Social media platforms like YouTube are fast becoming the go-to medium for following experts in different fields and educating yourself in a fun and engaging way.
When it comes to dermatologists, YouTube has some awesome channels to follow to learn more about the specialty.
In this article, we’ll take a look at 6 of the best dermatology-related YouTube channels out there that not only provide amazing tips on how best to take care of your skin, nails, and hair, but also teach you about the important medical science behind it all too!
Ready to get started? Let’s go.
Feel like learning about dermatology from websites or free flashcards instead, follow the links!
Best Dermatologists on YouTube
Finding the best dermatology-related channels on the platform can be tricky if you don’t know exactly what to look for. Our recommendations look only at board-certified or qualified skin-care experts, so you can better trust the value and authoritativeness of the information provided.
Some of these names might be familiar to you, some of them may be new. If you’re just starting out on your journey to learn more about the field, these are the best places to get started leveling up your knowledge without spending a single cent.
1. Doctorly
- Subscribers: 1M
- Upload schedule: Approx. 2-3 days
- Started: 2020
The Doctorly YouTube channel follows Campbell University Dermatology Residents Dr. Muneeb Shah and Dr. Luke Maxfield, on their mission to educate the public on everything skincare.
Doctorly is something of a leading platform in the dermatology media space. Their rapidly growing Tiktok account (10 million followers and growing) and their active Instagram, are just two other places you can find this social-savvy pair.
Their channel is a mix of shorts and full-length vids that usually involve the two co-hosts discussing popular themes and topics in the dermatology world, debunking some of the pseudoscience out there, and road-testing popular skincare products.
Their most-watched video to date is “Doctor Reacts to Satisfying Pore Strips” (77M views), where Dr. Shah goes deep on the negative aspects of pore strips and instead offers medically-backed alternatives.
Topics covered on Doctorly:
- Skincare tips in-line with current trending ingredients (e.g. witch hazel)
- Product reviews
- Live Q and A’s
- Skincare management
- Treatment regimes
- USMLE/COMLEX explainers (tutorials for med students)
2. Dr. Dray
- Subscribers: 1.39M
- Upload schedule: Approx. daily
- Started: 2016
Dr. Dray (Andrea Suarez) is a Board Certified Dermatologist based in Houston, TX. She is a skincare expert that covers everything from vaping to the benefits of licorice serum. Her channel is an absolute treasure trove of derm-related info!
Over the course of her YT journey, Dr. Dray has amassed 204M views and well over a million subscribers who love her simplistic explanations breaking down some of the more complicated physiological areas of the specialty.
What’s cool about Dr. Dray is her unfiltered and genuine style when giving product feedback. Her review of “Selfless” by Hyram is a case in point – this amassed over 600K views!
Despite her busy upload schedule, she is also very active in the comments section of her vids and often replies to many of her viewers, doing her best to offer her expertise and answer questions.
Topics covered on Dr Dray:
- How to read ingredients from products
- Trending controversial derma topics (e.g Accutane)
- Cosmetic procedure explainers/advice (e.g. laser hair removal and electrolysis)
- Personal vlogs (e.g. diet/lifestyle tips)
- Product reviews (Top 10 lists/popular consumer-focused brands like Costco, Target, TJ MAXX, etc.)
- Answering common skincare questions
3. Dr. Shereene Idriss
- Subscribers: 254K
- Upload schedule: Approx. 4-5 days
- Started: 2011
Dr. Shereene Idriss is an NYC-based, board-certified dermatologist (working out of Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai) who delves into the world of skincare, hair, and even makeup!
Her channel started out with patients repeatedly coming to her with misinformation from social media. As a response, Dr. Idriss started making short videos on Instagram to help clear up some of these myths, and this eventually lead to her popular YouTube channel; Pillow Talk Derm.
In addition to her great content, Dr. Idriss’ website lists all the product recommendations made in her videos, detailing things like her “Top Picks for Exfoliating Acids” and “Top Summer Moisturizers” – super handy!
Her reaction video discussing Gwyneth Paltrow’s controversial skincare routine (614K views) is one of her most popular vids and showcases her direct but inoffensive approach when it comes to dispelling celebrity-touted myths.
What’s also great about Dr. Idriss is that she shares a lot of her personal stories when educating viewers. After suffering from COVID in 2020, for example, she talked about her experiences with hair loss and has since uploaded scientifically-backed hair care routines to help others.
One small criticism is that she recommends products on the expensive side, but as far as free information goes there’s no hard sales push or any assertion that you absolutely must go out and buy a specific item!
Dr. Idriss is also careful to only do brand collaborations with things she personally uses and recommends to patients. Her clinical focus is on acne, aging, botox and fillers, eczema, and more.
