Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Dermatology
Date Submitted: Sep 4, 2020
Date Accepted: Dec 24, 2020
Date Submitted to PubMed: Aug 26, 2023
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Title: Perineum Sunning: How Social Media Promotes Public Interest in a Potentially Harmful, Non-Evidence-Based “Wellness” Practice
ABSTRACT
Background:
Perineum sunning is a potentially harmful, yet popular new health trend cultivated by social media.
Objective:
Our primary objective is to evaluate public interest in perineum sunning.
Methods:
Using an observational study design, we searched Google Trends from November 1, 2019, to December 31, 2019, for the following terms: “perineum sunning,” “perineum tanning”, “Metaphysical Meagan”, and “Josh Brolin.” UberSuggest was used to investigate monthly search volumes and user engagement.
Results:
Prior to the Instagram post going viral, there was no search interest in perineum sunning. ARIMA modeling for “perineum sunning” forecasted no increase in searches (0.00) if the post had not gone viral, while actual interest conveyed a relative cumulative increase of 919.00% from the day the post went viral through the end of the year. The mean interest over this time period was 26.40% (SD=27.59) over baseline (t=5.66, df=34, p<0.01). User engagement showed that nearly 50% of people who searched for “perineum sunning” were likely to click a returned link for more information.
Conclusions:
Google Trends data demonstrated that one social media post claiming non-evidence-based health benefits of regular sun exposure — without the use of sunscreen — to the anogenital region resulted in mainstream media coverage that generated significant public interest. Medical journals, dermatologists, and other healthcare professionals have opportunities to educate and correct public misperceptions about viral wellness trends such as perineum sunning. Clinical Trial: N/A
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