Online patient information

Information appropriate for patients with skin diseases is readily available on the Internet. Patients primarily seek disease-related information, but may also search for a dermatologist, shop for skin care products, or look to a consumer organization for support. Authoritative educational material is supplied by academic dermatologic associations and institutions and distributed by independent websites, large health portals, and search directories. Interactive opportunities include bulletin boards, ask-an-expert forums, and live chat. Although it is easy to find excellent dermatological information, the Internet is dynamic and unmoderated and patients can be misled or exploited by inaccurate or fraudulent websites. Health on the Net and other organizations have developed ethical principles to aid consumers in evaluating the quality of health-related information.