{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,2]],"date-time":"2026-09-02T19:18:16Z","timestamp":1788376696746,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"Ovid Technologies (Wolters Kluwer Health)","issue":"5","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1787270400000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"http:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-nc-nd\/4.0"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["lww.com","ovid.com"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":[],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,9]]},"abstract":"<jats:title>Abstract<\/jats:title>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Dermatological quackery is an increasing public health concern in India, driven by poor regulation, easy access to medications, and the growing influence of social media and unqualified practitioners.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Aim and Objectives:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>To assess the patterns, outcomes, economic burden, awareness, and psychosocial impact of dermatological quackery among patients attending a dermatology camp.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Patients and Methods:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>A cross-sectional study was conducted during a dermatology camp in Bengaluru, India (January 2026). Patients with prior exposure to unqualified practitioners were included. Data were collected using a structured, validated questionnaire. Descriptive statistics were computed, and associations were analyzed using Chi-square\/Fisher\u2019s exact tests with odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Eighty-one patients were analyzed; most were young (55.6%), female (59.3%), from low-income households (79%), and from rural areas (60.5%). Common indications reported included skin lightening (96.3%), aesthetic concerns (91.3%), fungal infections (88.8%), and hair loss (83.9%) at various instances. Social media influencers (100%) and self-proclaimed skin\/hair specialists without national medical commission-recognized postgraduate qualifications (93.8%) were major contributors. Topical treatments were used by 84.0% of participants; combination creams were used by 66.7%, while steroid-containing cream use was confirmed by 13.6% and considered possible by 44.4%. Adverse effects occurred in 76.5%, and 65.4% reported worsening. Most patients (90.1%) required dermatologist consultation, with delayed care (&gt;1 month) in 59.3%. Side effects were strongly associated with worsening (OR 23.21,\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">P<\/jats:italic>\n                      &lt; 0.001) and additional expenses (OR 15.50,\n                      <jats:italic toggle=\"yes\">P<\/jats:italic>\n                      &lt; 0.001). Awareness of legal aspects was low (27.2%), and reporting rates were poor (13.6%). Psychosocial effects included loss of confidence (66.7%) and emotional distress (16%).\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Limitations:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Camp-based sampling and self-reported data may limit generalizability.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusions:<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Dermatological quackery leads to significant clinical harm, delayed care, and psychosocial burden, highlighting the need for stricter regulation and public awareness.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.4103\/idoj.idoj_468_26","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]],"date-time":"2026-08-21T17:02:43Z","timestamp":1787331763000},"page":"654-660","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1097\/lww.0000000000001000","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Quackery in Dermatology \u2013 A Multidimensional Burden: Cross-sectional Evidence by an Exploratory Survey from a Dermatology Camp"],"prefix":"10.4103","volume":"17","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6410-3194","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Akshay","family":"Samagani","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, RajaRajeswari Medical Collegeand Hospital, Dr. M.G.R. Educational and Research Institute, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Amarendra","family":"Pandey","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Cosmasure and Pandey Hospitals Pvt Ltd, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rajetha","family":"Damisetty","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Dr. Rajetha\u2019s Mohana Skin and Hair Clinic, Hyderabad, Telangana, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"R Raghunatha","family":"Reddy","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Roots Institute of Dermatological Sciences, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Vinay","family":"Singh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Vibrance Wellness Vista, Delhi, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Kolalapudi A.","family":"Seetharam","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, GSL Medical College, Rajahmundry, Andhra