Acne vulgaris is a common inflammatory condition that can be associated with profound psychosocial impacts. Conventional treatment includes topical retinoids, benzoyl peroxide, and antimicrobials, and some may cause irritation and skin dryness. In this 8-week open-label study, we examined the effects of a botanical skin care regimen (Codex Labs Shaant Balancing regimen) on mild to moderate facial and truncal acne. Twenty-four male and female subjects between the ages of 12 and 45 years were assessed for eligibility, 20 were enrolled, and 15 completed all study visits. Facial and truncal acne lesion counts, skin hydration, sebum excretion rate, and mood were assessed at baseline, week 4, and week 8. Total facial lesion counts (inflammatory and non-inflammatory lesions) decreased by 20.5% at week 4 (p = 0.06) and by 25.2% at week 8 (p < 0.05). Inflammatory lesion counts on the trunk were found to decrease at week 8 relative to baseline by 48% (p < 0.05). Forehead sebum excretion rate decreased by 40% at week 4 (p = 0.07) and 22% at week 8 (p = 0.08), and cheek skin hydration increased by 27.6% at week 4 (p = 0.14) and 65% at week 8 (p = 0.10). Participants also experienced significant improvement in components of a positive effect, such as feeling “strong” and “inspired”, and a decrease in negative effects, such as feeling “irritable.” Overall, the botanical skin care regimen was found to be well-tolerated. Our study suggests that a botanical skin care regimen may reduce facial and truncal acne lesion counts, increase skin hydration, reduce sebum production, and augment positive effects and moods in those with mild to moderate facial and truncal acne.

BACKGROUND Social media platforms such as TikTok allows creators to share health information and possible misinformation.2 Our study aims to categorize popular dermatology-related posts and analyze the visibility of board-certified dermatologists on TikTok. OBJECTIVE Our study aims to categorize popular dermatology-related posts and analyze the visibility of board-certified dermatologists on TikTok. METHODS A list of top dermatologic diagnoses and procedures was compiled and the 20 dermatologic conditions and procedures with the highest total views were identified. Profession-specific hashtags were queried.3,4 The top posts under each hashtag were viewed. Users' self-reported occupations were identified, and board certifications were confirmed online when possible. RESULTS Board-certified dermatologists and residents were responsible for 6.49% and 3.03% of top dermatology-related TikTok content, while 71.43% of creators had no formal medical training. Overall, verified board-certified dermatologists and residents created 13.88% and 8.89% of the top dermatology-related posts in the queried hashtags. CONCLUSIONS Most popular dermatology-related content on TikTok is created by individuals without verifiable formal medical training. As social media platforms like TikTok grow, board-certified dermatologists can increase their presence as a credible source for the public to acquire dermatologic knowledge. Verified accounts and visibility of educational credentials can help users discern the source of information being shared on social media platforms such as TikTok.