Acne vulgaris in the age of social media

Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease that affects multiple aspects of patients’ lives. The occurrence of acne is associated with an impact on the patient’s mental condition, and can result in the occurrence of depressive and anxiety disorders. Content on acne vulgaris is widely available on social media. Nowadays, activity in these media is very popular and is part of everyday life. Social media also provides information on acne vulgaris, including discussion of recommendations for treating acne symptoms, side effects of the therapies used, and possible treatment outcomes. Social media materials are an important source of information for acne patients about that disease. Reading of materials contained in these media affects patients’ health behavior and mental condition contributing to feelings of stigma in people suffering from skin diseases. Information shared by social media users is often provided by non-dermatologists. The quality and content of the information provided can be inadequate and mislead audiences, which can have a negative impact if a doctor is not consulted about the content encountered on social media. The use of social media by dermatologists can improve the treatment process, help them understand the patient, and allow them to verify their content.