Dr Hollie Moran, who is based at Adelaide's Flinders Medical Centre, reviewed content surrounding health promotion of skin care, sun protection and sun damage awareness on TikTok.
Globally, seven of the world's top 10* "skinfluencers" are medical professionals (plastic surgeons, dermatologists, etc.). Collectively, they have 44.8 million followers, with skin health videos** viewed an astounding 434 billion times in the past three years.
With two in three Australians to be diagnosed with some form of skin cancer before they turn 70 years-of-age, Dr Moran said TikTok has emerged as a powerful tool for the prevention of skin cancer.
"Melanoma is the most common cancer affecting Australians between 15 and 29 years-of-age and promotion of primary prevention is essential to reducing the incidence of skin cancer," Dr Moran said.
"TikTok "skinfluencers" are leading the movement and promoting sunsafe behaviours and educating people about the warning signs of sun damage on social media.
"The app can be deployed as a powerful tool for health promotion and primary prevention of skin cancer by raising awareness of sun protection and skin surveillance.
"TikTok has the potential to bring about generational change in the incidence of skin cancer rates in Australia, significantly reducing hospital admissions and skin cancer related deaths."
Dr Moran's research will be unveiled at the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons' Annual Scientific Congress
