TikTok: Empowering Hidradenitis Suppurativa Patients through Social Media Education - A Cross-Sectional Content Analysis

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic condition characterized by painful, inflamed lumps under the skin in intertriginous areas. While social media platforms like TikTok are increasingly raising public awareness about HS, the quality of the information presented remains challenging to assess. Our study aims to analyze the top one hundred TikTok videos focusing on HS clinical information, treatment options, and patient experiences from 2020 to 2024. We evaluate user engagement data, content characteristics, and assess the quality of health information using a validated DISCERN score. Overall, our study suggests that while TikTok serves as a valuable resource for raising awareness and accessing new information about HS, content from healthcare professionals and scientific research garners higher user engagement and contributes to greater awareness of HS.