Social media was found to significantly impact the actions related to users’ skin health, according to a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.1 Despite varied and inconclusive results regarding skin care promotion, researchers suggested that all skin-care interventions promoted on social be pretested and monitored for safe and effective use.
“Social media browsing is the most popular online activity,” wrote authors of the study. “According to the statistics, [over] 4.26 billion people used social media in 2021, and this number is likely to grow to almost 6 billion in 2027. In April 2023, a total of 4.8 billion people, or 59.9% of the world’s population, were social media users.”
On top of a global society consistently using social media channels, skin diseases too are significantly prominent around the world. According to World Health Organization statistics, skin conditions are known to affect up to 1.8 billion people at any time.2
READ MORE: Accurate Online Education Crucial in Acne Management
Organizations that represent US health care providers, such as the American Medical Association and the American Pharmacists Association, commonly suggest that patients seek medical advice from trusted resources like physicians, pharmacists, and specialized providers. But as well-established companies and organizations increase their social media footprint, patients may be more inclined to seek medical advice online as opposed to a medical provider.
“Younger adults have truly created their own health ecosystem with how they're looking for information, who they trust, what they're doing with health information," said Courtney Gray Haupt, global health co-chair and US health chair at Edelman. According to an Axios report, 38% of young adults have ignored their health care provider in favor of health information on social media.3
With an influx of brands and individuals using social media, researchers of the current study wanted to focus on skin care’s place online and how dissemination of information was influencing individuals’ actions and behaviors.
“This review helps understand and explores what is already known about social media potential and its impact on users’ skin care behaviors and skin health preventive measures,” wrote the authors.1 “This study suggests the need to optimize social media interventions and develop new studies that will assess long-term change in skin health behaviors.”
To differentiate between previous studies on the topic, investigators curated 3 distinct research questions to help them better understand the relationship between skin care and social media. Those questions included: What are the existing data on the use of social media as an educational intervention tool in skin health preventive measures? What activities on social media can be effective in promoting skin health? What intervention strategies are disseminated via social media and what is their role in promoting skin health?
On February 6, 2023, researchers conducted the review by searching through a variety of databases using search terms related to skin care and popular social media channels like Facebook and Instagram. As researchers sifted through 1558 works of literature, 23 were included in the final analysis. Three studies (13%) were on acne, while the remaining 20 (87%) focused on skin cancer, sunscreen, and tanning. Social media skin care interventions were used or discussed in 15 (65%) studies.
“This review outlined the impact of social media, despite its heterogeneity, on users’ skin health behaviors, attitudes, and actions,” they continued.1 “It identified strategies for digital interventions to promote skin health. In health sciences, a standardized tool is needed to assess the quality of social media digital interventions.”
With the social media boom in recent decades and a massive flow of health care information, ensuring all online skin care interventions are safe and effective may present challenges for regulators and providers. However, as social media use has shown minimal signs of slowing down in the near future, researchers believe these interventions need to be researched further in order to ensure safer dissemination of skin care information.
“In summary, the analysis of the studies included in this review indicates that, when designing social media interventions for skin health, it is necessary to pretest them in a pilot project with comparison groups, including control groups, and measure user engagement on a regular basis. In addition, designing interventions requires focusing on the content that is designed to engage the audience,” concluded the authors.1
READ MORE: Dermatology Resource Center
Ready to impress your pharmacy colleagues with the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips? Sign up today for our free Drug Topics newsletter.
References
1. Brzozowska JM, Gotlib J. Social media potential and impact on changing behaviors and actions in skin health promotion: systematic review. JMIR. 2025;27:e54241. https://doi.org/10.2196/54241
Social Media Significantly Influences Attitudes, Behaviors Toward Skin Health
Researchers conducted a systematic review to summarize research that has addressed social media’s impact on skin health promotion activities.
Social media was found to significantly impact the actions related to users’ skin health, according to a study published in the Journal of Medical Internet Research.1 Despite varied and inconclusive results regarding skin care promotion, researchers suggested that all skin-care interventions promoted on social be pretested and monitored for safe and effective use.
“Social media browsing is the most popular online activity,” wrote authors of the study. “According to the statistics, [over] 4.26 billion people used social media in 2021, and this number is likely to grow to almost 6 billion in 2027. In April 2023, a total of 4.8 billion people, or 59.9% of the world’s population, were social media users.”
