What’s the deal with Curology?

Is Curology legit?

Short answer: Yes. Curology providers are real, licensed medical professionals. The prescriptions are real prescriptions. The formulas are compounded in our partner pharmacy. 

The longer version is that Curology was founded in 2014 by Dr. David Lortscher, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, alongside his mom, dermatologist Dr. Satur and his brother Glenn. The company now has a team of physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, scientists, and pharmacists as well as other important supporting roles from engineering to customer service. 

If you are trying to see a dermatologist, you’re probably doing a lot of waiting. Waiting for a referral from your doctor, waiting weeks or even months for an open appointment, waiting in an office for hours for a consultation that might last just a few minutes, and then waiting to get your skincare prescription filled (if you can afford it).Even though acne is a common and treatable skin condition, there can be a lot of barriers to receiving medical care. That’s why Dr. David Lortscher decided to found Curology:  to give patients on-demand access to high-quality dermatology care and custom skincare at a lower cost, allowing them to contact their providers any time.

For scale: Curology has served over 5 million patients since launch. Over 9,000 five-star reviews (Online reviews as of 12/03/2021) and ongoing clinical validation are public record. Curology won’t suit everyone, since some skin issues require in-person care, but the company runs as a teledermatology practice with real medical providers and real medication.

How does Curology work?

In four easy steps, all online, without having to go through the hassle of going to an in-person appointment, you can get a personalized routine for your face, body and/or hair concerns.

1. Take the skin quiz. Answer questions about your skin, your goals, what you’ve tried before, and your medical history (including current medications). Upload a few selfies. The quiz and your photos give the provider what they need to make a clinical recommendation.

2. A licensed provider reviews your case. An in-house Curology dermatology provider, licensed in your state, looks through your photos, answers, and history. If Curology is a fit, they prescribe a personalized formula; if it isn’t, they say so.

3. Your prescription formula and routine arrive. Curology’s partner pharmacy compounds your personalized formula and ships it to you. Your provider may also recommend complementary products from Curology’s lineup, such as a cleanser, moisturizer, SPF, or serum, to round out the routine.

4. You stay in touch. Unlike a one-time visit, your provider stays the same across every message (unless you move to a new state or your provider is out of office), and your formula can evolve as your skin does. Message them whenever you think you may need a formula adjustment or have new skin goals.

What are Curology’s ingredients?

Your personalized prescription combines up to 3 clinically proven active ingredients, picked by your provider based on your specific concerns. A number of these can’t be bought over the counter.

Curology has multiple prescription formulas, each designed for a different job:

• Custom Formulaᴿˣ  the flagship nighttime treatment, designed to target acne, dark spots, rosacea, texture, and more.

• HydroTretᴿˣ  a hydrating tretinoin formula designed for all skin types, including dry and sensitive. Named Vogue’s Best Tretinoin for Sensitive Skin.

• DayPrimeᴿˣ  the first-ever prescription acne treatment and blurring primer in one, designed for daytime use.

• Body Cleanseᴿˣ   the first prescription in-shower treatment for body acne on the back, chest, and shoulders.

Depending on your skin, your formula may include ingredients like tretinoin, clindamycin, azelaic acid, niacinamide, tranexamic acid, metronidazole, ivermectin, dexpanthenol (proVitamin B5), zinc pyrithione, or spironolactone. Your provider chooses the combination, the strengths, and guides you on application frequency and your routine.

For a deeper walk-through of the products and how the routine fits together, see our complete guide to Curology products and your routine.

Does Curology actually work?

Generally speaking, yes, for most people who use it consistently with some honest caveats.

In Curology’s clinical study of Custom Formulaᴿˣ, 90.5% of patients saw improvement in their acne by week 3, and 95% saw improvement by week 12.* Timelines vary patient to patient. A few will see temporary worsening (skin purging) as their skin adjusts to active ingredients, generally a sign the treatment is doing its job, and the reason ongoing contact with your provider matters. *Results may vary. In a clinical trial of 150 Curology patients over 12 weeks. Self-reported.

The caveats:

• Consistent use beats perfect use. Skipping nights, quitting once you see early results, or piling on irritating products could slow your progress.

• Certain skin conditions, suspicious moles, severe cystic acne, hair loss workups beyond a topical approach, infections, need in-person care, and your Curology provider will flag when you should see someone locally. Curology providers are always available to answer your DMs, and will advise when you need to seek different options. 

