Dermatica medical review typically takes 3–4 working days, with compounding and dispatch following within about two more days.
Waiting for a clinician to check your consultation can feel slow when you’re keen to start treatment. The good news: Dermatica’s process is predictable once you know the steps. This guide breaks down the timeline from photo upload to package at your door, plus ways to avoid delays.
Dermatica Medical Review Timeline: What To Expect
Dermatica uses a remote consultation. You answer questions, add clear photos, and submit. A registered prescriber then reviews your case. Most new consultations are reviewed in three to four working days (service guidance). After approval, your formula is compounded in-house within the next two working days and then prepared for dispatch. Parcels usually move to the carrier the same or next working day after compounding.
End-To-End Overview
Below is the whole path from sign-up to first delivery. Time windows are typical ranges; weekends and bank holidays extend them. If your case needs extra checks, expect the longer end of the range.
| Stage | What Happens | Typical Time |
|---|---|---|
| Submit Consultation | Questionnaire + photos sent to Dermatica | Same day |
| Clinical Review | Prescriber reviews details and images | 3–4 working days |
| Formulation | Pharmacy compounds your personalised cream | Up to 2 working days |
| Dispatch | Order labelled and passed to carrier | +1 day after compounding |
| Transit | Courier delivers to your address | 2–5 postal days (region-dependent) |
What The Prescriber Checks
Every file is read by a trained professional. They look at your photos in natural light, cross-check your answers, and confirm that the requested actives fit your goals and medical history. If your case fits acne care, they may choose a retinoid, azelaic acid, benzoyl peroxide, or a blend. For melasma or tone concerns, they may select agents that lighten gradually. The review is clinical, not a quick skim, which is why the window spans a few working days.
Why Details Matter
Tiny inputs change the plan. A note about sensitive skin can lead to a slower ramp. A past reaction can steer the team to a gentler base. If you use actives already, include the brand and strength. Clear data lets the prescriber sign off without back-and-forth.
What Can Speed Things Up
Small details shave days off the process. These tips help your consultation pass on the first try and keep the parcel moving.
Submit Sharp, Well-Lit Photos
Use a phone with the rear camera. Face a window or a bright lamp. Take one front, one left, one right, and a close-up of the main concern. No makeup. No heavy filters. Blurry images trigger requests for new photos and push you back in the queue.
Answer Every Medical Question
Provide known allergies, current products, and past prescription strengths. Missing data slows the prescriber because they must message you for clarification.
Choose A Standard Delivery Window
Faster shipping is available in some areas, but standard services are predictable and tracked. If you’re often away, pick an address where someone can sign or a locker option if offered.
Why Reviews Sometimes Take Longer
Most cases pass inside the normal window. Some need a second look. Below are the common causes of delay and what you can do.
Extra Safety Checks
Pregnancy, nursing, certain medicines, and prior reactions can require an alternate plan. That can mean a follow-up question or a different formula, which adds time.
Photo Requests
If glare, shadows, or cropping hide the treatment area, the team asks for retakes. Replying the same day keeps you near your original place in line.
Public Holidays And Weekends
The review queue moves on working days. Bank holidays stretch both review and dispatch. When ordering near long weekends, add a buffer.
Address Or Payment Issues
Invalid postcodes, expired cards, or customs forms for cross-border shipments can stall dispatch. Check your dashboard for prompts before the review finishes.
Region-By-Region Delivery Picture
After the prescriber signs off and the pharmacy compounds your medication, the parcel moves to the carrier. Transit time depends on the lane. The table below outlines typical ranges.
| Region | Carrier Pattern | Typical Transit |
|---|---|---|
| UK Mainland | Royal Mail tracked | 2–4 working days |
| US Lower 48 | USPS or partner courier | 3–5 working days |
| Remote/International | Local post + customs | 1–3 weeks |
How This Timeline Compares With Skin Results
Delivery speed and skin change aren’t the same clock. Many topical actives take weeks before you see visible gains. Retinoids, azelaic acid, and benzoyl peroxide all have slow-and-steady profiles. Early dryness or mild peeling is common. Aim for consistency across months rather than daily perfection.
