{"id":3150,"date":"2022-01-30T00:22:00","date_gmt":"2022-01-30T08:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/?p=3150"},"modified":"2025-06-25T16:37:09","modified_gmt":"2025-06-25T23:37:09","slug":"the-great-skin-de-stressing-of-2022-a-rising-dermtok-star-on-the-stresses-and-dangers-of-skincare-and-social-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/the-great-skin-de-stressing-of-2022-a-rising-dermtok-star-on-the-stresses-and-dangers-of-skincare-and-social-media\/","title":{"rendered":"The great skin de-stressing of 2022: A rising DermTok star shares how NOT to get skincare-scammed on social media"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Thanks to social media, we have any information we could ever ask for at our fingertips. And when it comes to skincare, there\u2019s no shortage of experts giving their hot takes on everything from ingredients to formulations. The problem? Surprise, you can’t believe everything you read online. Inaccuracies can lead to some dangerous repercussions, so we tapped popular TikTok derm Mark Strom<\/a>, MD, FAAD (who received his medical degree from Northwestern and completed a residency at Columbia), to help us navigate the overwhelming world of skincare on social, including what to look for, how to tell if someone\u2019s legit and how to curate your follow list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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A post shared by Mark Strom, MD, FAAD (@dermarkologist)<\/a><\/p><\/div><\/blockquote> \n\n\n\n

Mark Strom, MD, FAAD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Social media is rife with people doling out skincare advice. How do you know who is legit? <\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mark Strom:<\/em> It\u2019s hard! I get my information from a wide variety of content creators\u2014everyone from dermatologists, cosmetic chemists and product formulators, to influencers who don\u2019t have a formal qualification but rather a unique point of view.  

For dermatologists, the first thing to look for is if the person giving the advice has a medical degree or board certification. If they do, they’ll have “FAAD” after their title. That stands for Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, and means they got their undergraduate degree, went to medical school, did a certified dermatologist residency and passed their dermatology boards. 

There are a lot of derms still in training giving advice on social media. I don\u2019t think that\u2019s a bad thing\u2014some share great information\u2014but it\u2019s good to keep in mind that many are still in training and you might want to double-check the advice they’re giving.  

When it comes to new product ingredients or formulations, I get a lot of valuable information from cosmetic chemists and product formulators, because they have formal training and concrete knowledge about why ingredients might be in products, the process of making them, etc. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If someone has a lot of followers, can you trust their skincare advice?  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Strom<\/em>: Not always. Just because someone has a lot of followers doesn\u2019t necessarily mean they have a good understanding of skincare or know what they\u2019re talking about. They could have built their following around something unrelated to skin, and then decided to pivot to skincare without knowing anything about it.  

Conversely, if someone doesn’t have a degree or qualification, it doesn’t mean they don\u2019t know what they\u2019re talking about. I\u2019ve seen well-researched content from people who don\u2019t have the qualification, but they consult with relevant experts to put out thoughtful, accurate content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What if they say they are a doctor or a derm? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Strom<\/em>: Look for that FAAD credential that I mentioned earlier. That\u2019s a sign that someone\u2019s gone through the rigorous process of becoming certified. Technically, you can say whatever you want on social, but people who have FAAD on their name are generally not lying about who they are. 

When it comes to other doctors and physicians, remember that not everyone who calls themselves a doctor on social media is a physician\u2014 they could have a doctorate in something else. But even among physicians I would say those who didn\u2019t do a residency or fellowship related to aesthetics (facial plastic surgery, dermatology) have little to no training in things like skin disease or cosmetics. So again, try to look for that FAAD to make sure you’re getting information from someone who has that standardized training.

