Aesthetic & elective

SEO & AEO for General Dermatology Practices

By Nathan Woo

Get found by patients searching for skin cancer screening, acne treatment, eczema, psoriasis, and medical skin conditions.

One in four Americans – 84.5 million people – are impacted by skin disease.[1] Patients actively research skin conditions, treatment options, and providers before booking appointments. Nearly 60% of US adults search for health information online,[2] and dermatology patients are no exception. Your online visibility directly determines whether they find your practice.

Dermatology encompasses both medical and cosmetic services, but the medical dermatology patient journey is distinct. Patients with acne, eczema, psoriasis, or concerning moles are seeking diagnosis and treatment for health conditions – not elective procedures. With skin disorders ranked as the fourth leading cause of nonfatal disease burden globally,[3] the demand for qualified dermatologists is substantial.

Yet many dermatology practices struggle to differentiate in search results. Hospital systems dominate generic searches, while cosmetic-focused competitors blur the line between medical and aesthetic services. Google confirms that "review count and review score factor into local search ranking,"[4] giving established practices compounding advantages. Independent dermatologists with specialized expertise in medical conditions often remain invisible to the patients who need them most.

77%
of health seekers start research at search engines
Patients research extensively before choosing providers
~60%
of US adults search for health information online
The majority of potential patients are searching
1 in 4
under-30s use AI chatbots for health info
The patient journey is shifting to AI-powered search

Why general dermatology practices struggle with search visibility

Understanding these challenges is the first step to solving them.

1

Patients search for specific conditions, not general dermatology

Someone with persistent acne searches "adult acne treatment" – not "dermatologist near me." Your content needs to address specific skin conditions to capture these high-intent searches.

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2

Medical vs. cosmetic positioning creates confusion

Many practices blur the line between medical and cosmetic dermatology. Patients seeking medical care want to know you specialize in diagnosing and treating skin conditions, not just aesthetics.

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3

AI tools are becoming important for skin condition research

Patients increasingly ask ChatGPT about skin symptoms before searching for providers. Your practice needs to be structured so AI tools can recommend you for specific conditions.

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Our approach for dermatology practices

We build SEO and AEO infrastructure specifically designed for medical dermatology practices. Our platform creates condition-specific content for every skin disease you treat, implements medical schema markup, and optimizes your local presence – all while positioning you for AI citation when patients research skin conditions.

We understand that medical dermatology requires different positioning than cosmetic services, and our approach emphasizes your diagnostic expertise and treatment specializations.

  • Build comprehensive content for every skin condition you diagnose and treat – from acne to skin cancer.
  • Structure your site so Google and AI tools understand your medical dermatology expertise.
  • Optimize for condition-specific searches like "psoriasis treatment" and "eczema dermatologist near me."
  • Differentiate your medical expertise from cosmetic-only providers in search results.

Live in one day

Unlike agencies that take months to show results, our AI-powered system deploys optimized content for your practice in days. You review, we publish.

30 min setup
Live in 5-7 days
Results in 30-60 days

Frequently asked questions

Common questions general dermatology practices ask about SEO and AEO.

Most begin with condition-specific searches ("adult acne treatment that works," "eczema specialist") before searching for local providers. They research their symptoms, possible diagnoses, and treatment options extensively. Being visible throughout this journey with educational content about specific conditions is essential for patient acquisition.

Key takeaways

  • Patients search for specific skin conditions, not general dermatology
  • Clear differentiation between medical and cosmetic services matters
  • Condition-specific content captures high-intent patient searches
  • AI tools are increasingly used for skin symptom research
  • Medical credentials signal expertise to both patients and search engines

Sources

  1. 1American Academy of Dermatology - Skin Conditions by the Numbers(2023)
  2. 2CDC/NCHS - Health Information Technology Use Among Adults(2023)
  3. 3Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology - Burden of Skin Disease(2017)
  4. 4Google Business Profile Help - Local Ranking

Learn more

Explore these concepts to understand how we help general dermatology practices get found.

Common challenges

Problems that practices in this specialty commonly face.

Related specialties

Explore how we help practices in related specialties.

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