Where do you go for solid skincare advice? While once the intel from dermatologists was saved for those who bagged a much-coveted in-office appointment, now you can access these experts from your smartphone. Thanks to Twitter, TikTok and Instagram, the world of derm-approved advice has become much more accessible with some of the top doctors taking to social media to share their top tips, product recommendations and treatment demos.
While for tailored personal advice an appointment is always recommended, Instagram is a great starting point for learning the basics and getting to know the science behind good skincare. Especially thanks to easy-to-understand video content and interactive IG lives.
Of course, not all advice is made equal and much like any corner of the Internet, there is fake news aplenty and rife misinformation. However, if you stick with reputable sources, you’re onto a winner. Here, we round up the best Instagram accounts to follow for free dermatology advice… You can thank us later.
Dr. Adeline Kikam
Dr. Adeline Kikam, DO, FAAD, personal journey with acne (she’s suffered from face, neck and back acne) led her to specialize in dermatology in medical school but it was her frustration with the lack of skincare information online for people of color that made her start her IG account. Check also her account @brownskinderm on TikTok. Kikam is passionate about changing the field of dermatology in order for it to reflect the diverse nature of society and empower people of color to have more knowledge about their skin. Alongside informative videos and honest product reviews, she also regularly answers community questions on IG stories.
Dr. Shereene Idriss
A board-certified dermatologist based in NYC, Idriss is known for her natural-looking cosmetic dermatology. An advocate for subtle work, she is all about helping her clients feel like themselves — only a little bit better — and her empowering message is catching. To tap into her wisdom, tune into her IG page on Sunday evening where Idriss answers community questions from her bed in a series she calls #pillowtalkderm sessions. From double cleansing to dark circles and everything in between, there are also regular special guests sharing their advice and skin stories.
Jenny Liu
A board-certified dermatologist and an assistant professor in the Twin Cities, Jenny Liu spotlights ingredients and busts myths around skincare through a scientific lens. Passionate about educating on ethnic dermatology, she shares often hard-to-find info on dealing with skin conditions like eczema as a person of color. Plus, don’t miss out on her dermatologist drugstore favorites (you don’t always need to spend for results) and pictures of her adorable little girl, Sophie.
Anjali Mahto
Author of The Skincare Bible: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Great Skin, British Consultant Dermatologist Dr. Anjali Mahto’s no-nonsense attitude has garnered her a loyal legion of fans. Her specialty? Acne. While Mahto is highly knowledgeable on the topic, it’s sharing her own skincare journey that makes her content that much more accessible and relatable. She is all about normalizing breakouts alongside dishing out the advice that helped her with her own skin. Beyond this, Mahto won’t shy away from controversial topics like the link between skin and diet health, medical ‘influencing’ and clean beauty as well as important issues such as cultural appropriation and transgender skin struggles.
Lindsey Zubritsky, MD, FAAD
Pittsburgh-based board-certified dermatologist Lindsey Zubritsky works across skin cancer, general medical dermatology, pediatric dermatology, and cosmetic dermatology so is well versed in dishing out advice across a whole host of issues. Her page is packed with info on everything from dealing with Zoom face to understanding your skin type and treating hair loss. As a new mum, Zubritsky has recently been sharing lots of useful info on dealing with the skin during and after pregnancy including do’s and don’ts and advice on safe ingredients.
Dr. Cristina Psomadakis
Known to her 30k followers as Dr. Soma, UK-based Psomadakis is a dermatologist and head of digital for the British Society of Medical Dermatology. Her ethos is all about evidence-based beauty and she uses her page to educate and inform her community about the science-backed perspective on current trends. For example, CBD skincare, drinking water for glowing skin and ingredients like olive oil. She also interviews others across the industry about their careers in beauty — a must-read for anyone wanting to pursue a similar path.
