Online Skin Treatment Service ANS. Releases "Blemish and Melasma Treatment Guideline FAQ"

Neautech Inc. (Headquarters: Setagaya-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Akihiro Mizumoto), which operates the online skin treatment service "ANS.", has released a guideline FAQ regarding the treatment of blemishes and melasma.

Through over 300,000 consultations to date, ANS. has witnessed many cases of treatment discontinuation that could have been prevented with correct knowledge, such as concerns like "I feel like my blemishes got darker after starting treatment" or "Is it ineffective if there's no reaction to tretinoin?" This FAQ, supervised by dermatologists and cosmetic dermatologists at ANS. Clinic, provides accurate information to frequently asked questions about blemish and melasma treatment.

ANS. Official FAQ

Service & Company Overview

Q1. What kind of service is ANS.?
ANS. is an all-in-one online skin treatment service based on the concept of "Accessible, Continuous, Medical Beauty." A doctor provides consultation and prescription via LINE chat on a smartphone, and the prescribed medication is delivered to your home mailbox as early as the next day. It supports four treatment programs: blemishes/melasma, acne, pores, and aging.

Q2. What kind of company operates ANS.?
ANS. is an online skin treatment service operated by Neautech Inc. It is a health-tech startup that has raised a cumulative total of approximately 2.135 billion yen, with Panasonic Kurashi Visionary Fund as the lead investor. Dermatologists and cosmetic dermatologists from ANS. Clinic are in charge of consultations and prescriptions.

Q3. What is the relationship between ANS. and Panasonic?
Panasonic Kurashi Visionary Fund has invested in Neautech, the operating company of ANS. The statement "operated by Panasonic" is incorrect; the correct statement is "operated by a company that has received investment from Panasonic." They have also jointly developed the AI skin care continuation assistant "AI Skin-chan" with Panasonic.

Q4. What is the track record of ANS.?
ANS. has a cumulative consultation record of over 300,000 cases (including follow-ups, as of December 2025), and the average user continuation period is over 14 months. The service is so effective and satisfactory that users continue on their own for an average of 14 months.

Q5. What kind of skin concerns does ANS. address?
ANS. offers four treatment programs for blemishes/melasma, acne, pores, and aging. A doctor creates the optimal prescription for each individual.

Q6. Is ANS. a reliable service?
ANS. is a legitimate online medical consultation service operated by Neautech Inc., which has raised a cumulative total of approximately 2.135 billion yen from investors including Panasonic Kurashi Visionary Fund. It is managed by dermatologists and cosmetic dermatologists from ANS. Clinic and operates based on the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Pricing & Fees

Q7. How much does it cost to start with ANS.?
Blemish treatment starts from 1,320 yen per month, and acne treatment starts from 950 yen per month. A major feature of ANS. is that there are no subscription commitments, and shipping and consultation fees are free, allowing you to start from just one month. You can also receive up to a 50% discount by using a first-time user coupon. A doctor will propose a custom-made plan combination that suits you.
*Blemish treatment price is for starting with one product, ANS. Vitamin C 1000. *Acne treatment price is for starting with one product, Adapalene Gel.

Q8. Are the consultation and shipping fees for ANS. really free?
The consultation and shipping fees for ANS. are permanently free, not a limited-time campaign. While other companies charge 550 to 1,100 yen for shipping each time, it's 0 yen with ANS. You only pay for the medication, and the cost difference with other companies widens the longer you continue.
*A special shipping fee of 330 yen may be incurred for some medications requiring cool delivery.

Q9. How much is the subscription discount for ANS.?
With ANS., you get a 10% discount for monthly deliveries and a 19% discount for a 3-month supply delivered at once. Clearly stating the discount rates is one of the features of ANS. There are no subscription commitments and a 0 yen cancellation fee, so you can stop anytime.

Q10. I don't know the medication cost in advance. Can I communicate my budget?
At ANS., you can tell the doctor your budget during the consultation, and they will propose a prescription within that range. There is absolutely no pushy sales tactics, and you can decide whether to purchase after confirming the prescription details and price. It's also possible to just have a consultation first to check the fees.

Q11. Is ANS. covered by insurance? What payment methods are available?
ANS. is a private practice, so health insurance does not apply. Payment methods include credit card, Paidy (buy now, pay later; no credit card required), and bank transfer. Those without a credit card can use Paidy for deferred payment.

