There is a concerning gap in the quality and reliability of information on the TikTok short video platform regarding the use of spironolactone for the treatment of acne.
These findings come from a paper published in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (Feb. 2025; 24(2):e7).
“With the wealth of content offered on TikTok, young people are turning to this medium to seek guidance on various health-related topics, including information about acne and acne medications,” the authors write. “While the platform's popularity positions TikTok as a beacon of dermatologic education, the dermatologic information about acne on social media is often wrought with misinformation.”
Given the broad viewership of TikTok videos created with the hashtag #spironolactone, investigators sought to evaluate the quality and reliability of these videos.
Researchers created a new TikTok account to minimize the algorithmic influence on recommended videos and conducted a search on Dec. 11, 2023, using the hashtag “#spironolactone.”
At the time, videos linked to "#spironolactone" had a cumulative 108.0 million views.
The authors selected the top 50 videos for inclusion in the analysis, and then two independent researchers viewed the videos and assigned scores using the modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) score and Global Quality Scale (GQS) criteria.
Of the top 50 videos, 39 were patient testimonials (78%), 10 were educational (20%), and one was a documentary (2%). Eight of the 10 educational videos were made by dermatologists. Each video type category had a mean of more than 200,000 views.
Educational videos had the highest average number of views (370,828), although the range of views varied greatly (standard deviation (SD)=524,016), followed by documentary (264,200±0) and then testimonial (220,627±19,032) videos. Cumulative average scores for all videos were 1/5 (SD=1) on the mDISCERN scale and 2/5 (SD=1) on the GQS scale. For reliability scoring, average mDISCERN scores by video type were 3/5 (SD =1) for educational, 1/5 for documentary (SD=0), and 1/5 (SD=1) for patient testimonials. There was a significant difference in mDISCERN scores of testimonial videos (p<0.001) compared to educational videos. For quality scoring, average GQS scores by video type were 4/5 (SD=1) for educational, 2/5 (SD=1) for patient testimonials, and 1/5 (SD=0) for documentary. There was a significant difference in GQS scores for documentary videos (p=0.0254) and testimonial videos (p<0.001) compared to educational videos.
“While TikTok offers a significant platform for disseminating information about spironolactone, particularly in the context of acne treatment, our study reveals a concerning gap in the quality and reliability of this content,” the authors write in their conclusion.
“Despite the platform's potential for widespread educational impact, the predominance of low-quality patient testimonials highlights the risk of misinformation, which could adversely affect patient decision-making and health outcomes.”
The researchers note there is a need for greater consistency and thoroughness in TikTok educational videos produced by dermatologists, including citing sources.
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