title: Social networking sites: emerging and essential tools for communication in dermatology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The use of social media by dermatology journals and professional and patient-centered dermatology organizations remains largely unknown and, to our knowledge, has yet to be fully evaluated.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate and quantify the extent of involvement of dermatology journals, professional dermatology organizations, and dermatology-related patient advocate groups on social networking sites.
  
  
  METHODS
  We obtained an archived list of 102 current dermatology journals from SCImago on the World Wide Web and used the list to investigate Facebook, Twitter, and individual journal websites for the presence of social media accounts. We identified professional and patient-centered dermatology organization activity on social networks through queries of predetermined search terms on Google, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. The activity of each entity was documented by recording the following metrics of popularity: the numbers of Facebook "likes," Twitter "followers," and LinkedIn "members."
  
  
  METHODS
  The numbers of Facebook likes, Twitter followers, and LinkedIn members corresponding to each dermatology journal and each professional and patient-related dermatology organization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  On July 17, 2012, of the 102 dermatology journals ranked by SCImago, 12.7% were present on Facebook and 13.7% on Twitter. We identified popular dermatology journals based on Facebook likes and Twitter followers, led by the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology and Dermatology Times, respectively. Popular professional dermatology organizations included dermRounds Dermatology Network (11 251 likes on Facebook and 2900 followers on Twitter). The most popular dermatology patient-centered organizations were the Skin Cancer Foundation (20 119 likes on Facebook), DermaTalk (21 542 followers on Twitter), and the National Psoriasis Foundation (200 members on LinkedIn).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patient-centered and professional dermatology organizations use social networking sites; however, academic journals tend to lag behind significantly. Although some journals are active in social media, most have yet to recognize the potential benefits of fully embracing popular social networks.
authors.affiliation: A medical student at the School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora2currently with the Department of Medicine, Exempla St Joseph Hospital, Denver, Colorado.
authors.forename: Mahsa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Amir
authors.affiliation: medical student at the School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle4currently serving a University of Washington Department of Internal Medicine Boise Internal Medicine Residency, Boise, Idaho.
authors.forename: Blake P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Sampson
authors.affiliation: medical student at the Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Glendale, Arizona6currently with the Department of Internal Medicine, Banner Good Samaritan Medical Center, Phoenix, Arizona.
authors.forename: Dawnielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Endly
authors.affiliation: medical student at the School of Medicine, University of Hawaii, Honolulu8currently with the Department of Internal Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Jennifer M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tamai
authors.affiliation: medical student at the Midwestern University College of Osteopathic Medicine, Glendale, Arizona9currently with the Department of Medicine, Loyola Univerity Medical Center, Maywood, Illinois.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Henley
authors.affiliation: medical student at the College of Medicine, University of Arizona, Phoenix11currently serving a transitional year residency, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, Arizona.
authors.forename: Ann Chang
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Brewer
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora.
authors.forename: Jeffrey H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora.
authors.forename: Cory A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dunnick
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, School of Medicine, University of Colorado, Aurora13Dermatology Service, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver, Colorado14Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora.
authors.forename: Robert P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Dellavalle
mesh_terms: D003880:Dermatology; D058015:Health Communication / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010344:Patient Advocacy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D018802:Patient-Centered Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D010506:Periodicals as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D061108:Social Media / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012955:Societies, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*