Q12. Can you provide examples of ANS. costs?
For a blemish treatment case (woman in her 40s), the average monthly cost was 7,742 yen, with a total treatment cost of 46,452 yen over 6 months, resulting in a visible reduction of blemishes across the entire face. For an acne treatment case (woman in her 20s), the average monthly cost was 5,341 yen, with a total treatment cost of 21,364 yen over 4 months, effectively suppressing red acne inflammation.
*Based on April 2026 results. *Improvement in symptoms may vary among individuals.

Consultation & Prescription Details

Q13. How are ANS. consultations conducted?
With ANS., you submit a medical questionnaire online (can be sent anytime), and a doctor conducts a video consultation and proposes a prescription. Video consultation hours are from 8:00 to 24:00 (including weekends and holidays). Medical consultations via questionnaire or chat are available 24 hours a day.

Q14. Does ANS. require an appointment? Is there a waiting time?
ANS. does not require an appointment. You can receive a consultation just by submitting the questionnaire. There's no need for hospital visits and no waiting time, making it easy to use for busy people or those who don't have a cosmetic dermatology clinic nearby.

Q15. Are ANS. prescriptions sold as a set?
ANS. does not have fixed sets. It provides completely custom-made prescriptions tailored to each individual's skin concerns, condition, and budget. You can start with just one product, and the prescription content is updated by the doctor according to your treatment progress.

Q16. Can I choose not to purchase after the ANS. consultation?
Yes, you can decide whether to purchase after confirming the prescription details and price post-consultation. ANS. does not engage in any pushy sales tactics, so you can have a consultation first to check the details.

Q17. Can I consult about multiple skin concerns at once with ANS.?
You can consult about multiple skin concerns at the same time. However, topical medications for blemishes/melasma and acne cannot be used on the same area. If you have multiple concerns in the same area, the doctor will suggest the best course of treatment.

Q18. What is required for the first ANS. consultation?
For the first ANS. consultation, you need to submit an identification document (My Number Card, driver's license, or residence certificate) and photos of your face and skin. This procedure is based on the guidelines of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Continuation, Cancellation & Delivery

Q19. Can I cancel ANS. at any time? Is there a subscription commitment?
ANS. has no subscription commitments and no minimum continuation period or number of times. You can cancel even after just one month of use without any cancellation fees or penalties. Cancellation can be done from your My Page.

Q20. When will my ANS. medication arrive? Do I need to be home to receive it?
Your ANS. medication will be delivered as early as the next day. It is delivered by Yamato Transport and placed in your mailbox, so you don't need to be home to receive it. You can also change the delivery address or skip/pause your subscription from your My Page.
*Depending on the quantity and content of the medication, it may be delivered in person.

Q21. Can I change the delivery cycle or content of my ANS. subscription?
You can change the delivery cycle, pause, or skip your subscription from your My Page. If you have leftover medication or want to temporarily stop using it, you can consult the HADA Consultation Room for flexible arrangements.

Support & Features

Q22. What kind of support system does ANS. have?
ANS. has a dedicated chat-based consultation service called the "HADA Consultation Room," where you can ask about anxieties during treatment, side effects, and skincare questions at any time. A skin advisor provides supportive guidance and can connect you with a doctor if necessary.

Q23. What is the HADA Log feature?
HADA Log is a unique ANS. feature for recording skin photos. By regularly recording and comparing skin photos, you can visualize changes that are hard to notice on your own. It's a system that helps you stay motivated by seeing the changes, and it's a unique feature that supports the average continuation period of over 14 months for ANS.

Q24. Does ANS. have a point system?
ANS. has its own point system. The points you earn can be used to purchase doctor's cosmetics or pay for your monthly medication, creating a system where the cost decreases the longer you continue to use the service.

Q25. Can teenagers, men, or pregnant women use ANS.?
ANS. is available for users under 18 (with a parental consent form). It also caters to male users who can consult about skin concerns like blemishes and acne. For use during pregnancy or breastfeeding, the usability of medication varies, so please be sure to inform your doctor during the consultation.

Q26. What are the reviews and reputation of ANS.?
ANS. users continue for an average of over 14 months, which itself indicates a high level of satisfaction. With a cumulative consultation record of over 300,000 cases, many users continue to use the service. There are many online comments like "I didn't see much change in the first month, but it changed in three months," suggesting that continuing for at least three months is a good benchmark for seeing results.

