Fairfax Dermatology: Putting patients before profit

Transcribed from the newspaper clipping. Statements reflect the article as published on October 8, 2025.

When Nurse Practitioner Diana Fairfax founded Fairfax Dermatology, she did so with a mission that’s all too rare in today’s healthcare landscape: keeping dermatology affordable without sacrificing quality of care. For Fairfax, affordability isn’t a marketing angle — it’s a personal and ethical commitment that traces back to the earliest days of her career.

“I remember prescribing a new medication I had read about in a journal or heard about at a conference, only to get a call later from a patient saying it cost $300 at the pharmacy,” Fairfax recalls. “That was a gut punch. They bought it because I told them it would help, but I hadn’t considered what kind of financial strain I was putting on them. I felt horrible. That was a lesson I never forgot.”

Those moments reshaped the way she practices. She realized that patients — especially parents seeking care for their children — would stretch themselves thin, sometimes to the breaking point, to cover treatments. And with conditions like acne, where self-esteem and emotional wellbeing are tied so closely to physical appearance, patients are often willing to spend their last dime just to see improvement. Fairfax knew there had to be a better way.

At Fairfax Dermatology, “better” means offering alternatives. Instead of recommending expensive combination medications that may not be covered by insurance, Fairfax often breaks the treatment into separate components that work just as effectively — at a fraction of the cost. It may mean more steps in a skincare routine, but it saves families hundreds of dollars.

Her philosophy extends beyond prescriptions. Fairfax offers FDA-approved blue light acne treatments and specialized facials at reduced rates, with strict guidelines. “I tell every patient, ‘If it doesn’t fit your family’s budget, don’t put it on a credit card. I can still get you clear without it — it may just take a little longer.’” That honesty, she says, often brings visible relief to patients and parents alike.

Fairfax also dedicates staff to navigate the tedious prior authorization process for insurance-covered medications. She distributes samples when possible and educates patients on savings tools like GoodRx. Even when it comes to cosmetic procedures, her approach is patient-first: scar revision treatments are priced by area, not by the entire face, so patients only pay for what they need.

One mother recently told Fairfax that her teen’s confidence had been transformed by treatment, and she was grateful not just for the results, but for the financial compassion built into the process. Stories like that, Fairfax says, are why she keeps affordability at the center of her practice.

“I think it comes from being a nurse first,” she explains. “Nursing teaches you to see the whole person — not just the medical condition. Add to that being a mom of three, and I know what it feels like when your child needs something you can barely afford. That’s why I frame everything in terms of options, not pressure. My patients know I care about their skin, but I also care about their financial wellbeing.”

In a healthcare system often criticized for being profit-driven, Fairfax Dermatology stands out as a local practice with heart — one where patients can count on compassion, honesty, and care that doesn’t break the bank.