How to get started

No in-person visit, no referral, no insurance hoops. You take the skin quiz, upload a few selfies, and a licensed dermatology provider reviews your skin and history. Where Curology fits, your provider prescribes the personalized formula from there.

FAQs

Is Curology safe?

Licensed dermatology providers write Curology prescriptions, and the formulas are compounded in Curology’s partner pharmacy. The formulas we prescribe are limited to those that have passed our testing and development process. Prescription active ingredients can still cause side effects, dryness, mild peeling, redness, and temporary breakouts (skin purging) being the common ones as your skin adjusts. Daily SPF becomes essential with ingredients like tretinoin since it can increase sun sensitivity. Other ingredients (such as spironolactone, where prescribed) aren’t safe during pregnancy. Your provider thoroughly reviews your medical information for contraindications during signup, and you should always update them when your medical situation changes.

Is Curology a real prescription?

Absolutely. The active ingredients in your Custom Formulaᴿˣ, HydroTretᴿˣ, DayPrimeᴿˣ, or Body Cleanseᴿˣ are prescription medications, written by a licensed dermatology provider and compounded for you. These are actual prescriptions; the words “prescription-strength” here aren’t marketing.

How is Curology different from other online dermatology providers?

Other services are telehealth or even virtual-support companies prescribing customized topicals, and the available ingredients genuinely overlap. Where Curology pulls ahead:

• Continuous provider relationship. The same in-house provider adjusts your formula as your skin changes, so you don’t get bounced between a rotating cast of clinicians.

• An ecosystem beyond the prescription itself. Cleansers, moisturizers, SPF, serums, and body care are built to work alongside your Rx.

• Custom Formulaᴿˣ combines up to 3 actives in one product. DayPrimeᴿˣ is also category-first: the only prescription acne treatment + blurring primer hybrid on the market.

• The Curology Access Program offers a $400 credit to qualifying patients who document financial need, a level of affordability support few telehealth services match.

Compare services by checking what each can actually prescribe in your state, whether whether there is access to ongoing provider care, and what the non-Rx routine includes.

Do you need a referral or insurance to use Curology?

Neither a referral nor insurance is required. Certain Curology purchases may be covered by some FSA and HSA plans, your plan administrator can confirm.

Can I see my actual provider, or is it AI?

A real person, every time. Curology providers are physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants licensed in your state. The skin quiz gathers structured information, but a human medical provider makes the clinical decision, what to prescribe, at what strength, on what cadence, and that same provider replies to your messages.

What if Curology doesn’t work for me?

Most plans need time. Past the early adjustment window (4–6 weeks) with no progress? Message your provider. They can tweak the active ingredients or the ingredient strengths if necessary. Where your skin needs in-person care that telehealth can’t deliver, your provider will say so and suggest next steps.

Who shouldn’t use Curology?

Curology won’t suit every patient. People who are pregnant or breastfeeding can’t use formulas containing certain ingredients (such as tretinoin or spironolactone), though your provider may offer alternative formulations. Severe nodulocystic acne, suspected skin cancer, and other conditions that demand in-person evaluation belong with a local dermatologist. Your provider will say so directly when Curology isn’t the right tool for the job.

How long does Curology take to work?

Many patients may see early improvement somewhere in the 3–12 week range. A Curology clinical study noted that 90.5% of patients saw an improvement in their acne at 3 weeks, and 95% by week 12.* Other concerns, such as hyperpigmentation and melasma, or early signs of aging like fine lines, typically need 3–6 months. Everyone’s skin is different, so this timeline might vary for you. It’s also important to remember that this is a long-term journey! We’re not just going for progress, but also prevention.

*Results may vary. In a clinical trial of 150 Curology patients over 12 weeks. Self-reported.

What ingredients might be in my formula?

Common ingredients include tretinoin, clindamycin, azelaic acid, niacinamide, tranexamic acid, metronidazole, ivermectin, dexpanthenol, zinc pyrithione, sulfacetamide, salicylic acid, and spironolactone. Your provider picks the combination that suits your skin and goals. For a deeper look, see our complete guide to Curology products and your routine.

Written by

Curology Team

Medically reviewed by

Elise Bradley, PA-C