On top of a global society consistently using social media channels, skin diseases too are significantly prominent around the world. According to World Health Organization statistics, skin conditions are known to affect up to 1.8 billion people at any time.2
More than a third of young adults have ignored their health care provider in favor of health information on social media. | image credit: Charlie's / stock.adobe.com
READ MORE: Accurate Online Education Crucial in Acne Management
Organizations that represent US health care providers, such as the American Medical Association and the American Pharmacists Association, commonly suggest that patients seek medical advice from trusted resources like physicians, pharmacists, and specialized providers. But as well-established companies and organizations increase their social media footprint, patients may be more inclined to seek medical advice online as opposed to a medical provider.
“Younger adults have truly created their own health ecosystem with how they're looking for information, who they trust, what they're doing with health information," said Courtney Gray Haupt, global health co-chair and US health chair at Edelman. According to an Axios report, 38% of young adults have ignored their health care provider in favor of health information on social media.3
With an influx of brands and individuals using social media, researchers of the current study wanted to focus on skin care’s place online and how dissemination of information was influencing individuals’ actions and behaviors.
“This review helps understand and explores what is already known about social media potential and its impact on users’ skin care behaviors and skin health preventive measures,” wrote the authors.1 “This study suggests the need to optimize social media interventions and develop new studies that will assess long-term change in skin health behaviors.”
To differentiate between previous studies on the topic, investigators curated 3 distinct research questions to help them better understand the relationship between skin care and social media. Those questions included: What are the existing data on the use of social media as an educational intervention tool in skin health preventive measures? What activities on social media can be effective in promoting skin health? What intervention strategies are disseminated via social media and what is their role in promoting skin health?
On February 6, 2023, researchers conducted the review by searching through a variety of databases using search terms related to skin care and popular social media channels like Facebook and Instagram. As researchers sifted through 1558 works of literature, 23 were included in the final analysis. Three studies (13%) were on acne, while the remaining 20 (87%) focused on skin cancer, sunscreen, and tanning. Social media skin care interventions were used or discussed in 15 (65%) studies.
“This review outlined the impact of social media, despite its heterogeneity, on users’ skin health behaviors, attitudes, and actions,” they continued.1 “It identified strategies for digital interventions to promote skin health. In health sciences, a standardized tool is needed to assess the quality of social media digital interventions.”
With the social media boom in recent decades and a massive flow of health care information, ensuring all online skin care interventions are safe and effective may present challenges for regulators and providers. However, as social media use has shown minimal signs of slowing down in the near future, researchers believe these interventions need to be researched further in order to ensure safer dissemination of skin care information.
“In summary, the analysis of the studies included in this review indicates that, when designing social media interventions for skin health, it is necessary to pretest them in a pilot project with comparison groups, including control groups, and measure user engagement on a regular basis. In addition, designing interventions requires focusing on the content that is designed to engage the audience,” concluded the authors.1
READ MORE: Dermatology Resource Center
Ready to impress your pharmacy colleagues with the latest drug information, industry trends, and patient care tips? Sign up today for our free Drug Topics newsletter.
References
1. Brzozowska JM, Gotlib J. Social media potential and impact on changing behaviors and actions in skin health promotion: systematic review. JMIR. 2025;27:e54241. https://doi.org/10.2196/54241
2. WHO’s first global meeting on skin NTDs calls for greater efforts to address their burden. World Health Organization. March 31, 2023. Accessed June 13, 2025. https://www.who.int/news/item/31-03-2023-who-first-global-meeting-on-skin-ntds-calls-for-greater-efforts-to-address-their-burden
3. Goldman M. Gen Z increasingly listens to peers over doctors for health advice. Axios. April 24, 2025. Accessed June 13, 2025. https://www.axios.com/2025/04/24/trust-health-advice-gen-z-edelman
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Significant Knowledge Gap Exists in Patient Awareness of Psoriatic Disease
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Researchers aimed to understand the treatment goals and preferences of young patients with atopic dermatitis and their caregivers.
Once Daily Acne Therapy Shown to Reduce Lesions, Inflammation
ASC40 blocks facial sebum production by inhibiting de novo lipogenesis in sebocytes and inflammation by decreasing cytokine secretion and Th17 differentiation.
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