Dr Idriss Addresses… Beauty Misinformation and What’s Behind its Rise and Rise
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Dr Idriss is a board-certified dermatologist practising in New York. Known as #PillowTalkDerm to her over 4 millions followers on socials, she has a burning passion for demystifying skincare and busting beauty myths at every turn. Dr Idriss is also a regular Live That Glow columnist, sharing her unedited views on all things trending with our readers in her column, ‘Dr Idriss Addresses…’. Here she talks why beauty misinformation continues to rise, and how to avoid it.
Misinformation has always been around. If you grew up in the 90s, for example, you’ll probably remember the “toothpaste on pimples” era.
The difference today is that we’re drowning in information – some good, a lot of bad – and the speed at which it spreads is faster than ever before. So yes, it feels worse… because when you’re bombarded with 50 skincare hacks before breakfast, it’s easy to lose sight of what’s real.
This becomes most dangerous when it convinces people to reject proven, life-saving practices or substitute them with harmful fads.
For example, not wearing sunscreen because someone claims it’s “toxic” – that directly raises your risk of skin cancer, which is the most common cancer in the world. Or skipping needed acne medication in favour of DIY “remedies” like eating whole garlic cloves. I’ve also seen misinformation targeting vulnerable moments – during pregnancy, where myths prey on hope and fear. That’s when misinformation crosses the line from silly to dangerous: when it has the power to cause irreversible harm.
But at the same time, awareness is growing. People are starting to question things more, which is actually a very healthy trend.
Discernment is a muscle. If you don’t exercise it, it weakens. My advice; question everything. TikTok and ChatGPT are not research. Peer-reviewed studies, medical consensus, and professionals who dedicate their lives to this – that’s research.
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