There is no cure for herpes or HPV, so why are so many wellness influencers selling them?
We’re living in a dangerous time where health misinformation is prioritized over evidenced-based practice.
This impacts many industries and professions, and ultimately, the population as a whole. But for my Substack today, I wrote about how the culture of health misinformation impacts STI stigma.
A recent study of TikTok videos found that 78% of STI treatment content included incorrect information. This is especially dangerous as more and more people see social platforms like TikTok as their go-to search engine.
The wellness industry profits off false “miracle cures,” predatory marketing, unqualified “coaches,” and medical misinformation.
When people are diagnosed with an STI, like herpes for example, they’re almost immediately placed in a vulnerable state because of the impact of stigma. This makes falling for these grifters’ promises that much more appealing, no matter who is selling it or what their qualifications are.
My commitment to you is, and has always been, to provide you with access to medically accurate and evidence-based resources. I will not pretend to have an answer if I don’t know it, but I’ll do my best to find one. I will not tolerate misinformation or BS when it comes to this community. I will not pretend to be someone I’m not or practice outside my scope, but will connect you to people I recommend and trust. I will not sell you a quick fix or pretend one exists (even for stigma).
More later, but you can read my latest article on Substack💌