Impact of Social Media Influencers on Skin Health: A Scoping Review

This scoping review seeks to map and synthesize existing literature regarding the influence of social media influencers on skin health. Social media influencers continue to play a significant role in shaping skincare beliefs, behaviors, and health-seeking practices through educational materials and product endorsements, including do-it-yourself skincare trends. While some content might promote positive behaviors, concerns exist around misinformation, undisclosed commercial interests, inappropriate product use, steroid misuse, pigmentary harm, and psychosocial effects like appearance anxiety. The review will primarily include peer-reviewed quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods studies, with relevant grey literature (including conference abstracts and preprints) included where appropriate, that investigates the influence of influencer-generated or -amplified content on skin health in any platform-including Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, and Snapchat-based on JBI methodology and PRISMA-ScR reporting. Data will be extracted on study design, population, influencer characteristics, content type, and skin health outcomes. Results will be synthesized descriptively and thematically to identify patterns, gaps, and equity considerations. The review is expected to provide a comprehensive overview of influencer impact on skin health, informing future research, clinical practice, and public health guidance in digital dermatology.