Your skin is itchy. Or you see red spots. What do you do? You scroll through Instagram, check TikTok tips, or ask ChatGPT what it could be.

More and more people are doing this. And that makes sense: with waiting times of up to six months for dermatologists and 43,000 skin consultations with general practitioners in Belgium daily  , finding help is not an easy task.

Information is more accessible than ever. But in practice, this information is often fragmented, lacks context, or is simply wrong.

And that's where the problem begins.

Online skin information: abundant, but not always accurate

There is good, well-substantiated information about skin problems. The problem? It gets lost in the noise.

Skincare trends, one-size-fits-all advice, and AI tools without medical context circulate rapidly. In our clinical practice, dermatologist Annelies Avermaete sees the consequences of this daily.

"I regularly see people in consultation where certain online skincare trends have gone wrong: not out of ignorance, but because the information was simply incorrect or unsuitable for their skin."

— Annelies, dermatologist & cofounder Skindr

What is shared online rarely takes your skin type into account, lacks nuance about how symptoms evolve, and makes no distinction between harmless and clinically relevant.

The result? Confusion, unnecessary anxiety, or even delaying care for too long.

Why scrolling isn't a diagnosis

Many skin problems look visually similar, but the cause and treatment can be completely different. Redness can be eczema, rosacea, an allergic reaction, or something entirely different.

Online information, driven by trends or algorithms, cannot provide that nuance. Scrolling offers stimuli and opinions, but no medical interpretation.

A correct assessment requires medical context, scientific substantiation, and knowledge of warning signs. That is precisely where online noise falls short.

Skindr wants to redefine the starting point of skin care

At Skindr, we believe that care can and should start better. Not with trends, not with likes, not with algorithms, but with scientific, reliable information in understandable language.

That is more important than ever. While the demand for skin care continues to grow (43% of Belgians suffer from a skin condition), the healthcare system is under increasing pressure. By 2030, Belgium may lose up to 20% of its general practitioner capacity due to the aging of its medical workforce. It's not much better for dermatologists, as 25% of all active dermatologists are already 65+.

We cannot keep adding consultations indefinitely.

But we can streamline care organization.

By providing people with accurate, scientifically-backed information from the outset, many skin-related questions can be answered more quickly and precisely. Secure digital consultations, handled in just minutes, free up time for more complex care in the consultation room.

That's why we're launching Skindr as the starting point for skin care.

What makes this feature different?

The content is:

• developed in collaboration with Gezondheid & Wetenschap
• scientifically substantiated and validated according to the principles of CEBAM (Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine)
• reviewed by accredited dermatologists
• accessible without immediately starting a consultation

The goal is to help people get off to the right start.

Start with science, not guesswork

With the science-backed skin information you can:

• access reliable skin information
• better understand what might be causing your issue
• assess when it's okay to wait, and when it's not

Need personalized advice afterwards? You can then use the same app for a consultation with a certified dermatologist, within 48 hours.

This establishes a care pathway that is both logical and responsible:

science → understanding → appropriate care

Added value for patients and the healthcare system

This is also important for general practitioners and the wider healthcare system. Currently, approximately 10% of all GP consultations are dermatological, totaling over 9 million consultations annually. Many of these can be managed digitally.

People who start with accurate, science-backed information:

• come with more realistic expectations
• ask more targeted questions
• make more timely healthcare decisions
• know when to wait and when professional help is needed

This initial layer of science-backed information thus acts as a medical filter before a consultation, without replacing the role of doctors. It enhances the quality of care for everyone and helps to utilize scarce healthcare capacity more efficiently.

The future of healthcare is hybrid, not automated.

With the introduction of tools like ChatGPT Health, AI in healthcare is once again high on the agenda. What will be automated, and where will human expertise remain essential?

For us, it's not a matter of technology versus healthcare provider. It's about the right combination.

AI is becoming increasingly powerful: efficient, scalable, and continuously available. But medical expertise remains indispensable, especially for complex and context-sensitive healthcare needs.

Not every skin condition requires a physical consultation. But not every diagnosis can be fully automated.

That's why Skindr operates in a hybrid way:

• Scientific information helps you start correctly
• AI assists with intake and risk assessment
• Every diagnosis is made by a certified dermatologist
• Digital where it offers efficiency, physical where complexity or human interaction demands it

The future of healthcare isn't black and white. It's hybrid — with technology as an enabler and human expertise at its core.

Good care starts with the right starting point

In a world full of online noise, skincare trends, and AI answers, Skindr aims to offer a clear alternative.

A place where skin care begins with scientific context.

Because scrolling isn't a diagnosis.

That's why you start with Skindr.

Open the Skindr app and discover the new starting point for skin care.