Virtual dermatologist
in California
Dr. Dennis Porto is a double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon licensed to practise in California. Describe your concern, send photographs, and get a diagnosis and treatment plan from a specialist — without the drive, the waiting room, or the months-long wait for a first appointment.
California has one of the highest rates of ultraviolet-attributable melanoma in the country. He graduated at the top of his class from the University of Iowa College of Medicine, earned a Master of Public Health at Harvard, and is board-certified in both dermatology and Mohs micrographic surgery.
Skin care in California
An American Cancer Society analysis published in the International Journal of Cancer estimated the incidence of melanoma attributable to ultraviolet radiation by state. Among non-Hispanic white residents, California's rate was 33.8 per 100,000 — among the highest of any state, and well above the level seen in most of the country. The explanation is not complicated: year-round sun, a strong outdoor culture, and the fact that mild weather makes cumulative exposure easy to underestimate.
That cumulative exposure drives more than skin cancer risk. It is the main external driver of melasma and of the pigmentary changes that follow acne and other inflammation, both of which are harder to treat and quicker to return in a climate with no genuine low-UV season. Coastal fog is not protection; ultraviolet A passes through cloud cover largely unimpeded.
Wildfire smoke has become a recurring factor as well. Particulate exposure during smoke events is associated with flares of atopic dermatitis and general skin irritation, and the affected periods now recur often enough to be worth planning around rather than reacting to.
Access is also uneven. Dermatologists cluster heavily in the coastal metros, while the Central Valley, the far north, and much of the Inland Empire have comparatively few relative to population.
Serving patients across California
Care is available to anyone located in California at the time of their consultation, including:
- Los Angeles
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Oakland
- Sacramento
- Fresno
- Orange County
- the Central Valley
- the Inland Empire
What can be addressed
Dr. Porto is a general dermatologist as well as a Mohs surgeon, so the full range of medical dermatology is covered — acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, hair loss, melasma, pigmentation, rashes, and concerning spots among them. The full list of conditions sets out what is treated and how each is approached.
When a prescription is appropriate it is sent electronically to your pharmacy of choice in California. Follow-up happens by message, which matters more than most people expect: dermatologic treatment succeeds or fails on adjustment over weeks, and that adjustment is far likelier to happen when it does not require another appointment.
Start with a message, not a waiting room
Send photos and a short history. Get a diagnosis and a treatment plan from a double board-certified dermatologist licensed in California.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dr. Porto licensed in California?
Yes. Dr. Porto holds an active medical license in California and in nine other states. He is double board-certified in dermatology and in Mohs micrographic surgery, and is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology.
Do I need to live in California to be seen?
What matters is where you are physically located during the consultation, not where you permanently reside. Physicians are licensed state by state, so being in California at the time of your consult is what allows Dr. Porto to treat you there.
How long does it take to be seen?
Far less time than the national norm for dermatology. Survey data has put the average wait for a dermatology appointment in the United States at around five weeks, with wide variation between states. Sending a message does not require waiting for a scheduled appointment slot at all.
What happens if my condition needs a procedure?
You will be told directly, and pointed toward what the next step should be. Dr. Porto is a Mohs surgeon as well as a general dermatologist, so the assessment of whether something needs surgical or procedural treatment comes from someone who performs it.
Does California's climate change how skin conditions are treated?
It changes the emphasis. Year-round ultraviolet exposure means photoprotection carries more weight in California than in states with a genuine low-sun season, particularly for melasma, post-inflammatory pigmentation, and anyone with a history of skin cancer.
This page is general health information, not medical advice, and reading it does not create a physician–patient relationship. Treatment decisions depend on your individual history and examination. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.