When a patient reveals they went online for health information, it’s tempting for a clinician to inwardly groan. Fears of self-diagnosis or misinformation about diagnosed conditions can make clinicians concerned when patients seek medical information through online forums and social media. Yet these virtual communities are incredibly popular, most notably Reddit and its discussion forums.
An article published in the February issue of the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology sought to determine the accuracy of content on the r/eczema subreddit in comparison with recent AAD guidelines on atopic dermatitis treatment. I interviewed lead author Ugwumsinachi D. Nwaubani, MS, MIB, J&J Dermatology Research Fellow at the SUNY Downstate HSU College of Medicine, Department of Dermatology.
What motivated you to compare Reddit eczema content with the most recent AAD guidelines?
Reddit is one of the largest social media platforms centered on community-driven discussion, with an estimated 1.1 billion monthly active users, making it a major source of information for patients. Atopic dermatitis affects over 200 million people worldwide and carries significant psychosocial effects, often prompting patients to seek peer advice and shared experiences online. With the release of the most recent AAD guidelines for atopic dermatitis, we felt it was both timely and important to examine how highly engaged discussions on Reddit align with — or diverge from — evidence-based recommendations. Our goal was to better understand what patients may be learning before they ever enter a clinical encounter and to identify opportunities for dermatologists to more effectively counsel, educate, and build trust with patients who may first turn to social media platforms like Reddit in their search for symptom relief and treatment guidance.
You conducted a cross-sectional analysis of the top posts from the r/eczema subreddit over the course of a year. What did you discover? Were any of your results surprising?
We found that posts containing higher levels of misinformation or bias were generally less aligned with AAD guideline based recommendations, yet many of these posts still ranked among the most highly discussed content within the subreddit. Interestingly, posts with higher upvote percentages showed a positive correlation with AAD guideline alignment, suggesting that community engagement may, to some extent, favor more evidence-consistent information. One unexpected finding was that readability did not correlate with information quality; posts containing misinformation had the same variability in readability as those aligned with guidelines. This highlights that clarity and accessibility alone do not guarantee accuracy, underscoring the challenge clinicians face when patients encounter polished but misleading health information online.
Most reviews of user-generated content on skin disease states focus on the plethora of misinformation. However, your study has some positive findings. What are ways in which the r/eczema subreddit may benefit patients?
Peer support plays an important role in improving the psychosocial well-being of patients living with chronic skin disease. The r/eczema subreddit offers patients not only emotional support and validation, but also exposure to emerging therapies, treatment experiences, and practical disease-management strategies they may not have previously encountered. When used appropriately, these shared experiences can help patients feel less isolated and more empowered in their care. That said, it is essential for dermatologists to remain aware of the conversations occurring in online patient communities so they can proactively address misconceptions, reinforce evidence-based guidance, and help patients contextualize what they encounter online. This collaborative approach can improve patient education, promote informed decision-making, and ultimately reduce the impact of misinformation and bias in digital health spaces.
How can a subreddit provide dermatology clinicians with insight into the real lived experiences of patients?
Because of Reddit’s anonymous format, patients often feel more comfortable sharing candid, detailed accounts of their symptoms, frustrations, treatment failures, and emotional experiences. These narratives frequently mirror the lived experiences dermatologists hear in clinic, but with fewer filters and greater vulnerability. In contrast to the sometimes guarded responses patients may offer during time-limited clinical encounters, Reddit posts can provide a raw and unedited view of how patients interpret their disease and treatments in everyday life. For clinicians, engaging with these perspectives can enhance empathy, improve patient communication, and offer insight into concerns patients may hesitate to voice directly, ultimately strengthening the therapeutic relationship.
What should dermatology clinicians take away from this study?
This study highlights that patients with atopic dermatitis often engage in extensive self-education about their condition, and not all information shared online is inherently inaccurate. Rather than dismissing patient-sourced knowledge, clinicians should aim to educate themselves on what is being said on online forums and social media networks in order to better understand and respond to patient’s voiced beliefs and concerns. Additionally, our findings suggest that readability does not predict information accuracy, indicating that individuals across varying educational backgrounds contribute to these discussions. This diversity underscores the importance of tailoring patient education to individual needs and reinforcing evidence-based guidance to support informed decision-making and optimal disease management.
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