A pilot service has started in Utah in which AI assesses acne patients and issues new prescriptions. It is a case in which AI selects a treatment from the outset, beyond simply renewing an existing prescription.

The Verge reported on Oct. 5 that healthcare startup Nolla Health launched an AI-based acne treatment service, Nolla Derm, for adults in Utah. After users complete an intake questionnaire and take photos of their face from several angles, the AI analyses the severity of acne. It selects an appropriate topical medication from predetermined treatment protocols and writes a prescription. The company said it was the first case in the United States in which a state regulator has allowed AI to issue new prescriptions.

The service operates as a regulatory pilot program in Utah. For the first 100 people, 2 Utah-licensed doctors each review and approve every AI-generated prescription before it is issued. After that, for up to 500 people, the AI issues prescriptions first and doctors review them afterward. In the final stage, doctors check at least 10 percent of prescriptions each month as well as cases involving side effects or worsening symptoms. Moving between stages requires written approval from state authorities.

The service targets Utah residents aged 18 and older with mild to moderate acne. Under certain conditions, including severe acne, pregnancy or breastfeeding, or weakened immunity, AI prescribing stops and users are connected to medical staff. Oral medications and isotretinoin are not included. Fees start at $4.99 per month.

Nolla Health said its goal is not to replace doctors but to handle repetitive and low-risk care so dermatologists can focus on complex patients. Still, as AI takes on prescribing authority, how misdiagnosis, side effects and liability are managed is expected to become an important test for future regulation of medical AI.