Direct-to-consumer dermatology-related advertising differs in magazines targeted to women of color: A cross-sectional analysis of top-circulating consumer magazines

BACKGROUND: Advertisements for dermatology-related products in consumer magazines serve as a potential source of health literacy, which varies by demographic group. OBJECTIVE: This study sought to examine differences in advertisements for dermatology-related products in the top U.S. consumer magazines targeted at women of color compared with three other demographic groups: teenagers, adult women, and adult men. METHODS: Dermatology advertisements in the most circulated U.S. consumer magazines targeting these four demographic groups were analyzed. Descriptive statistics were obtained. Simple logistic regressions were used to compare the product indications, language used, and the sex, age, ethnicity, and skin type of models between magazine categories. Limitations of this study included that certain magazines could not be included due to a lack of accessibility, and subjective assessments were made when necessary because not all data collected were explicitly stated. RESULTS: Significant differences exist in print media advertising for women of color in comparison with other demographic groups, including skin-of-color magazines having an increased number of darker-skin models, more advertisements related to products that target pigmentation, and differences in advertisement word choices. CONCLUSION: The differences in print media advertising for women of color in comparison with other demographic groups may influence the dermatologic concerns of this population, including their dermatology-related knowledge base, grooming practices, beauty perceptions, and utilization of dermatology as a specialty.