What is being recommended to patients on social media?
Facts at your Fingertips
By Emily Margosian, Assistant Editor, October 1, 2023
Social media is abundant with skin care advice. A recent JAAD cross-sectional analysis of acne treatments on YouTube found that up to 91% of teens report using social media to access health information. However, who is making the recommendations? The study found that 65.6% of acne videos on YouTube featured the perspective of a patient or blogger, while only 14.6% featured the perspective of a dermatologist.
The study also examined commonly recommended therapies. Most videos focused on DIY treatments with ingredients the viewer could find in their home, such as toothpaste, aloe vera, and honey, as well as recommendations for lifestyle modifications, with reduction of glycemic index and dairy consumption as the top suggestions. As dermatology patients increasingly look online for skin care solutions (see this month’s feature story on social media trends affecting the skin), the effects of potential disinformation can become amplified. See the graphic below for a breakdown of acne treatment recommendations on social media by speaker type.
