The 20 Best Dermatologists To Follow On Instagram For Credible Skincare Advice

When it comes to online skincare, it can be tough to find sources of information that are actually offering advice that will work. This can be extra true for Black people and people of color, especially as Black dermatologists are still underrepresented in the field. As a study in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology notes, only three percent of dermatologists identify as Black (via MDedge Dermatology).

All of us can benefit from excellent skincare advice that considers what is economically feasible for most people and that includes easy-to-follow steps that don't involve products that are difficult to find. Luckily, in a sea of possibly questionable givers of advice, there are plenty of dermatologists on Instagram who are truly doing good work.

Here is a list of 20 dermatologists to follow on Instagram — 20 dermatologists who will offer diverse but practical advice for all of us, no matter our skin color or the type of problem we might be battling or dealing with. 

Dr. Camille Howard-Verovic, aka @dermbeautydoc, is a dermatologist, wife, and mom who suffers from eczema herself, so she knows firsthand how complicated it can be to treat the skin condition. Howard-Verovic told Red that her own experience with doctors and dermatologists inspired her to go to medical school and enter the field. She said, "I suppose my interest in dermatology sparked when I was that kid with eczema. No one ever really explained why I had eczema. I remember being told to take cool baths and moisturize my skin."

Like a lot of patients, Howard-Verovic began to try to find solutions herself. She admitted to Yahoo! that the advice given to her by doctors was often more confusing than anything, but going to medical school helped her understand that there are a lot of ways to treat eczema, as well as to treat other skin conditions. These include oily skin and hyperpigmentation, both of which Howard-Verovic contends with as well. As a result, she believes in having a pretty easy skincare routine that's made up of six products (via Red).

Howard-Verovic uses Cerave Hydrating Cream-To-Foam Cleanser, Jaq's Healing Face Cleanser, Skinceuticals Triple Lipid Restore 2:4:2, Elta MD UV Clear Broad Spectrum SPF 46, Lancôme Advanced Genifique Face Serum, and a vitamin A compound.

Dr. Nada Elbuluk is passionate about treating skin of color. She runs the University of Southern California's Skin of Color and Pigmentary Disorder Program and works as a dermatologist at the school. Elbuluk explained to Keck Medicine that one of the most important parts of her job is working with communities who have historically not had access to quality skin care. She said, "I'm very big on health equity and improving health disparities, particularly for those communities that have been the most marginalized."

Dr. Elbuluk carries that emphasis over to her Instagram account. She is found @skindrnada on the platform, and her feed is filled with an abundance of useful information on acne treatment, vitiligo, and how to check your own skin for signs of skin cancer. She told the Dermatology Learning Network that when it comes to skincare, and especially skin care for people of color, it's important that physicians are adept at cultural competency. As she put it, "It is so important for us as physicians and health care providers to be culturally competent with our patients of all different backgrounds."

Dr. Ranella Hirsch can be found on Instagram @ranellamd. Dr. Hirsch really has her hand in quite a few aspects of skincare: she has developed her own line of products called Atolla, is a board-certified dermatologist, and also spends a significant amount of her time online and offline combatting misinformation. As Hirsch told Cosmopolitan, there is often a profound difference between actual dermatologists who have an online presence and people who think they know a lot about skincare but who have no medical training. 

She told the publication that misinformation spreads especially quickly on TikTok due to the nature of the platform's algorithm. As Hirsch put it, "I don't think anything else has the ability to take that information and move it so quickly to so many people. If you see one bad video that tells you sunscreen is terrible, you're going to be shown 20 more videos like that."

Dr. Hirsch also devotes a sizeable number of Instagram posts to beating down misinformation as well as to explaining the ins and outs of basic skincare to her followers. For example, a post from February 25, 2022, points out that the number one reason why a skincare product often seems to fail is simply that it hasn't been given enough time to succeed. 

Dr. Karen Kagha is a board-certified dermatologist who is currently based in Los Angeles. Dr. Kagha previously lived and worked in Boston, Massachusetts, where she completed a laser and cosmetic fellowship.

Dr. Kagha has also been a contributor to lifestyle website Byrdie, where she has reviewed articles by the site to offer her medical know-how and expertise. These days, she works at the Laser Skin Care Center in Los Angeles, where she specializes in evidence-based aesthetic medicine. The site mentions her philosophy, which is centered around the patient experience and what her role is in it. It reads, "She believes that all patients deserve the opportunity to look and feel their best; she is passionate about taking part in this journey with each of her patients."

Dr. Kagha can be found on Instagram @drkarenk. Her feed is relatable and personal, filled with personal snaps that make her followers feel like they are part of her life. However, she regularly offers up skincare advice about acne, products, and more, making her an invaluable resource.

