms.

  •  Burns and thermal accidents: extensive 2nd-degree burns (intense pain, blistering) or 3rd-degree burns require prompt treatment to prevent tissue necrosis and secondary infections, and to limit the risk of permanent scarring.

Beyond these dermatological emergencies, dermatologists treat many common skin conditions (acne, psoriasis, herpes, warts…). If needed, Feeli lets you see a dermatologist online within 24 hours and without an appointment.

Dermatologist teleconsultation: Feeli provides care within 24 hours

Feeli offers several ways to access dermatology care:

  •  Dermatology teleconsultation in under 24 hours: through Feeli, patients complete a medical questionnaire (under 5 minutes), with the option of attaching photos of their skin lesions. A dermatologist reviews the patient's file and then starts the remote consultation. The exchange takes place via secure instant messaging or video call, just as in an in-person practice. Without a prior appointment, patients can thus obtain a diagnosis in just a few minutes. Depending on the need, a suitable treatment can be prescribed via an electronic prescription, accessible at any time from a secure patient area.

  •  Booking an in-office appointment: if a physical consultation is preferred, you can follow Feeli's recommendations, namely booking an appointment via other platforms (Doctolib, PagesJaunes, online directories to find a dermatologist's contact details). It is thus possible to book an appointment online or to contact a dermatologist's practice directly. Feeli explicitly mentions these options in order to best direct patients towards an in-office consultation when a physical examination is required.

The benefits of Feeli for quickly seeing a dermatologist

Feeli is particularly valued for:

  1.  Speed of access: unlike the usual waiting times (in-office or online appointments), Feeli offers access without an appointment in under 24 hours for a dermatology consultation. Patients thus avoid weeks, or even months, of waiting: the platform is available 24/7, allowing prompt care for skin problems.

  2.  Ease of use: the entire care pathway on Feeli is digital. After completing a short pre-diagnosis questionnaire, you can instantly exchange with a dermatologist via secure messaging. In addition, being able to send photos makes online diagnosis easier. Without having to travel or wait in a consulting room, patients can connect and follow their consultation from a computer, smartphone or tablet.

  3.  Affordable pricing: an online consultation with Feeli is charged at 55 euros, whereas in-office fees are generally between €70 and €100. In under 24 hours, an experienced dermatologist reviews the patient's request, writes a detailed report and, if needed, issues an electronic prescription. A secure patient area also allows users to keep their medical documents.

  4.  Medical quality: Feeli's dermatologists are all qualified and can treat a wide variety of skin conditions (eczema, acne, psoriasis, STIs with skin manifestations, etc.). In teleconsultation, the quality of care is the same as in-office (history-taking, visual examination, advice). If needed, they can issue electronic prescriptions to prescribe medication or additional tests.

  5.  Data security and customer service: Feeli ensures encryption of health data and secure hosting (HDS standard) of personal information. Patients remain the owners of their medical data at all times. Feeli also offers customer support available 7 days a week to answer patients' questions.

How do you consult online via Feeli?

To consult a dermatologist online with Feeli, follow these few steps:

  1.  Access to the pre-diagnosis questionnaire: once on the Feeli website, select the Dermatology specialty. Then click "Start consultation" and complete the online medical questionnaire. This step is quick (under 5 minutes) and lets you describe your symptoms, their duration and share photos.

  2.  Exchange with the dermatologist: once the form is submitted, Feeli connects you immediately with an available dermatologist. The doctor can then review the reason for the consultation and your medical history. Patients receive a secure link to the secure instant messaging and the teleconsultation begins without an appointment.

  3.  Conclusion and follow-up: at the end of the exchange, the dermatologist can write a secure prescription to prescribe medication, treatments or additional tests. This prescription is accessible at any time from a secure personal area. There you will find the consultation report or any other recommendation. In this way, the entire care pathway is fully digital: after the consultation, all that remains is to collect your treatment from the pharmacy.

This whole process thus provides an intuitive and quick consultation. If, however, you wish to book an in-office appointment, other solutions exist, such as booking on a medical platform (for example, Doctolib) or an online directory.