Our analysis of popular vitiligo social media content demonstrate that Body Positivity/Empowerment posts were most common across all social media platforms. Physicians can direct patients with vitiligo to vitiligo-related social media content for encouragement, disease acceptance role modeling, outlets for story sharing, and/or information about vitiligo support organizations. Social media can also provide insight into real-time data on popular trends like alternative treatments, which can inform providers on potential discussions with vitiligo patients.
Lastly, we found a higher percentage of popular social media posts including female and people with darker skin types. Given that females and people with darker complexions experience disproportionately lower QoL from vitiligo, they may be more likely to engage in social media support.4 Clinicians and researchers seeking to communicate with these populations may want to consider use of social media in their outreach. Future studies should investigate whether individuals who participate and interact with vitiligo-related social media is associated with better QoL, and should further characterize social media content for dermatologic diseases disproportionately affecting patients with SOC. Limitations to this study include sample size.
Lastly, we found a higher percentage of popular social media posts including female and people with darker skin types. Given that females and people with darker complexions experience disproportionately lower QoL from vitiligo, they may be more likely to engage in social media support.4 Clinicians and researchers seeking to communicate with these populations may want to consider use of social media in their outreach. Future studies should investigate whether individuals who participate and interact with vitiligo-related social media is associated with better QoL, and should further characterize social media content for dermatologic diseases disproportionately affecting patients with SOC. Limitations to this study include sample size.
DISCLOSURES
The authors report no relevant conflicts of interest or funding
sources supporting this study.
REFERENCES
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2. Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K. Vitiligo: a review. Dermatology. 2020;236(6):571- 592. doi: 10.1159/000506103
3. Hans A, Reddy KA, Black SM, et al. Transcultural assessment of quality of life in patients with vitiligo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2022;86(5):1114-1116. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.03.118 4.
4.Homan MWL, Spuls PI, de Korte J, Bos JD, Sprangers MA, van der Veen JW. The burden of vitiligo: patient characteristics associated with quality of life. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009;61(3):411-420. doi: 0.1016/j.jaad.2009.03.022
5. Iliffe L, Thompson A. Investigating the beneficial experiences of online peer support for those affected by alopecia: an interpretative phenomenological analysis using online interviews. British Journal of Dermatology. 2019;181(5):992-998. doi: 10.1111/bjd.17998
2. Bergqvist C, Ezzedine K. Vitiligo: a review. Dermatology. 2020;236(6):571- 592. doi: 10.1159/000506103
3. Hans A, Reddy KA, Black SM, et al. Transcultural assessment of quality of life in patients with vitiligo. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2022;86(5):1114-1116. doi: 10.1016/j.jaad.2021.03.118 4.
4.Homan MWL, Spuls PI, de Korte J, Bos JD, Sprangers MA, van der Veen JW. The burden of vitiligo: patient characteristics associated with quality of life. J Am Acad Dermatol. 2009;61(3):411-420. doi: 0.1016/j.jaad.2009.03.022
5. Iliffe L, Thompson A. Investigating the beneficial experiences of online peer support for those affected by alopecia: an interpretative phenomenological analysis using online interviews. British Journal of Dermatology. 2019;181(5):992-998. doi: 10.1111/bjd.17998
AUTHOR CORRESPONDENCE
Richard Huggins MD rhuggin1@hfhs.org
