Virtual dermatologist
in Virginia
Dr. Dennis Porto is a double board-certified dermatologist and Mohs surgeon licensed to practise in Virginia. 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.
Virginia spans dense Northern Virginia suburbs and large rural regions with very different access to specialty care. 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 Virginia
Virginia contains two quite different environments for getting dermatologic care. Northern Virginia, Richmond, and Hampton Roads have reasonable specialist density but a population that commutes heavily, which makes a weekday daytime appointment costly in ways an appointment calendar does not capture. Southwest Virginia, the Southside, and much of the Shenandoah Valley have the opposite problem — not enough dermatologists, spread across a large area.
The climate leans humid subtropical across most of the state, and that shapes what turns up. Long, humid summers aggravate fungal infections, tinea versicolor, folliculitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, and any condition made worse by sweat and occlusion. The coastal and Chesapeake regions add substantial recreational sun exposure across a long warm season.
Outdoor exposure inland brings its own pattern. The Blue Ridge and Shenandoah regions are heavily used for hiking and camping, and contact dermatitis from poison ivy, oak, and sumac is common enough through spring and summer to be a seasonal fixture rather than an occasional complaint.
Serving patients across Virginia
Care is available to anyone located in Virginia at the time of their consultation, including:
- Virginia Beach
- Norfolk
- Richmond
- Arlington
- Alexandria
- Chesapeake
- Newport News
- Charlottesville
- Roanoke
- the Shenandoah Valley
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 Virginia. 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 Virginia.
Frequently asked questions
Is Dr. Porto licensed in Virginia?
Yes. Dr. Porto holds an active medical license in Virginia 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 Virginia 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 Virginia 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.
Can a rash from poison ivy be treated this way?
Usually. Contact dermatitis from poison ivy, oak, or sumac is diagnosed largely on its appearance and the pattern of exposure, and prescription-strength treatment can be started promptly. Widespread involvement, facial or genital involvement, or signs of infection warrant faster and closer attention.
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.