Dr. Jason Emer might be known for working with celebrity clients, but he believes one reason he's so good at his job is that he's, as he put it in an interview with Skin Science, authentic. Emer explained to the publication that when he moved to Los Angeles from San Francisco he didn't know what would happen, but these days he has upward of 30 employees all working out of an 8,000-square-foot facility.

Emer added that he's not originally from Los Angeles, which makes him more appealing to some clients. As he put it, "I always say, I'm a mid-west guy in a 90210 zip code. Maybe I don't fit in here, but that's perhaps one of the reasons people choose me. Being honest, truthful, and caring is how I can stand out and be authentic" (via Skin Science).

These days, Dr. Emer is especially proud of his skincare line Emerage Skin, which often combines microneedling peels to produce what appear to be tremendous results. Emer often works with people who are struggling with acne and acne scars, as he detailed in an Instagram post on June 20, 2022.

Dr. Anjali Mahto is a bit of a legend on dermatology skincare Instagram for one major reason: she shares photos of her own cystic acne, which she has been battling since 1992. In December 2017, she explained in a lengthy caption posted on Instagram alongside a photo of an acne outbreak that coming to terms with having acne as an adult has been a long-term struggle. She explained, "The hardest thing about having adult cystic acne has been coming to terms with the realization that I am never going to be 'cured' but the best I can ever hope for is 'control' of my skin."

Like a lot of people who have struggled with acne, Dr. Mahto has been through the wringer when it comes to treatments. According to PopSugar, these have included birth control, lasers, antibiotics, and more. Later, Dr. Mahto published "The Skincare Bible: Your No-Nonsense Guide to Great Skin" in April 2018. Dr. Mahto told Complexion-Me that the book really offers a broad spectrum of solutions when it comes to skincare, including everything from cosmetic and surgical treatments and procedures to daily routines that will do the best to keep everyone's skin glowing. 

When it comes to the fight for skincare and skin representation for all, Dr. Adeline Kikam is leading the charge. After facing acne and hyperpigmentation as a teen, Dr. Kikam decided to become a dermatologist with a focus on skin of color. Her Instagram account @brownskinderm is all about using the right information to help her followers feel beautiful as they are — in their own skin. 

Dr. Kikam told Skincare.com that she began her Instagram account because, at the time, there was no one like her on the platform. As she put it, " ... there was no physician-led account on social media that talked about dermatologic issues in people of color with the credibility of a dermatologist." Dr. Kikam went on to add that women of color don't always feel welcome in online discussions about skincare, and she wanted to do as much as she could to change that. 

The account currently boasts nearly 100,000 followers on Instagram, and Dr. Kikam offers a combination of joyful selfies and photos from her life with sound medical advice often in the form of Reels.

If you're looking for the dermatologist Dr. Cristina Psomadakis on Instagram, you'll find her under @dr.somaskin. Dr. Soma is passionate about raising awareness about skincare products as well as the various diseases that can impact the skin. She initially studied Anthropology and Linguistics before pursuing a medical career, and in July 2022 she explained to Greek Women in STEM that the biggest reason she made the switch is that she wasn't happy with the career field pertaining to those two areas of study.

Dr. Soma explained that she wasn't interested in working in an office, and the idea of teaching wasn't especially appealing either. Instead, she spent time volunteering with a medical non-profit in Cambodia and eventually realized she could do a lot as a doctor. These days, she works as a dermatologist in London, but she's clear in the interview that it took some time to get there (via Greek Women in STEM).

Dr. Soma goes on to add that one reason she thinks her Instagram account works for her is that she's very passionate about skincare and it shows to her viewers and followers. As she said, "People can sense if you are talking about something you love. Even if you feel like your topic is very niche, you will find an audience" (via Greek Women in STEM).

Women who are fitness oriented and who are athletes of any kind know one thing to be true: sweat can have a major impact on the quality of your skin. Dr. Elyse Love, an avid runner who has completed the New York marathon, understands this more than most. In fact, she has dedicated a major portion of her professional life to helping athletic women come up with skincare routines that are compatible with their sport of choice, and above all else, she prefers to impart advice that can be a game changer for women who are on the move. As she told Runner Grl, "Get that sweat off of your skin ASAP. At least take off your sweaty clothes. If not, you're at risk for acne, folliculitis, etc. from the bacteria and other dirt that sits up against your skin."

Dr. Love is also no stranger to acne, having navigated the condition as a teenager. Unfortunately, she had a difficult time treating her skin until her mother found a Black dermatologist in her hometown of Birmingham, Alabama. These days, Dr. Love makes it a point to share information and tips for treating acne on Black skin on her Instagram account @elyselovemd.

