The skin under the filter: How social media ‘quackery’ is harming dermatology and trust

Synopsis: India is on the brink of a digital dermatology crisis, as unqualified influencers and unethical endorsements promote unsafe skin treatments online, warned a panel of experts at South First ’s Dakshin Health Summit. They said social media has become a breeding ground for “digital quackery” and called for stronger enforcement of medical ethics, greater public awareness in regional languages, and responsible engagement by doctors to counter misinformation and protect public health in the influencer era.

Social media is changing the face of medicine in India. Dermatologists are now among the most followed medical professionals online.

However, alongside their rise, a dangerous trend has emerged: unqualified influencers promoting unsafe skin treatments, doctors endorsing pr