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Social Media Influencers’ Impact on Youth Skin Care: A Dermatologist’s Take

Skin care routines are increasingly popular online searches among young women (and men!), with TikTok and Instagram serving as hotspots for viral trends that come and go in the blink of an eye! In this blog, Dr. Travers weighs in on the social media’s influence on our youth’s skin care regimen and offers tips to navigate online beauty advice.

Given the popularity of skin care searches on social media, it is not surprising that we commonly see in our clinic at Skincare Physicians, young individuals who have embraced elaborate multistep skin care routines that they have discovered and purchased themselves. However, when does a social media emphasis on healthy skin culture flip over into unhealthy perfectionism? While influencers on Instagram and TikTok can be a force for good when they point young people toward beneficial skin care practices, they can also indoctrinate them into unnecessarily complex and expensive skin care regimens. Some can even foster appearance-related anxiety, depression, and obsessive beauty behaviors, an escalating trend among youth in the current social media environment.

There’s nothing wrong with taking care of your skin and adopting good skin care habits at a young age. Our dermatologists often see young patients who are struggling with acne, rosacea and eczema, many of whom benefit from expert guidance on healthy skin practices. While some have found valuable advice from social media skin health influencers, others arrive with bagfuls of products of dubious benefit, all suggested by beauty influencers.

So, how can we help navigate this increasingly visual world that young people inhabit? Many of the tips we share below are similar to the overall precautions for social media interactions!

• Question the source and credibility of the information: Always consider who benefits most from the recommendations. Are influencers, and the sales force behind them, indoctrinating young people into purchasing unnecessary, expensive and potentially harmful skin care products for their own gain? Do they make a commission based on the “likes” they get? Are their results believable?
• Keep an eye out for image manipulation: Are the before and after images believable? Is the lighting the same between the side-by-side images? Does a close-up view reveal any signs of image editing?
• Beware of one-size-fits-all claims: Does the influencer suggest one, and only one, best way to take care of your skin? Do they recommend one single product that will be helpful for everyone? Be suspicious of such claims. There is no such thing as one-size-fits-all when it comes to skin care.
• Check for authentic credentials: Does the influencer’s username suggest they are a doctor, but there is no evidence to support their training and expertise? Do they claim to know more than physicians or recommend to avoid physicians? View such misrepresentation with suspicion.

Now, not all social media influencers disseminate false or harmful information to young people. In fact, many have made the job of dermatologists easier! We have seen teenaged acne patients who are already following a very reasonable over-the-counter acne regimen including gentle cleansing, daily facial moisturizers with a sunscreen, and a topical retinoid called adapalene.

Social media influencers have also served a wonderful purpose in advocating for more gentle skin care regimens. Many of us parents recall our teenaged years of using harsh cleansers, Buff Puffs, St Ives’ Apricot Scrub, and Sea Breeze astringents to treat our acne! Finally, I dare say that social media experts have been more influential than parents in advocating for sunscreen use! It’s a pleasure to see young patients in the office who are taking their long-term skin health seriously and who have already started on a reasonable and inexpensive plan of sun protection.

To ensure that the young people in your life are equipped to care for their skin effectively and responsibly amidst the noise of social media trends, engage in conversations with them about their skin care routines and their sources of information. If we, at SkinCare Physicians, can be helpful in guiding them toward a healthful and inexpensive skin care regimen based on scientific evidence, please don’t hesitate to contact our office and schedule an appointment with one of our providers.

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