Skin, Hair, and Nail Supplements Advertised on Instagram: A Survey of Selected Posts
August 2021
TLDR Instagram ads for skin, hair, and nail supplements often make broad health claims without clear ingredient information, and are not FDA-regulated.
The study evaluated Instagram posts advertising skin, hair, and nail supplements, collecting 100 posts from March 2021. The posts had a median of 30 likes and 0 comments, with only 4% made by verified accounts. Only 1% of posts contained a visible Supplement Facts label, and nearly 20% made no mention of ingredients. About 33% mentioned vitamins and 25% mentioned minerals without specifying which ones. The most common health claim was "make skin glow", and hair loss/growth and acne were the most frequently mentioned conditions. 22% of posts featured influencers, 6% included a giveaway, and 7% included a promo code. The study concluded that dermatological supplements on Instagram contained various active ingredients and made far-reaching health claims, including addressing skin conditions, arthritis, cardiac issues, and weight loss. The FDA does not regulate the safety of these supplements, nor evaluate the validity of such claims. The study suggests that dermatologists could utilize social media to debunk health myths and accurately counsel patients.
