BACKGROUND

Social media platforms have become ubiquitous online tools, fundamentally altering how individuals connect, share information, and interact with the healthcare system. Given the inherently visual nature of skin conditions, the quest for dermatologic information has surged in parallel with the exponential growth of social media over the past decade.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to characterize Filipino adults who seek dermatology-related health information on social media and to investigate how this information influences their behavior regarding skin, hair, and nail problems.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in December 2022 using nonprobability, purposive sampling. Data were collected via a validated 16-item online questionnaire distributed across various social media platforms, including Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Descriptive statistics were computed from Google Form Responses, saved as a Microsoft Excel sheet.

RESULTS

A total of 263 individuals participated in the online survey. The majority of Filipino adult social media users in this study were female (60.5%), single (92%), possessed high educational attainment (53.6% postgraduate degrees), and belonged to the middle-class income bracket (54%). Facebook was identified as the most commonly used social media platform (94.3%). A substantial proportion, approximately 87.5% (230/263), reported using social media to search for health information pertaining to the skin, hair, and/or nails. Crucially, most of these individuals (80.6%) verified the credibility of the information they received. The information gleaned from social media significantly influenced the majority of respondents (74.1%), with reported changes including starting (52.5%), changing (36.5%), and stopping (20.2%) treatment after seeking dermatology-related health information online. More than half of the respondents (51%) subsequently sought consultation with a board-certified dermatologist.

CONCLUSION

To the investigators’ knowledge, this is the inaugural local descriptive study exploring the characteristics of Filipino patients who leverage social media as a health information tool for dermatologic concerns. The study provides crucial baseline information on how this digital engagement impacts their perception of disease, influences decisions to seek further evaluation and management, and alters treatment compliance. These findings are poised to significantly benefit both patients and healthcare providers in the Philippines.

Human ; Dermatology ; Social Media

Bowenoid papulosis (BP) is an uncommon yet clinically significant human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated condition that exhibits features of both condyloma acuminata and carcinoma insitu. We report the case of a 24-year-old Filipino male with multiple pruritic, pigmented penile lesions of 5 months’ duration, confirmed histologically as BP. This case underscores the importance of recognizing HPV-related lesions early and initiating appropriate treatment, not only to prevent progression to malignancy but also to limit transmission. The report also highlights the relevance of offering HPV vaccination, particularly to males, and the critical need for screening for other sexually transmitted infections, especially in light of the growing human immunodeficiency virus epidemic in the Philippines, underscoring that the condition itself may be sexually transmitted in nature.

Human ; Male ; Young Adult: 19-24 Yrs Old ; Hiv ; Human Papillomavirus Viruses ; Sexually Transmitted Diseases

Cutaneous pseudolymphoma is a benign reactive lymphoproliferative skin disorder that can mimic cutaneous lymphoma. Clinical features include papules or indurated plaques that commonly affect the head and neck region and upper extremities. Various causative factors such as infectious agents, insect bites, vaccines, foreign bodies such as tattoos and drugs have been identified. Majority of the cases are idiopathic. Diagnosis is made by clinical assessment and careful histopathologic examination. Topical or intralesional steroids are the first-line therapy for persistent localized lesions.

This is a case of a 14-year-old male who presented with an 8-month persistent solitary violaceous to dusky red indurated plaque on the right distal ventral forearm. No trigger factors were identified. A skin biopsy with immunohistochemical staining (positively staining CD68, CD3 and CD20 T and B cells with no loss of CD7) revealed cutaneous lymphoid hyperplasia. Initial treatment with a topical steroid was unsuccessful, leading to the addition of intralesional steroid to the regimen. This resulted in partial improvement but did not prevent further plaque enlargement. Topical medication was then shifted to compounded 5-Fluorouracil cream which was applied twice daily for a duration of 18 months. In the first six months of treatment, the patient noted further decrease in size and flattening of the lesion with no reported adverse effects. A repeat biopsy after 18 months post- treatment revealed a marked reduction in lymphocytic infiltrates, indicating a favorable response to treatment.

The main goal of treatment in Cutaneous Pseudolymphoma is early disease recognition and prompt intervention. Topical 5- fluorouracil (5-FU) belongs to a class of medications known as anti-metabolites and has been used in the treatment of various recalcitrant benign and malignant skin tumors. Treatment efficacy of this case contributes to anecdotal evidence of topical 5-Fluorouracil in treating pseudolymphoma.

Human ; Male ; Adolescent: 13-18 Yrs Old ; Corticosteroids ; Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Pseudolymphoma