Pradesh, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Rajeev","family":"Sharma","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Bishen Skin Centre, Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Shital","family":"Poojary","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, K. J. Somaiya Medical College and Research Centre, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"M Ranga","family":"Swaroop","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Akash Institute of Medical Science, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"276","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,8,21]]},"reference":[{"key":"R1-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e032829","DOI":"10.1136\/bmjopen-2019-032829","article-title":"Magnitude, characteristics and consequences of topical steroid misuse in rural North India: An observational study among dermatology outpatients","volume":"10","author":"Thomas","year":"2020","journal-title":"BMJ Open"},{"key":"R2-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"259","DOI":"10.4103\/2229-5178.185492","article-title":"Misuse of topical corticosteroids on the face: A cross-sectional study among dermatology outpatients","volume":"7","author":"Jha","year":"2016","journal-title":"Indian Dermatol Online J"},{"key":"R3-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1403","DOI":"10.1111\/ijd.14207","article-title":"\"Over the Internet\" sale of prescription-level topical corticosteroids and dilemma of dermatologists","volume":"57","author":"Bishnoi","year":"2018","journal-title":"Int J Dermatol"},{"key":"R6-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"160","DOI":"10.4103\/0378-6323.77455","article-title":"Topical corticosteroid abuse on the face: A prospective, multicenter study of dermatology outpatients","volume":"77","author":"Saraswat","year":"2011","journal-title":"Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol"},{"key":"R7-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"436","DOI":"10.4103\/2229-5178.142486","article-title":"Misuse of topical corticosteroids: A clinical study of adverse effects","volume":"5","author":"Dey","year":"2014","journal-title":"Indian Dermatol Online J"},{"key":"R8-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"281","DOI":"10.1177\/0891243208316089","article-title":"Yearning for lightness: Transnational circuits in the marketing and consumption of skin lighteners","volume":"22","author":"Glenn","year":"2008","journal-title":"Gender Soc"},{"key":"R9-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"1061","DOI":"10.4103\/idoj.idoj_907_23","article-title":"A modern epidemic of dermatology quackery in India","volume":"15","author":"Shishak","year":"2024","journal-title":"Indian Dermatol Online J"},{"key":"R10-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"416","DOI":"10.4103\/2229-5178.142483","article-title":"Side-effects of topical steroids: A long overdue revisit","volume":"5","author":"Coondoo","year":"2014","journal-title":"Indian Dermatol Online J"},{"key":"R11-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"451","DOI":"10.4103\/0019-5154.139870","article-title":"Topical corticosteroid misuse: The Indian scenario","volume":"59","author":"Coondoo","year":"2014","journal-title":"Indian J Dermatol"},{"key":"R12-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"251","DOI":"10.4103\/0019-5154.97655","article-title":"Rational and ethical use of topical corticosteroids based on safety and efficacy","volume":"57","author":"Rathi","year":"2012","journal-title":"Indian J Dermatol"},{"key":"R13-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"3267","DOI":"10.3390\/jcm13113267","article-title":"Tinea incognito: Challenges in diagnosis and management","volume":"13","author":"Zacharopoulou","year":"2024","journal-title":"J Clin Med"},{"key":"R14-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"118","DOI":"10.4103\/ijd.IJD_203_19","article-title":"The current Indian epidemic of dermatophytosis: A study on causative agents and sensitivity patterns","volume":"65","author":"Das","year":"2020","journal-title":"Indian J Dermatol"},{"key":"R15-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"e70148","DOI":"10.1111\/jocd.70148","article-title":"Dermatologists' way of informative content about dermatology and cosmetology on social media","volume":"24","author":"\u00dcnal","year":"2025","journal-title":"J Cosmet Dermatol"},{"key":"R16-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"101","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jdin.2023.05.004","article-title":"Social media dermatologic advice: Dermatology without dermatologists","volume":"12","author":"Trepanowski","year":"2023","journal-title":"JAAD Int"},{"key":"R17-20260902","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"201","DOI":"10.4103\/0378-6323.132246","article-title":"Sales, status, prescriptions and regulatory problems with topical steroids in India","volume":"80","author":"Verma","year":"2014","journal-title":"Indian J Dermatol Venereol Leprol"},{"key":"R18-20260902","year":"2018","journal-title":"Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945: amendment to Schedule H. 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