Also note it\u2019s not the same in every country. This mostly applies to people who did their medical training in the U.S. In other countries, like the UK or Europe, I personally don\u2019t have a great way to vet them because I don\u2019t have an understanding how other countries do their training. In that respect, I tend to follow other derms in the U.S.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are some actionable, practical tips for not getting skincare-scammed on social? For example, should I Google these so-called experts and see if their experience is legit? Anything else?  <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Strom<\/em>: Being a board-certified derm doesn’t automatically make what someone says accurate or foolproof. In the past, I\u2019ve said and believed things that I ultimately had to correct because it turns out we didn’t have all the information at the time. Generally, what I look for is people who are well-regarded by other dermatologists and chemists, people who make well-researched posts and have citations to back up their claims.  

If you see someone on social media making a claim that seems too ridiculous to be true, you should take it with a grain of salt. For example, on TikTok, when I see people saying that popular skincare brands are toxic and give you cancer, it\u2019s a huge red flag to not take anything that person says seriously, because in general, a well-regarded skincare brand isn\u2019t poisoning us\u2014that\u2019s not a very good business model! Don\u2019t put too much trust in any one person and always verify the information with outside sources.  

And remember that it\u2019s possible to twist good data to fit a narrative, which isn\u2019t always a reflection of what the underlying data shows. Approach social media content with the same critical lens you\u2019d use for any other form of journalism.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are some of the potential dangers of taking skincare advice from someone who isn\u2019t authorized to be giving It? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Strom<\/em>: I spend a ton of time on Instagram and TikTok, so I see a lot<\/em> of bad advice given. Some of it ranges from not necessarily dangerous, but misinformed. However, some does borderline on being dangerous.  

In the misinformed camp, I\u2019ve seen things like the idea that people with deeper skin tones can\u2019t use certain skincare ingredients like hydroquinone or glycolic acid, which is not true. Someone who is not a dermatologist claiming people can\u2019t use that because it\u2019s dangerous makes me scratch my head, since I know for a fact these ingredients are safe for people of all skin tones. 

One other thing I\u2019ve seen recently that\u2019s misinformed, but not dangerous is the idea of chlorophyll doing amazing things for your skin\u2014the reality<\/a> is the data doesn\u2019t back that up.  

The dangerous things I\u2019ve seen on TikTok are people doing DIY at-home chemical peels, like mixing up aspirin and lemon juice and putting it on their face\u2014that is not safe. These ingredients are not meant to be put on your face. I\u2019ve also seen people order office-strength chemical peels to do at home and teaching others how to inject Botox themselves. These are all 100% not safe, and if you see someone on social suggesting this, run! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What should I look out for when trying to follow skincare accounts with the most accurate advice? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Strom<\/em>: Look out for incredulous statements that seem too ridiculous to be true; nine times out of 10 they are <\/em>too ridiculous to be true. Skincare is full of nuance; a lot of people have different goals with their skincare and not everyone’s skin is the same. If the content someone puts out is all blanket statements, like “you must use this,” “you can’t do this,” “that’s ruining your skin”, etc. \u2014that’s a red flag.  

Ensure the person is qualified to give the advice. Skincare advice should come from a dermatologist, product\/formula advice from a cosmetic chemist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s talk product recommendations. How can I tell if someone REALLY believes in a product, or if they\u2019re just saying they do because they\u2019re being paid to? <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Strom<\/em>: I can’t speak for everyone, but I do mix in some sponsored content with my normal content. I only create sponsored content for products I\u2019ve tried, believe in their quality and that they’re good for a lot of people. I turn down more than I accept because it\u2019d be unethical for me to endorse something I don\u2019t believe in, or think is a bad product. My audience values my honesty and I value it too much to risk ruining it for the payout from a product endorsement. 

I have seen content on TikTok from influencers who didn\u2019t disclose that it was a campaign\u2014I only knew because I’d been approached by the same brand and turned it down. It\u2019s unethical and illegal, but things like that are under a lot more scrutiny recently. Look for things like #ad #sponsored at the end of the post. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When it comes down to it, is it really possible to get legit derm advice on social media?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Strom<\/em>: People tend to ask things that are way too personalized for a good answer on social media. We don\u2019t know the person\u2019s medical history or skin type, so to give an answer would be unethical and harmful to the person asking. So I always shy away from that. 

