The relationship among self-image, skin, and the extensive use of social interaction technologies imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has expanded the use of social interaction technologies, connecting individuals virtually. This change has brought a new trend of dissatisfaction with appearance induced by social media, motivating the excessive search for aesthetic procedures.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact generated by the use of apps during the pandemic on the self-image of respondents by biological sex, age, and family income.
METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study with 350 participants, aged 18 years or older, residing in the state of São Paulo - Brazil, through online dissemination of an electronic form. The data obtained were tabulated and analyzed by chi-square and Cochran tests, crossing the variables income, age, and biological sex.
RESULTS: Of the total, 69.71% claim changes in the way they see themselves physically during the pandemic; 58.3% report that apps influence their self-image, as 70.6% of the answers are women between 18- 29 years old; 73.9% of women of all ages and incomes recognized the importance of skin for self-image, with this finding being discrepant among the age groups of men.
CONCLUSIONS: The use of apps during the pandemic impacted the self-image of the participants leading them to have a greater interest in obtaining future treatments and aesthetic procedures.

Keywords: Dermatology; Self-image; COVID-19; Social isolation