From personal story to successful business model

Ghent founders Jochen Boeykens, acne patient and IT entrepreneur, and Annelies Avermaete, dermatologist, joined forces 2 years ago to reduce dramatic waiting times. Jochen and Annelies came into contact with each other through a common acquaintance.

“A friend told me that a dermatologist needed help with software. The subject of skin disorders was close to my heart, as I've been battling acne for years, with all the associated frustrations. I was undoubtedly Annelies' most difficult patient”, Jochen laughs.

For classical dermatologists, the waiting times for a consultation range from 4 to 6 months.

“There are far too few dermatologists in Belgium to serve all patients”, Jochen continues. “If you are finally allowed to visit, there is little time for a thorough investigation and you often get the same advice: try this, if that doesn't work, you'll come back.”

Annelies and Jochen are taking a more efficient approach and founded the online tool Skindr two years ago. The patient sends a photo of his skin condition, does his own intake and is further helped within 48 hours with high-quality, reliable advice by one of the 20 associated Belgian dermatologists. As a patient, you can ask additional questions in a kind of chat environment. Today, Skindr has more than 10,000 consultations.

“A year ago, I noticed some strange spots on my daughter's legs; two days later, her legs were full. My dermatologist was only able to receive me after four months and, of course, we couldn't wait that long. By chance, I discovered Skindr. After entering all the necessary information, I was quickly helped further by a dermatologist. He immediately told me what the stains were and provided me with an electronic prescription. The stains were completely gone after 7 days and never came back! '- Tine, patient Skindr

Teledermatology is the future

According to Skindr, more than 90% of patients can be helped 100% online. In other cases, a visit to the practice is necessary, such as excising a mole.

The benefits of teledermatology are numerous, for both patients and dermatologists: no long waiting times, faster treatment and greater flexibility for both parties. In addition, a first triage before a hospital visit is possible, which alleviates the pressure on hospitals.

“We sometimes call ourselves 'the emergency dermatology service'. For example, patients with an urgent skin condition will be treated more quickly and patients with an innocent problem will be reassured more quickly.”, says Jochen.

Immediate advice and a good treatment plan - “I've been struggling with acne all my life and still suffer from it today, at the age of 30. This only got worse when I stopped taking the pill. Before you can see a dermatologist, you have to wait months, so I was very happy when I discovered Skindr. After uploading a few photos, I immediately received advice and a customized prescription. I am very happy with the treatment plan that I have now received. '” - Julie, patient Skindr

A story of growth

Skindr's mission is to be the best patient experience in dermatology and the most flexible workplace for dermatologists. Today, the Belgian company Skindr has more than 10,000 consultations. The goal is to achieve 100,000 consultations per year within 2 years. In addition, Skindr is also expanding to the Netherlands this year.

Although Skindr tripled in the number of consultations last year alone, Jochen remains critical. “In the past, I worked in tech and only for companies. The customer has always been the focus there. Even now that we focus on consumers with Skindr, I firmly stand behind this idea”, says Jochen. “We recently adopted a new strategy where we train dermatologists in the field of teledermatology. That's how we know that they fully support our platform and will serve patients at their best.”

At the great demand of Skindr users, the Skindr app was launched in early February, which further improves accessibility and ease of use. “Now we are literally and figuratively the dermatologist at hand”, Jochen smiles.

Hallucinant skin facts

• Skin diseases are the fourth most common diseases; one third of the population suffers from a skin disease. *
• The most common skin conditions on Skindr are acne, eczema and psoriasis. No less than 1 out of 10 Belgians struggles with acne. **
• Belgium has 1 dermatologist for every 14,000 people, so waiting times can be up to one year.
• In addition to the skin, a dermatologist also treats hair and nails. Also for STIs and allergies can be seen by a dermatologist.
• Dermatologists are getting more and more aesthetic and cosmetic questions about botox, fillers, etc.
• In skin cancer, prevention and rapid detection are crucial: if a malignant mole is not treated for six months, the risk of metastases increases significantly.

Practical info

Learn more about teledermatology at www.skindr.com.

Download the app here in the Google Play whether Apple App Store.

‍