There\u2019s good advice given by people on social but I always like to remind people it\u2019s not information that\u2019s individualized for any one person. I can put the information out there, but only the viewer and their physician or dermatologist can decide whether or not they can incorporate that into their own practice.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, the sheer amount of people claiming to be “skinfluencers”on social is overwhelming and stressful. How can someone curate follows down to the the most informative, fact-based skin experts?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Strom<\/em>: It can be stressful. That’s something I hear from my friends and family\u2014 that it\u2019s hard to know who to trust. I don\u2019t think it\u2019s the best idea to narrow it down to 1-2 people who you fully trust and take all<\/em> their advice at face value, or to follow everyone who calls themselves an expert.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I think the answer to this is somewhere in the middle: Limit who you get content from to a fair amount of well-trusted people who are well-regarded by others, like derms, cosmetic chemists and someone who has the skin type as you (so they can speak to how well products work for them.) And if you’re still unsure Google them! This can always be a great way to vet your sources. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the views of Murad, and are for informational purposes only, even if the advice of physicians and medical practitioners are included. This article is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment, and should not be considered specific medical advice.<\/em> <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Read more Q&As in our series, \u201cThe great skin de-stressing of 2022\u201d: <\/strong>
\u201cWhy cosmetic acupuncture should be on your self-care radar,<\/a>\u201d featuring licensed cosmetic acupuncturist and herbalist Daphne Lim 
\u201cChecking in on mental health before a cosmetic procedure? One of L.A.\u2019s top RN\u2019s mission to transform the industry,\u201d<\/a> featuring celeb-sought medical aesthetic provider and registered nurse Vanessa Lee 
“Meet the skinfluencer behind the #freethepimple movement,”<\/a> featuring acne-positive influencer Lou Northcote<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thanks to social media, we have any information we could ever ask for at our fingertips. And when it comes to skincare, there\u2019s no shortage of experts giving their hot takes on everything from ingredients to formulations. The problem? Surprise, you can’t believe everything you read online. Inaccuracies can lead to some dangerous repercussions, so we tapped popular TikTok derm Mark […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":17,"featured_media":3234,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3150","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-skin"],"metadata":{"_edit_lock":["1750894631:21"],"_edit_last":["21"],"adobe_analytics_repeatable":["a:1:{i:0;a:2:{s:4:\"name\";s:0:\"\";s:5:\"value\";s:0:\"\";}}"],"show_featured_image":["1"],"_show_featured_image":["field_609ee1cf1ce13"],"primary_category":["5"],"_primary_category":["field_608c33bdd26d5"],"mobile_image":[""],"_mobile_image":["field_60bf7692abe28"],"_post_views_count":["field_6107dfafd6a27"],"_yoast_wpseo_content_score":["30"],"_yoast_wpseo_estimated-reading-time-minutes":["7","7"],"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":["5"],"post_views_count":["6929"],"_thumbnail_id":["3234"],"_wp_old_date":["2022-01-29"],"sidebar_products_use_global_default":["0"],"_sidebar_products_use_global_default":["field_63a349a11086a"],"sidebar_products_title":["Related Products"],"_sidebar_products_title":["field_6408d62123449"],"sidebar_products_items":[""],"_sidebar_products_items":["field_63a349a110878"],"sidebar_products":[""],"_sidebar_products":["field_63a349a0dadad"],"_yoast_wpseo_title":["How social media stress damages your skin | Murad Skincare"],"_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":["DermTok star reveals skincare stresses from social media. The dangers of beauty pressure and toxic skincare culture online."]},"aioseo_notices":[],"acf":{"show_featured_image":true,"primary_category":{"term_id":5,"name":"Skin","slug":"skin","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":5,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":238,"filter":"raw"},"mobile_image":false,"post_views_count":"6929","sidebar_products":{"use_global_default":false,"title":"Related Products","items":""}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3150","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/users\/17"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3150"}],"version-history":[{"count":38,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3150\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13523,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3150\/revisions\/13523"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media\/3234"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3150"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3150"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wellconnected.murad.com\/api\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3150"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}