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The proliferation of fake news is hardly news any more but is still unwelcome and hazardous in the field of medicine.
As the year came to an end, several research and dermatology bodies published their lists of the most read articles in 2022. A snapshot of medical and public viewing.
External factors influence the articles read, such as social networks, or Google search. Part of the reason one clear groups of concerns feature heavily in most lists.
Buying Non Prescription Products
The internet is littered with products to treat a range of dermatology conditions, from skin tags, to moles, to rosacea. There are also edge products, for changing your hair texture, or for skin lightening.
You might imagine most of the products are related to dodgy looking YouTube videos, or a link you wished you hadn’t clicked on but not the case. Companies such as Amazon have received statutory warnings.
The reality is that many cures, or treatments you buy online, or in some shops, have a great chance of being money badly spent.
They Don’t Work
Although they thankfully do not cause harm, a good share of items simply fail to do what they claim. A combination of an old fashioned scam, hopeful intentions, or legislation which rightly prevents them from being effective.
Although not dermatological, the best known example of this is tooth whitening toothpaste. Because of damage concern, manufacturers are only allowed to add a tiny amount of whitening agent, compared to the amount a dentist might use.
You could spend all day “whitening” your teeth and not get very far but no harm would be done. As they do theoretically hold tooth whitening agents, they are allowed to be sold as offering this.
The same applies to a wide range of products sold for skin conditions, or skin improvement. The focus is on marketing rather than effect, if you want to cure a problem, or buy cream for your skin, ask a dermatologist.
They Are Dangerous
Some products do hold serious downsides for your health, beyond those brought about by not getting real treatment. Skin lightening leads the way in terms of volume of damage, with a few hair products close behind.
Over the counter skin lightening products often contain hydroquinone. This can cause skin rashes, swelling to your face, or other areas and is as likely to bring skin discoloration as the intended effect.
Hair thickening, or other products to change the nature of your hair are not much better, with scalp damage, hair loss and rashes regularly reported.
Medication can change your hair, this may be an unwanted outcome of medication, or the result of targeted treatment for conditions such as alopecia. A process which deserves close medical supervision, rather than a promise.
The same applies for many items available to treat more standard dermatological conditions. If you are fortunate they will just be fake but a proportion could bring serious, lasting damage to your skin.
Solving The Conundrum
We can all understand the temptation but resisting doubtful products matter. Using any which bring harm clearly isn’t good, neither is trying those which fail, whilst conditions in reality continue to worsen.
Baking soda, coconut oil, turmeric, or ginseng do not cure skin cancer, putting a blue filter in an artificial daylight lamp will not stop psoriasis. The more outlandish claims don’t deserve a mention
There are rational reasons for in depth medical trials and even they may not work out as hoped. Buyers, or patients deserve to be protected from harm and to know that money spent has a realistic chance of being well spent.
Dermatology treatment should be based on professional support, knowledge and science. We are in fine times and better understanding of genetics, or actions at microscopic scale are helping, they are the real magic.