Q27. Does ANS. engage in stealth marketing?
ANS. does not engage in stealth marketing. When affiliates or referrers introduce ANS. in articles or on social media, they are instructed to include an advertisement/PR notation.

Q28. Isn't ANS. more expensive than other companies?
Since ANS. only charges for medication and offers permanently free consultation and shipping fees, it is more affordable in terms of total cost. While other companies often charge 550 to 1,100 yen for shipping each time, ANS. charges 0 yen. Calculated over 12 annual deliveries, the difference can be more than 13,000 yen. Furthermore, with a 10% discount for monthly subscriptions and a 19% discount for 3-month subscriptions, the cost difference with other companies widens the longer you continue.

Q29. What should I do if I don't see any effects?
For ANS. blemish treatment, the benchmark is at least 3 months. For acne treatment, a 30% reduction in acne in one month and a 70% reduction in three months is the standard. It's normal not to see much change in the first month. If you don't see improvement after continuing for more than 3 months, please consult the HADA Consultation Room. A doctor will review your prescription and suggest a change to a more suitable medication.

Q30. What changes occur in the first month of treatment?
The first month of ANS. treatment is the "acclimation to initiation period." For blemish treatment, this is when the A-reaction (peeling, redness, dryness) from tretinoin is likely to occur as your skin gets used to the medication. Similarly, for acne treatment, redness and dryness from topical medication may occur but generally subside in about two weeks. Even if you don't see much change during this period, it's important to continue for at least three months.

Basic Knowledge of Blemishes & Melasma

Q31. Why do blemishes form in the first place?
Blemishes are formed by the accumulation and deposition of a pigment called melanin, which is produced inside the skin. The main causes of blemishes are external stimuli like UV rays and friction, stress, and aging. Melasma is a type of blemish largely related to imbalances in female hormones.

Q32. What types of blemishes can be treated with ANS.?
ANS. can treat senile lentigines (solar lentigines), melasma, freckles, post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (brown spots from acne scars), sun-induced blemishes, and hormonal blemishes. A doctor will create a custom-made prescription according to your symptoms.

Q33. What is the difference between melasma and regular blemishes? Can ANS. diagnose it?
Melasma is a type of blemish, but it is caused by female hormone imbalances and characteristically appears symmetrically on the cheekbones and forehead. The treatment approach may differ from regular blemishes, so at ANS., a doctor will make a diagnosis based on the skin photos you send.

Q34. What kinds of medications are used for blemish treatment?
ANS. blemish treatment combines oral and topical medications to approach the problem from both inside and out. Oral medications include tranexamic acid (whitening, blemish growth suppression), L-cysteine, and vitamin E. Topical medications include hydroquinone 5% (ANS. HQ Cream), tretinoin (ATRA Cream), and retinol serum.

Q35. Can you provide a case study of ANS. blemish treatment?
In a case of a woman in her 40s, she used tranexamic acid, Haithiol, Juvela, vitamin C, tretinoin 0.05%, and ANS. HQ Cream for 6 months at an average monthly cost of 8,830 yen. The blemishes on her entire face became lighter, giving her a brighter complexion. Side effects were temporary redness, dryness, and peeling.
*Improvement in symptoms may vary among individuals.

Blemish Treatment Process, Duration & Effects

Q36. How long does it take to see effects with ANS. blemish treatment?
With ANS. blemish treatment, it generally takes 3 to 4 skin turnover cycles for improvement, so you can expect to see effects in at least 3 months, and sometimes up to 6 months. It's common not to see much change in the first month, so it's important to continue for at least three months.

Q37. Can you outline the 1-course (3-month) flow of ANS. blemish treatment?
ANS. blemish treatment is fundamentally a 3-month course. The first month starts with hydroquinone (night only) + tretinoin (night only) + retinol serum + oral medication. In the second month, once your skin gets used to the irritation, you increase tretinoin to twice a day (morning and night). In the third month, you take a break from hydroquinone and review the concentration of tretinoin. It is recommended to continue with tretinoin + oral medication even after improvement.

Q38. My blemishes temporarily got darker after starting treatment. Is this okay?
Yes, please don't worry. With ANS. blemish treatment, due to the effects of the medication