An Analysis of Dermatology-Related Red-Light Therapy Patient Questions on Reddit

Abstract

BACKGROUND Reddit is one of the world's most popular social media platforms and is increasingly used as a health information resource for patients on topics such as red-light (RL) therapy. OBJECTIVE In this article, the authors present an analysis of prevalent patient questions and concerns regarding RL therapy. METHODS All posts on the “Hot” page of the r/redlighttherapy subreddit were analyzed and categorized. RESULTS A total of 930 questions from 664 posts were analyzed. The most commonly asked question category was related to product recommendations or feedback (29.7%), followed by usage instructions (15.3%), safety and side effects (12.6%), and indications and efficacy (12.3%). CONCLUSION Understanding patient concerns and questions about RL, as expressed on online platforms like Reddit, can help clinicians improve patient satisfaction, education, and clinical outcomes. The study offers an innovative approach by using social media to uncover valuable patient insights that might not be easily observable within clinical settings.