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Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Dermatology

Date Submitted: Jan 26, 2025
Date Accepted: Dec 15, 2025
Date Submitted to PubMed: Jan 15, 2026

The final, peer-reviewed published version of this preprint can be found here:

The Role of TikTok in Education on Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Skin of Color: Cross-Sectional Analysis

Zadu AK, Young J, Seltzer JA, Byrd AS, Frey C

The Role of TikTok in Education on Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Skin of Color: Cross-Sectional Analysis

JMIR Dermatol 2026;9:e71566

DOI: 10.2196/71566

PMID: 41538302

PMCID: 12947892

Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited.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.

The Role of TikTok on the Education of Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Skin of Color: A Cross-Sectional Analysis

  • Arsema K Zadu; 
  • Jordan Young; 
  • Janyla A Seltzer; 
  • Angel S Byrd; 
  • Cheri Frey

ABSTRACT

This study analyzed 50 TikTok videos on “hidradenitis suppurativa in black skin,” revealing that nearly half were patient-created, with limited physician involvement (20% dermatologists, 14% plastic surgeons), minimal commission-based (10%) or sponsored content (4%), and a predominance of patient testimonials on various treatments, highlighting the need for greater physician engagement to address patient needs, HS product safety, and efficacy.


 Citation

Please cite as:

Zadu AK, Young J, Seltzer JA, Byrd AS, Frey C

The Role of TikTok in Education on Hidradenitis Suppurativa in Skin of Color: Cross-Sectional Analysis

JMIR Dermatol 2026;9:e71566

DOI: 10.2196/71566

PMID: 41538302

PMCID: 12947892

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