Our stance · May 4, 2026
Why Dermavitas stays cosmetic — and where a dermatologist starts
The short answer
Dermavitas builds cosmetic routines and explains ingredient logic. It does not diagnose, name conditions, or recommend treatment — persistent, painful, or changing skin belongs with a licensed dermatologist.
AI is good at sequencing cosmetic routines and reading ingredient logic. It is not a diagnostic tool, and pretending otherwise would be the fastest way to do real harm. Being explicit about the boundary is not a legal formality here; it is the design constraint the whole product is built inside.
What we do
We build cosmetic routines: cleanser, hydration, treatment, moisturizer, sunscreen. We explain application order, pacing, and ingredient interactions in plain language, and we tell you when something you already own is redundant.
We also do the unglamorous parts: pacing actives so a routine survives its first month, flagging fragrance for reactive skin, and refusing to recommend a fifth product when four are already unused.
What we never do
We do not diagnose, name conditions, or suggest anything as treatment. If a description points toward a medical concern, the correct answer is a referral, not a routine. That rule is enforced in the model prompts and repeated in the interface rather than buried in terms of service.
- Acne that is painful, cystic, or scarring
- Rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis
- Any mole or lesion that is changing in size, shape, or colour
- Persistent pain, bleeding, oozing, or sudden severe reactions
- Anything that has not improved with reasonable cosmetic care
Cosmetic versus medical, in practice
The distinction is not about severity so much as intent. Improving the appearance of dryness is cosmetic. Treating a diagnosed barrier disorder is medical. The same ingredient can appear on both sides of that line, which is precisely why the framing has to be explicit.
- Cosmetic — visible dryness, dullness, shine, uneven texture, the look of fine lines
- Cosmetic — choosing between a cream and a gel moisturizer for your skin type
- Medical — any named condition, prescription product, or procedure
- Medical — reactions involving swelling, pain, or spreading rash
How the AI is constrained
The models we use are instructed to describe appearance, not identify pathology, and to hand off rather than guess when a description crosses the line. Outputs stay at the level of categories and ingredients rather than branded prescriptions.
No system is perfect, so the interface carries the disclaimer at the point of use rather than only at signup, and every routine ends with the same referral language. If the output ever reads like a diagnosis, treat that as a bug and tell us.
Why the line helps you
A tool that stays inside its competence is a tool you can trust the rest of the time. If we were willing to guess at conditions, you would have no way to know which parts of the advice were grounded and which were improvised.
Cosmetic guidance done honestly is genuinely useful — and it is the whole job we have taken on.
Frequently asked questions
Can AI diagnose a skin condition from a photo?
No, and Dermavitas does not attempt it. AI can describe visible cosmetic cues such as shine and texture, but diagnosis requires a licensed clinician who can examine your skin and history.
When should I see a dermatologist instead?
See a dermatologist for painful or cystic acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, any changing mole, bleeding or spreading rashes, and anything that has not improved with reasonable cosmetic care.
Is Dermavitas medical advice?
No. Dermavitas provides cosmetic skincare guidance only and does not diagnose or treat any medical condition.