Korean J Dermatol.
2023 Nov;61(9):552-558.
Assessing the Impact and Accuracy of Acne Treatment among Occupational Groups on the Korean Instagram Platform
- Affiliations
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- 1Department of Dermatology, Korea University Ansan Hospital, Korea University College of Medicine, Ansan, Korea
Abstract
- Background
Acne is a complex inflammatory disorder affecting the pilosebaceous follicles of the skin. In the search for effective acne treatments, patients frequently turn to various social media platforms, including Instagram. Notably, diverse occupational groups contribute to Instagram on acne treatment, showcasing significant variations depending on the specific group.
Objective
This study investigated the impact and accuracy of acne treatment posts on the Korean Instagram platform.
Methods
We systematically examined the “top posts” with the hashtag #acne treatment, and 107 posts were included for analysis. Posts were excluded if they were not Korean, had other medical conditions, or were duplicates.
Results
The distribution of posts and their respective proportions were as follows: dermatologists (n=12, 11.2%), non-dermatologists (n=17, 15.9%), skin care centers (n=54, 50.5%), influencers (n=22, 20.6%), and retailers (n=2, 1.9%). Notably, dermatologists’ posts demonstrated a significantly lower number of followers and likes compared to those of skin care centers or influencer (p＜0.001, each). The similar trend was observed for the assessment of total engagement power (calculated as likes×1＋comments×1). Additionally, we evaluated the treatment accuracy of each post using the DISCERN criteria. The average DISCERN score of dermatologists’ posts was significantly higher than that of skin care centers or influencers (p＜0.001).
Conclusion
Our findings underscore that, despite possessing a greater level of accuracy in their information, dermatologists exert comparatively less influence on the Korean Instagram platform. Considering the recent increase in medical content on Instagram and the growing interest among patients, the role of dermatologists in providing reliable and informed guidance has become increasingly important.