Typical Ingredient Timelines
Retinoids often start to show a benefit around six to twelve weeks, with stronger gains by three months. Benzoyl peroxide tends to show the first lift near four weeks and can reach full effect in two to four months. Azelaic acid often needs a month for the first change, with clearer gains by eight to twelve weeks. That’s why most plans reassess around the three-month mark. General guidance from the NHS aligns with this pattern for acne care (acne treatment guidance).
Practical Ways To Keep Things Moving
Want your first bottle sooner? These steps are simple and effective.
Place Your Order Early In The Week
Submitting on Monday or Tuesday reduces weekend spillover. Submitting on Friday often pushes compounding into the next week.
Watch Your Inbox And Dashboard
Dermatica sends prompts when the prescriber needs more detail or when dispatch updates. A same-day reply prevents multi-day slips.
Set Delivery Preferences
Pick safe-drop rules that fit your location. Porch theft or failed delivery adds days and frustration. Locker or click-and-collect options can help.
Plan For Refills
Your subscription ships on a 28-day cycle unless you change it. If you’re travelling or using more than expected, move the next ship date forward. If you’re building tolerance and using less, push it back. That keeps you stocked without last-minute gaps.
A Sample First-Month Plan
Week 1: Apply a pea-sized amount on alternate nights. Pair with a bland moisturiser. If tingling or flaking shows up, pause for one night, then resume.
Week 2: Step up to three nights a week if your skin feels comfortable. Keep sunscreen in place each morning.
Week 3: Move to five nights if tolerance is good. If you’re red or tight, drop back to three nights for several days.
Week 4: Use nightly if the skin barrier is stable, or stay at a lower frequency that feels calm. You’re aiming for steady use, not a sprint.
What If You’re In A Hurry?
If you’re starting from scratch, prep your skin while the consultation is in review. Build a gentle base routine: a non-foaming cleanser, a plain moisturiser, and daily SPF 30 or higher. Skip new exfoliants for now. A calm barrier makes it easier to tolerate actives when the parcel arrives. If you already use strong acids or scrubs, dial them down to every third night. That gives you room to slot in your new cream without a flare.
Travelling soon? Submit the consultation a week earlier than planned and set delivery to a staffed address. If you’re between addresses, choose a pickup point where available. Little planning beats a missed parcel and a month-long gap.
When To Contact The Team
Send a message if you get strong burning, sudden swelling, or a rash outside the treated area. Upload fresh photos so the clinician can judge severity. The service offers ongoing advice between shipments, and they can adjust strength or base if needed.
Returns, Remakes, And Address Changes
If a parcel goes missing, reach out through your dashboard with the order number. For address updates mid-cycle, change the details before the next charge date to avoid a mis-ship. If you relocate to a new country, check service availability and delivery terms for that region before placing the next order.
Frequently Asked Timing Questions
Is 3–4 Working Days Always Guaranteed?
It’s the usual window quoted by the service. Medical cases vary, so rare files need more time. If your case passes four working days without an update, send a message. A quick nudge can surface a pending question.
Can I Get Priority Review?
The queue is set to be fair. You can’t buy a faster review, but you can submit complete, clear information and photos, which keeps you near the fast end of the window.
What If I’m Switching Actives Or Strengths?
Changes can require a prescriber check. That can add a day or two before compounding as the team confirms tolerability and interactions.
When Should I Expect Visible Change After Starting?
Plan for a patient three months. Many users notice first improvements around weeks four to eight, with stronger gains by weeks eight to twelve. Track week-by-week photos under similar lighting to see progress that mirrors the science.
Sources And How We Estimate These Windows
Dermatica states that new consultations are typically reviewed within three to four working days, and once approved, your formula is compounded within the next two working days, with dispatch following soon after. Independent health bodies describe ingredient timelines that match the three-month results pattern, which explains why shipping speed and skin change don’t align.
Bottom Line Timing Tips
Upload crisp photos, fill in medical history, and order early in the week. Expect the prescriber window to land in three to four working days, compounding inside two working days, and delivery in two to five postal days in most regions. For skin change, set a three-month horizon while using your plan as directed. That’s how you avoid surprises and keep momentum.