When Cayman dermatologist Dr. Nevianna Bordet scrolls through TikTok, what she sees makes her skin crawl. Influencers with no medical training promoting pricey products to teens, layering acids and serums with abandon – with thousands of likes.
“There are a lot of influencers with no qualifications who are paid money to promote certain products,” she said. “That’s a big concern to me. Also, there’s misinformation from people documenting their journey. As a consumer, you look at all these TikToks, and they tell you either the massive success stories or the massive disasters.”
Instead of simply shaking her head, Bordet – a mother of five who joined the team at Integra Healthcare less than a year ago after over 15 years as a consultant dermatologist in the UK – decided to fight fire with fire. She’s launched her own channel, @doctorskinmum, to answer questions, debunk myths and give teens a safe place to get real advice about their skin.
“As much as I personally do not like TikTok, I feel I have had to start an account to reach the teen demographic and dispel the misinformation out there,” she said, encouraging Cayman’s teens to visit her page and send her their toughest skincare questions, “so they can be addressed by a professional”.
Her timing couldn’t be better. A study recently showed how harmful TikTok’s viral routines can be. Researchers found girls as young as 7 are already using an average of six products a day, with some piling on more than a dozen – a regimen costing about $168 a month and in some cases more than $500. The top-viewed videos contained an average of 11 potentially irritating active ingredients.
Bordet says she’s already seeing the consequences of misinformation in Cayman. Acne is being brushed off as “normal” and left untreated until it causes permanent scarring. “One spot is allowed,” she said. “But a face full of acne or bumps on your skin, or anything that ruins your confidence, has a knock-on effect on mental health, and it’s so easily treatable.”
She warns that untreated acne can escalate, leaving deep “ice pick” scars or raised keloids that last a lifetime. The island’s tropical climate makes things even worse. Thick sunscreens clog pores, while sweat and pollution add fuel to the fire.
Meanwhile, a constant stream of filtered images and beauty hacks on social media are fuelling impossible standards. “I’ve had teens asking for Botox and lip fillers,” Bordet revealed. “They believe everyone else looks perfect and that has a huge impact on their psychology.”
@doctorskinmum Please ask me ANY skin questions you have! I set up this account because as a mum my kids ask me every day for skin help and I want to spread the knowledge on further. I would love to be TikTok’s skin mum! #fyp #dermatologist #foryou #questions ♬ original sound – doctorskin
Drugs to treat acne
Bordet’s TikTok channel also tackles what she sees as one of the riskiest trends on island: the mismanagement of retinoid drug Accutane – also known as Roaccutane or Isotretinoin – for acne.
“Here in Cayman, I’m finding anybody can issue Accutane,” she said. “And sadly, if you’re not experienced with that drug, you don’t know the careful monitoring it needs. Without blood tests, without proper counselling, patients can run into serious trouble.”
The side effects can range from cracked lips and nosebleeds to rare cases of depression, muscle aches, liver problems and – if taken during pregnancy – severe birth defects.
Even more worrying, some teens are bypassing doctors altogether. Bordet’s colleague Dr. Alison Duncan recently warned that young people have been buying Accutane online.
“It’s risky,” Bordet said, noting cases where Accutane was prescribed at the wrong dose or for too short a time, causing acne to flare up again. She highlights alternatives – from tablets like spironolactone and gut-friendly antibiotics to the contraceptive pill, which she discusses in a TikTok post on ‘the best contraception for your skin‘.
Vitamin D deficiencies
Another surprise for Bordet since moving from the UK has been how many Cayman patients show low vitamin D levels, despite Cayman’s year-round sunshine. She says it’s often driven by the misconception that people should avoid the sun entirely.
“The safe amount of sun exposure is different for each person. If in doubt, come see us – we’ll tell you what’s right for you,” she said.
Her message: Don’t wait, don’t wing it and don’t take TikTok at face value. “Mild acne can be stopped in its tracks with the right care,” she said. “If you leave it, it doesn’t just go away – it can scar you for life. Literally.”
By stepping onto the same platform where misinformation spreads, Bordet hopes to change the conversation. And if that means becoming Cayman’s first dermatologist TikTok star, she’s ready for the challenge.
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