Popular Skin-of-Color Dermatology Social Media Hashtags on TikTok From 2021 to 2022: Content Analysis

Area of Science:

• Dermatology
• Social Media Analysis
• Health Disparities

Background:

• TikTok is a popular social media platform with growing potential for health education.
• Content related to skin of color dermatology is prevalent on TikTok.
• There are concerns about the accuracy and potential for misinformation in health content shared by non-experts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the landscape of skin of color dermatology content on TikTok.
• To identify the primary creators of this content.
• To assess the need for increased involvement of board-certified dermatologists.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal analysis of TikTok hashtags related to skin of color dermatology.
• Data collected from 2021 to 2022.
• Content creator identification (dermatologist vs. non-dermatologist).

Main Results:

• Nondermatologist influencers were the dominant creators of skin of color dermatology content.
• Analysis covered a two-year period, indicating a persistent trend.
• The findings highlight a gap in expert-led content.

Conclusions:

• Board-certified dermatologists are underrepresented in creating skin of color dermatology content on TikTok.
• Increased dermatologist participation is crucial to counter misinformation.
• Addressing potential health disparities in skin of color care requires expert engagement on social media platforms.