TikTok Korean skincare videos contain misleading claims, study finds

Korean skincare glass skin TikTok dermatology misleading health claims

A new study presented at the 2026 European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress reveals that nearly 95% of viral TikTok videos regarding Korean skincare and the 'glass skin' trend contain at least one misleading claim.

Researchers analyzed 38 top-ranking videos using neutral accounts to avoid algorithmic bias. The findings indicate a significant lack of safety information: 84% of videos failed to account for different skin types, 45% promoted the excessive use of active ingredients without guidance, and 32% promised instant results. Notably, none of the analyzed videos were produced by dermatologists, and none recommended consulting a medical professional or mentioned the risk of contact dermatitis.

Lead author Dr. Maria Lúcia Paysano highlighted that the majority of the content—approximately 82%—was created by non-physician influencers. The study warns that following these unregulated routines without personalized guidance could lead to skin irritation, acne exacerbation, or damage to the skin barrier.

Entities

European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology · Maria Lúcia Paysano · TikTok

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 3 SOURCES] 82% of the videos were created by non-physician influencers. www.ltvnews.net · news.cube-soft.jp · www.dailymail.com
[● 3 SOURCES] 32% of the videos claimed to provide instant results. www.ltvnews.net · news.cube-soft.jp · www.dailymail.com
[● 3 SOURCES] 84% of the analyzed videos failed to account for differences in skin types. www.ltvnews.net · news.cube-soft.jp · www.dailymail.com
[● 3 SOURCES] The popularity of Korean skincare content on TikTok does not align with the quality of information provided. www.ltvnews.net · news.cube-soft.jp · www.dailymail.com
[● 3 SOURCES] No videos in the study recommended consulting a dermatologist or mentioned contact dermatitis risks. www.ltvnews.net · news.cube-soft.jp · www.dailymail.com
[● 3 SOURCES] None of the 38 analyzed videos were produced by dermatologists. www.ltvnews.net · news.cube-soft.jp · www.dailymail.com
[● 3 SOURCES] 45% of the videos encouraged excessive combinations of active ingredients without safety guidance. www.ltvnews.net · news.cube-soft.jp · www.dailymail.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Almost 95% of viral Korean skincare and 'glass skin' TikTok videos contain at least one misleading claim. www.ltvnews.net · news.cube-soft.jp · www.dailymail.com