Topics covered by Shereene Idriss:
- Skincare routines for different skin types
- “Pillow Talk Derm Series”: educating viewers on different derm conditions (e.g, keratosis pilaris)
- Debunking skincare myths
- Honest reactions to celebrity routines and their product recommendations
4. The Budget Dermatologist
- Subscribers: 216K
- Upload schedule: Approx. once a week
- Started: 2020
The Budget Dermatologist is run by Dr. Maren Locke, a University of Florida board-certified dermatologist and founder of Carlyle Dermatology.
Dr. Locke helps many skin cancer patients using her expertise in Micrographic Surgery and Dermatologic Oncology.
As you can guess from the name, her channel is heavily centered on providing affordable skincare tips and product recommendations.
Her “4 Pillars of Skincare Routine” is a great place to start for newcomers and is popular for being super concise and easy to follow. It includes tips like building collagen, UV protection, and maintaining skin barrier health.
What’s also worth a watch is “Drugstore Anti-aging Skincare Routine” (1.19M views). Here Dr. Locke actually walks her viewers around a Florida drugstore, discussing the general products on sale, what works and what doesn’t.
The Budget Dermatologist is very active in her comments section and replies regularly to viewers concerning their skincare questions/complaints.
Topics covered by The Budget Dermatologist:
- “Derm Reviews” of products (e.g. sunscreens and cleansers)
- Drugstore product reviews
- Skincare routines
- Acne
- Cosmetic procedures
- Expert advice on various skin conditions
5. James Welsh
- Subscribers: 1.35M
- Upload schedule: Active
- Started: 2015
James Welshformer stylist
With a degree in Editorial and Advertising, he delves into how cosmetic and skincare brands market products using digital retouching and manipulation.
Viewers love the range of brands James displays on his channel. His Korean skincare videos helped introduce his audience to great new brands that can help transform skin. If you want a diverse product selection and discussion, combined with unfiltered reviews, this channel is perfect!
If you are interested in how brands and influencers use filters to lie to the public, this channel goes deep on that. James’ most popular video, “Instagram vs Reality- Beauty Guru Influencer” (973K views) cuts through a lot of the noise.
He has collaborated with several Youtubers in the past like Mehdi the Jipdori and James Welsh, bringing a more fun aspect to his channel.
Full disclosure on whether products are sponsored or personally paid for is always given. It’s a simple thing but often hidden by many influencers to not appear biased to their audience.
Topics covered by James Welsh:
- Ranking celebrity/Youtuber skincare advice
- Viral Tiktok trials
- Skincare Routines
- “The Best of Skincare” (highlighting top products from various brands)
- Solving common skincare problems (e.g. oily skin and dark circles)
6. Dr. Sam Bunting
- Subscribers: 183K
- Upload schedule: Approx. weekly
- Started: 2007
Dr. Sam Bunting is the go-to dermatologist for top celebrities in the UK. Working out of Harley Street Clinic, and trained under the Royal College of Physicians (with a medical degree from Cambridge University), she is a seasoned professional in her field.
What’s unique about Dr. Sam Bunting is her intriguing customer feedback system; a closed Facebook group with 22K members who review her formulations and products before going to market.
Despite being one of the older Youtube veterans on this list, her channel is still posting regularly. Her most viewed video to date is “5 Things This Dermatologist Would NEVER Do” (652.1K views), a video that dispels common advice (arguing against oils, exfoliation, etc.) that most people assume to be useful.
Sticking to the facts instead of trends is the formula behind Dr. Sam Bunting’s YouTube longevity.
Her passionate nature and genuine appreciation of followers (she also runs giveaways) make her a great person to follow to help stay informed about what works (and what doesn’t) in the world of dermatology and cosmetics.
Topics covered by Dr. Sam Bunting:
- Dr. Sam’s Beauty Hacks
- Acne advice
- Pore Series
- Ingredient explainers (e.g. azelaic acid and retinoids)
- Product recommendations
Final Thoughts
Dermatology channelsYouTube
Maybe videos can’t replace good old-fashioned textbooks but, by combining innovation and creativity with the goal of educating the public, they definitely can present crucial derm-related info in an accessible and easy-to-understand way.
The videos above are the perfect place to start leveling up your skincare/derm knowledge.
Hey guys, I’m Sumran. I’m a British 5th-year international medical student at the Medical University of Varna, Bulgaria. I transitioned straight from completing my A-Levels into university. Currently, I have interests in Psychiatry and Gastroenterology. Outside of medicine, I enjoy reading crime novels and visiting art exhibitions.