Like a lot of us, Dr. Corey L. Hartman had to deal with acne breakouts as a teen. When it came to treating his acne, Dr. Hartman says he was mostly on his own. He told Skincare.com, " ...  it wasn't bad enough that I would have sought the help of a dermatologist and my aunt told me when I was growing up that black people don't go to the dermatologist." On top of that, at the time there was only one Black dermatologist in the southern state of Louisiana, where Dr. Hartman grew up. 

These days, Dr. Hartman is an avid contributor to both TikTok and Instagram, where he posts @dr.coreyhartman. He told Skincare.com that one reason he joined the world of social media dermatology is to combat misinformation that runs rampant on both platforms. As he explained, "I do it to make sure people have a voice of reason. There's so much out there, and everybody has a voice."

Dr. Sam Bunting is the brain behind and creator of the skincare line Dr. Sam's, which is known for offering formulas and treatments that are both gentle but incredibly effective. In an interview with The Glass Magazine, she referred to her office as "something of a mecca for acne treatment" and admitted why she thinks the clinic is so popular. As she put it, "I think it's the empathetic but ultra-detailed and bespoke way we approach it, from diet and skincare practices, using cutting edge treatments and treating any consequences, like pigmentation and scarring, that makes all the difference."

Dr. Bunting is also deeply invested in offering excellent skincare advice on Instagram, where she posts to over 100,000 followers @drsambunting. She joined the platform after building a following on YouTube, and told 35Thousand that connecting with her patients and others on socia media has been rewarding. As she put it, having so many parts of her job, including building and nurturing her social media following, is rewarding. She said, "So every day is different and requires me to work on myself constantly to evolve and grow as an entrepreneur. I feel I'm doing exactly what I'm meant to be doing."

Dr. Shereene Idriss is known quite well on Instagram where she boasts celebrities such as Jennifer Aniston and Ashley Graham among her 434,000 followers. And while there are some who think social media has advanced her career, Dr. Idriss told Verywell Family that the truth is really the opposite. She explained to the publication that while her business was thriving before she turned to Instagram, using the platform has been advantageous. She said, "It's allowed me to be really comfortable with who I am publicly. Once that happened, the doors opened up much more than I could ever have imagined."

Like other dermatologists who use Instagram frequently, Dr. Idriss began posting on the platform after encountering misinformation about skincare and wanting to combat it. A nurse in her practice suggested she begin her own account. From there, one thing lead to another and her Instagram account blew up (via Verywell Family). As she told Fashionista, "I had, like, two followers, and I'd never spoken on Instagram because I have such a fear of public speaking. But I was like, 'Fine.' That first time I went on Instagram, it was so bad and I was so nervous speaking to Stories, which is so funny now."

Dr. Jeanine Downie of image Dermatology is a New Jersey-based dermatologist who likes to keep things simple. In fact, in an interview with Beauty Bylines, she argued that when it comes down to it, most of us really only need a fairly simple skincare routine that we adjust seasonally as needed. For example, Dr. Downie explained in the interview that as the season transitions from colder temperatures to warmer ones, it's a good idea to swap out a heavier moisturizer for a lighter one.

If there is one skincare product that Dr. Downie insists that we all use, it's sunscreen. As she told Beauty Bylines, at a minimum, we should all wear SPF 30 every day, all day. Those of us who are battling hyperpigmentation will want to be incredibly intentional about our application; Dr. Downie says applying a new layer of sunscreen every two hours, January through December, is the ticket.

Dr. Downie is also behind a robust Instagram account @jeaninedownie that boasts over 10,000 followers. The New Jersey-based dermatologist offers up Reels that showcase her lectures and events, skincare advice, and a glimpse into her day-to-day life.

If there is one dermatologist is really keeping it understandable and straight-forward on Instagram, it might be Dr. Chris Tomassian. His audience of over 400,000 followers on Instagram are treated to videos that explore everything from whether or not applying toothpaste to pimples works to how vitamin C can benefit the skin to what a healthy skin barrier is and why you want one. 

Dr. Tomassian is clearly passionate about his job. He also has a few hard and fast truths that he likes to share with his followers and patients, including what he believes is the most important part of anyone's skincare routine: sunscreen. While speaking to Who What Wear, he explained that ultimately, a lot of the problems many of us face with our skin all come down to not wearing anything to protect ourselves from the sun. He said, "Most unwanted skin changes such as poor texture, deep wrinkling, hyperpigmentation, redness, and, worst of all skin cancer occur from years of UV damage."

When it comes to treating diseases of the skin, Dr. Onyeka Obioha-Lolagne is invested in improving the quality of life for people who suffer from anything that can be seen by others. As she put it while speaking to The Dermatologist, "If we as the dermatologist or the patient can see the disease, then others can also see them." For her, treating skin conditions is all about making lives better.

