Dr. Dan's
Dr. Dan's is a dermatologist-founded skincare company that develops and sells hypoallergenic medicated lip balms and topical treatments, led by its flagship CortiBalm with 1% hydrocortisone. It serves consumers with sensitive skin and conditions such as Accutane-induced cheilitis, chemotherapy side effects, eczema, psoriasis, and cold sores, distributing via DTC e-commerce, Amazon, Walmart, CVS, and US pharmacy wholesale channels.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1998
- HeadquartersWest Boylston, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Dr. Dan's does
Dr. Dan's, LLC is a privately held, founder-owned dermatologist-led skincare company headquartered in West Boylston, Massachusetts, operating a focused product franchise built around hypoallergenic, medicated lip and skin care. The company's flagship product, CortiBalm, is a 1% hydrocortisone lip balm formulated by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dan Viders in 1998 from a minimal, hypoallergenic base of beeswax, petroleum jelly, and mineral oil, certified 100% Top Allergen Free by SkinSAFE; CortiBalm is sold in tube (0.15oz) and jar (0.25oz) formats. The portfolio extends into adjacent maintenance and protection SKUs: Maintain Lip Balm (hypoallergenic daily use), Hand & Body Lotion with 1% hydrocortisone (eczema, psoriasis, dry-skin targeting), and mineral-based SPF30 products (Body & Face Sunstick and SPF30 Lip Sunscreen) using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Dioxide in lieu of chemical UV filters.
The company's business model is omnichannel specialty CPG. Revenue is generated via one-time purchases through direct-to-consumer e-commerce on drdanslipbalm.com, marketplace sales on Amazon, brick-and-mortar availability at Walmart and CVS, and pharmacy special-order fulfillment via the three major US pharmaceutical wholesalers (McKesson, Cardinal, AmerisourceBergen), supported by an online pharmacy locator tool. Customer segmentation is vertical/use-case-based: Accutane/isotretinoin patients with cheilitis, chemotherapy patients, cold-sore sufferers, psoriasis and eczema patients, contact dermatitis/allergy sufferers, and general dry-lip consumers — with dermatologists and burn clinicians serving as referring healthcare providers. Marketing combines a condition-specific content site, organic social on Facebook and Instagram, earned media including a Drew Barrymore feature in Eating Well Magazine (October 2021) and a Verywell Health "Best Sunburn Relief" endorsement, and a strategic partnership (announced 2025) with the National Breast Cancer Foundation donating CortiBalm into tens of thousands of patient HOPE Kits annually.
The company is bootstrapped, with no disclosed funding rounds, no parent company, and no public listing; cumulative scale commentary cites over one million CortiBalm tubes sold since launch, employee headcount of 51-100, and a single US focus (with latent international reach via Amazon marketplace). Distribution, product, and partnership cadence over 2022-2025 suggests measured, SKU-led expansion rather than venture-scale growth.
Dr. Dan's firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Dr. Dan's
- Legal name
- Dr. Dan's, LLC
- Website
- https://drdanslipbalm.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1998
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Dr. Dan's is a dermatologist-founded skincare company that develops and sells hypoallergenic medicated lip balms and topical treatments, led by its flagship CortiBalm with 1% hydrocortisone. It serves consumers with sensitive skin and conditions such as Accutane-induced cheilitis, chemotherapy side effects, eczema, psoriasis, and cold sores, distributing via DTC e-commerce, Amazon, Walmart, CVS, and US pharmacy wholesale channels.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Dr. Dan's industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Medicated Lip Care and Hypoallergenic Skincare
- NAICS
- Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120), Drugs and Druggists' Sundries Merchant Wholesalers (4242)
- SIC
- Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844), Wholesale-Drugs, Proprietaries & Druggists' Sundries (5122)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare (CRABAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Eye & Lip Skincare (CRABAAAC), Sensitive Skin & Barrier Repair (CRABAAAG), Dermatology OTC & Skin Health (Acne Treatments, Eczema/Psoriasis OTC, Antifungals, Wart Removal) (CRADAMAF)
Keywords
Where Dr. Dan's is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- West Boylston
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Dr. Dan's business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- E-commerce Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales through the company's website selling lip balms, hand & body lotion, and sunscreen products. Products sold in various formats (tubes, jars) and multi-packs. One-time purchase model.
