A cross-sectional study of YouTube videos as a source of patient information about topical psoriasis therapies

YouTube is becoming an increasingly popular resource for patients seeking knowledge regarding treatment options for dermatologic conditions. This study assessed the quality of content on YouTube regarding topical treatment for psoriasis. A cross-sectional analysis of YouTube videos was conducted using search terms related to psoriasis topical therapies. Of the 400 videos screened, 199 met inclusion criteria. One hundred and ten (55.3%) videos discussed natural treatments, 56 (28.1%) discussed therapies with grade A recommendations by the American Academy of Dermatology, 22 (8.5%) discussed therapies with grade B recommendations, and 14 (7.0%) discussed combinations of these. One hundred twelve (56.3%) were financially biased, 36 (18.1%) were uploaded by natural remedy channels without evident financial interests, 31 (15.5%) were patient-generated testimonials, and 20 (10.1%) featured healthcare professionals. Patient testimonials had the most views and user interaction while videos depicting healthcare professionals had the lowest. Videos criticizing medically-prescribed therapies and consultations with healthcare providers had significantly more views than those encouraging seeking medical expertise. Overall, YouTube videos about topical treatment options for psoriasis largely favor natural treatments over medical recommendations and discourage seeking medical advice. Dermatologists should consider posting information to YouTube to increase the volume of evidence-based, patient-directed material available through this platform.