Americans spend an average of 2 hours and 7 minutes per day on social media [1]. It has become evident that patients are utilizing these networks to seek health care knowledge [2]. Previous studies have shown that dermatologists are using platforms such as Facebook or Instagram to disseminate dermatological content [3,4]. Interestingly, the information provided has often been inaccurate [5]. This study aims to describe the quantity and quality of dermatological content on TikTok, addressing the gap in research on dermatological information shared on this platform.

Of the 22,411 TikTok videos analyzed, 17,085 (76.3%) videos were informational videos discussing skin and dermatology. Of these, 502 (2.2%) videos featured TikTok-verified paid sponsorships, with dermatologists comprising 328 (65%) videos of these. Among the 94 accounts analyzed, 35 met the inclusion criteria, including 18 (51.4%) dermatologists, 6 (17.1%) aestheticians, 4 (11.4%) medical clinics, and 2 (5.7%) medical spas. Using the Kruskal-Wallis test, significant differences in engagement scores were found across groups (P<.001), with medical clinics and aestheticians showing the highest average engagement scores.

A 2-tailed independent t test was used to confirm statistical significance between DISCERN scores of the dermatologist-run and nondermatologist-run accounts. Dermatologist-run accounts had significantly more views (25,942,000 vs 4,969,502; P<.001) and comments (6895.86 vs 2984.22; P=.04). Overall DISCERN scores did not differ between dermatologist-run and nondermatologist-run accounts (34.18 vs 33.46; P=.53), but subsections of the DISCERN scale did show significant differences. Dermatologist-run accounts were more likely to refer to areas of uncertainty (1.76 vs 1.22; P<.01) and describe how each treatment works (2 vs 1.48; P=.03). However, nondermatologist-run accounts were more likely to describe each treatment’s risks (1.56 vs 1.24; P=.049). The mentioned scores were still very low for both groups, suggesting an overall low quality of content for the videos.

There is a high volume of dermatological content produced and consumed on TikTok. Prior research demonstrates that consumer trust in TikTok content is high [6]. However, this study reveals that the most productive content creators in dermatology’s TikTok videos are of poor educational accuracy and quality. Physicians should be aware of the expanding role of social media as a source of medical information and possible misinformation. Dermatologists should consider if they have an obligation to produce unbiased, ethical, and accurate content. Social media platforms also bear a responsibility in regulating health-related content. Loeb et al [7] found widespread cancer misinformation on social media, often finding dissemination of unproven treatment options, demonstrating one example of how medical misinformation on social media can potentially harm patients. Though dermatologists should only report accurate information for proper patient care, it is equally important for social media platforms to at least label content as potential misinformation to prevent inadequate skin care.

Additionally, it is important to note the differences in the content reported between dermatologists and nondermatologists. With dermatologists more frequently referencing treatment uncertainty, viewers may perceive this as physicians practicing cautious, evidence-based medicine. With nondermatologists more frequently discussing risks, this may lead to consumers avoiding treatments and seeking alternative treatment solutions. Together, these differing emphases could shape consumer attitudes towards dermatological care, treatment choices, and even trust in professional advice versus influencer-driven content. Further exploration of these impacts is warranted to better understand the influence of social media on dermatological care.