- Marketplace Sales: Sales through third-party marketplaces including Amazon and major retail chains (CVS, Walmart). Products available via pharmacy special order through distributors McKesson, Cardinal, and AmerisourceBergen.
- Pharmacy Distribution: Products available as OTC special orders through pharmacies, with pharmacy locator tool to help customers find ordering pharmacies.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single and multi-pack product options |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Dr. Dan's product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Dr. Dan's manufactures and sells a focused line of dermatologist-developed hypoallergenic skincare products, anchored by CortiBalm, a medicated lip balm containing 1% hydrocortisone in a beeswax/petroleum jelly/mineral oil base. The portfolio extends to a daily maintenance lip balm, a hydrocortisone hand & body lotion, and mineral-based SPF30 sun protection (sunstick and lip sunscreen), sold direct-to-consumer online, through Amazon, and via pharmacy special orders.
Product overview
Dr. Dan's is a dermatologist-created skincare brand offering a focused product portfolio centered on lip care and topical skin treatments. The core offering is CortiBalm, the only hypoallergenic medicated lip balm with 1% hydrocortisone, available in tube and jar formats. This is paired with the Maintain Lip Balm for daily hypoallergenic maintenance. The product line extends to sun protection with the Body & Face Sunstick SPF30 and SPF30 Lip Sunscreen (both mineral-based, reef-friendly), and the Hand & Body Lotion with 1% hydrocortisone for eczema and dry skin conditions. All products share a hypoallergenic, chemical-free formulation philosophy developed by board-certified dermatologist Dr. Dan Viders after treating thousands of patients.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CortiBalm Tube Medicated lip balm with 1% hydrocortisone — the only truly hypoallergenic medicated lip balm formulated for all types of chapped lips, including those caused by weather, cosmetics, sunburn, medications, and medical conditions. Contains beeswax, petroleum jelly, mineral oil, and 1% Hydrocortisone. Sold in a 0.15oz tube.
- CortiBalm Jar CortiBalm formula in a 0.25oz jar format. Ideal for acne and psoriasis patients taking Accutane, Amnesteen, or Soriatane, and for chapped or irritated lips from sun, wind, cold weather, or cosmetic reactions.
- Maintain Lip Balm All-natural, hypoallergenic lip balm for daily maintenance. Made with petroleum jelly, beeswax, mineral oil, and Vitamin E. Prevents chapped lips and maintains healthy lips without harsh chemicals; suitable for sensitive skin. Size 0.15oz.
- Hand & Body Lotion Hand and body lotion with 1% hydrocortisone, specially formulated for treatment of dry chapped skin, cracked fingers, psoriasis, dermatitis, eczema, and wind and sunburn. Size 2oz.
- Body & Face Sunstick SPF30 Mineral-based, reef-friendly SPF30 sunscreen stick for face and body. Uses Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Dioxide instead of chemical sun filters. Portable stick format (0.65oz) for easy, no-mess application; water resistant, hypoallergenic, family-friendly.
- SPF30 Lip Sunscreen Mineral-based SPF30 lip sunscreen using Titanium Dioxide and Zinc Dioxide. Contains hypoallergenic ingredients, natural yellow wax, and antioxidant Vitamin E. Protects lips from UV rays without harsh chemical irritants. Size 0.15oz.
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 1 million tubes of CortiBalm sold
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Dr. Dan's
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Dr. Dan's technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Dr. Dan's partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- National Breast Cancer FoundationcoreDr. Dan's is proud to partner with the National Breast Cancer Foundation, recognized as one of the world's leading cancer organizations. The company donates CortiBalm to NBCF's HOPE Kits, which are care packages curated to bring comfort and delivered to tens of thousands of patients beginning breast cancer treatment each year. This partnership aligns with Dr. Dan's focus on helping chemotherapy patients manage lip dryness and irritation as a side effect of cancer treatment.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Dr. Dan's competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- ChapStick: Mass-market medicated lip balm brand owned by Haleon. Directly competes with CortiBalm at retail for consumers treating dry/chapped lips, with significantly larger marketing and distribution scale.
