India has almost 2 million self-proclaimed “skin doctors” on Instagram,
but only about 18,000 real dermatologists registered with the National
Medical Commission (NMC). Experts say this is a big problem because many
people follow unsafe skincare advice online that can harm their skin.
These untrained “skin experts” often advertise fake treatments, risky
chemical peels, and strong “fairness” creams with high acid levels.
Using such products can cause burns, scars, and long-term skin damage.
At the second edition of South First’s Dakshin Health Summit, held at
the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology (AIG) in Gachibowli on Sunday,
top dermatologists discussed this growing problem during a session called
“Social Media and Skin & Hair Health.”
Doctors warned that many influencers and online sellers pretend to be
professionals and give medical advice without proper training. They urged
the government to make stricter rules to stop false skincare information
and to enforce telemedicine laws more strongly to protect people from fake
online treatments.