Mentee
Elyse Mackenzie, BS
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Mentor
Emily Gorell, DO
University of Colorado Anschutz Medical School
Overview
Skin care trends on TikTok can shape the way kids and teens take care of their skin. Some trends, like using sunscreen more often, help maintain skin health. But others, like trends suggesting the use of super glue to reduce the appearance of extra skin, can cause serious harm. It is important for pediatric dermatologists to know about common skincare trends so they can best advise their patients.
This project will create a tool that extracts and monitors trending skincare topics on TikTok. A survey will be given to pediatric patients in the dermatology clinic about which trends they have heard about and which they have used. Finally, a newsletter will be created to help dermatologists stay informed about new trends and how they are affecting patients’ skin. By keeping dermatologists up to date, they may be better equipped to protect children from harmful trends and encourage healthy skincare habits.
Status
This project was funded through a 2024 PeDRA Emerging Investigator Research Grant.