- Carmex: Iconic medicated lip balm brand with active pharmaceutical ingredients (menthol, camphor, salicylic acid). Directly comparable to Dr. Dan's CortiBalm in the medicated lip treatment category targeting chapped/inflamed lips.
- Vanicream: Pharmaceutical Specialties brand focused on hypoallergenic, free-of-common-allergen skincare including lip and body products. Directly comparable in positioning around sensitive-skin, dermatologist-recommended, allergen-free formulations.
- Blistex: Long-established medicated lip care brand with dermatologist-style product line including medicated balms and SPF lip products. Competes with CortiBalm for the same consumers seeking medicated, dermatologist-positioned lip care.
- Burt's Bees: Owned by Clorox, Burt's Bees is a leading natural lip balm brand sold in mass retail (Target, Walmart, CVS). Directly comparable as a competing lip balm brand with broader scale and retail presence, though positioned around natural rather than medicated formulations.
Emerging players
- O'Keeffe's: Brand specializing in products for extremely dry, cracked skin and lips (Lip Repair, Working Hands). Comparable as a treatment-focused brand targeting the same damaged-skin consumer need, though broader in hand/body category.
Broad incumbents
- Vaseline (Unilever): Unilever's petroleum jelly-based skincare brand including Lip Therapy products. Comparable because petroleum jelly is a core CortiBalm ingredient; Vaseline competes as a mass-market alternative for chapped lip and skin treatment.
- CeraVe: L'Oréal-owned dermocosmetic skincare brand heavily recommended by dermatologists. Comparable as a sensitive-skin, dermatologist-developed competitor with far greater scale and a hydrocortisone product line, competing for the same dermatologist-recommended share of wallet.
- Aquaphor: Beiersdorf's healing ointment and lip repair brand. Highly comparable as a dermatologist-recommended product for severely chapped lips and skin, with much broader portfolio (ointments, lip balm, body products) and significantly larger distribution.
- La Roche-Posay: L'Oréal-owned dermocosmetic brand with Cicaplast and sensitive-skin portfolio. Comparable in medical-grade, hypoallergenic, dermatologist-endorsed positioning with substantially broader product range and global reach.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Dr. Dan's social profiles
Digital presenceDr. Dan's compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
Dr. Dan's financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Dr. Dan's leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Dr. Dan's funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Dr. Dan's M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Dr. Dan's
What does Dr. Dan's do?
Dr. Dan's manufactures and sells a focused line of dermatologist-developed hypoallergenic skincare products, anchored by CortiBalm, a medicated lip balm containing 1% hydrocortisone in a beeswax/petroleum jelly/mineral oil base. The portfolio extends to a daily maintenance lip balm, a hydrocortisone hand & body lotion, and mineral-based SPF30 sun protection (sunstick and lip sunscreen), sold direct-to-consumer online, through Amazon, and via pharmacy special orders.
Is Dr. Dan's a public or private company?
Dr. Dan's is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Dr. Dan's founded?
Dr. Dan's was founded in 1998. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Dr. Dan's based?
Dr. Dan's is headquartered in West Boylston, United States, in the North America region.
How does Dr. Dan's make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. E-commerce Product Sales are the primary driver. The others are marketplace Sales and pharmacy Distribution.
Who are Dr. Dan's's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are ChapStick, Carmex, Vanicream, Blistex and Burt's Bees. O'Keeffe's is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Vaseline (Unilever), CeraVe, Aquaphor and La Roche-Posay.
Does Dr. Dan's have an API?
No public API is recorded for Dr. Dan's.
What industry is Dr. Dan's in?
Dr. Dan's's product category is Medicated Lip Care and Hypoallergenic Skincare. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRABAAAF, Dermocosmetics & Medical-Grade Skincare, with a secondary code of CRABAAAC, Eye & Lip Skincare. Its NAICS code is 456120 and its SIC code is 2844.