Dr. Obioha-Lolagne carries that outlook over to her Instagram account @dr.obioha. Her page is filled with videos about picking the right products for your skin and infographics that explain what moisturizers will work for you, but these are interspersed with real photos from her life, including those of her relationship, time with family and friends, and even from her wedding. 

Dr. Obioha-Lolagne is also passionate about treating Black skin and skin of color. She believes that some groups have more barriers when it comes to getting quality dermatological care and that this has to change. As she told The Dermatologist, "Access can be an insurance issue, a communication barrier involving non-English-speaking individuals, or even physical access to a dermatology clinic due to transportation or lack thereof."

Dr. Kiran Sethi is a well-known dermatologist who currently lives and works in New York City, and she's also something of a celebrity dermatologist in India. She has over 60,000 followers on Instagram, where she shares skincare tips and guidance @drkiransays. In an interview with POPxo, which describes itself as India's largest digital community of women, Dr. Sethi explained that her Instagram following has only helped her grow as a dermatologist.

Sethi said, "The more questions I get asked, the more I know about what is concerning the people who come to me. So I think it has made me better at my job. It also makes me more accessible and allows my clients to get more access to all the information in my brain and they can also understand my perspective on why I do things."

Dr. Sethi also opened up about her Bollywood clientele, telling the publication that no matter how famous a client is or isn't, it's important that they are able to get care from a doctor who really knows how to treat their skin. As she put it, "A good doctor will tell you what makes sense and what doesn't and will protect you from trends and will guide you to what is good for you."

Dr. Michelle Henry is invested in challenging skincare beliefs that are outdated, based on stereotypes, or both. In an interview with The Cut, she immediately jumped in to dispel the idea that a ratio of 1.6 equals total beauty despite the fact that the ratio has been used by artists for centuries, including Leonardo Da Vinci. As she told the outlet, beauty isn't about having rigid standards that everyone has to adhere to. In fact, that's one reason why she insists that her voice is heard no matter what. She said, "So when I have a seat, I make sure my voice is heard. I stand up and speak up for those not heard."

Dr. Henry also points out that only three percent of dermatologists are Black, a statistic that she would love to see change. As she explained, the United States as a whole is becoming "browner" — and medical care providers need to be more culturally competent for the patients they will inevitably treat. Dr. Henry said, "We need to make sure that people are medically and culturally competent and care for every patient, regardless of their color, age, or background" (via The Cut).

You can find Dr. Henry on Instagram @drmichellehenry, where she regularly shares advice and tips with her audience of nearly 100,000.

Dr. Muneeb Shah has a reach on Instagram that totals almost one million followers and a combined social media reach of over 16 million across Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. Dr. Shah spends a lot of his time online responding to misinformation found on social media or offering advice to the millions who turn to him for skincare-related help.

In an April 2022 interview, he admitted to Byrdie that he believes a lot of make skincare too complicated. As he said, "I truly think that skincare is way too confusing" before adding that for him, there are three steps that make taking care of your skin easy: "Cleanse, treat and protect the skin."

Dr. Shah also believes that when it comes to layering products, there are only a handful that you need. He told Byrdie, "Have a three to four-step skincare routine that will target your concerns and be deliberate about your choices." This is advice that he backs up on Instagram, such as when in his video about sunscreen.

Like a lot of dermatologists on this list, Dr. Rose Ingleton uses her Instagram presence @rosemdskin in part to combat misinformation about skincare and what we can all do for better skin. In a 2018 interview with Vibe, she worked through seven common beliefs about taking care of skin and explained why each is or isn't correct. 

For example, many of us have been told that one way to clear up acne or eczema is to drink more water, and Dr. Ingleton does agree that water will help... but probably not as much as people have been told. As she put it, drinking more water has to be part of a plan that is more comprehensive than just that. She said, "You have to focus on what can it do for you. You can't use it to treat a skin condition. But for the general suppleness of your skin and level of hydration, it's fantastic."

She goes on to add that while many butters smell good and work, it turns out that shea and coconut butter might not be the end-all and be-all of skincare. At the very least, as she says, just because something is good for your legs does not mean it's good for your face (via Vibe).

Dr. Jennifer David has a less conventional path to dermatology. After working as a member of the 2004-2005 Philadelphia Eagles cheerleading team, she moved on to medical school, where she studied healthcare management and a Master of Business Administration from St. Joseph's University. She studied under Dr. Susa Taylor at school and began working toward a focus in treating skin of color (via Dermatology Partners).

Dr. David's Instagram audience isn't massive (yet), but her account @dr.jennifer.david does a lot toward dispelling skincare-related myths, offering real advice that works, and leveling the playing field for Black people and people of color who might not have access to great skincare advice. Like a lot of doctors, Dr. David encourages her followers (and all of us) to wear sunscreen, use vitamin C daily, and treat skin with a retinoid at night if possible (via Instagram).