The new trend of interactive web communities and social media brings some wonderful opportunities for community as well as some areas to be cautious of. People suffering from a medical condition or an allergy can now communicate with others. There is a great opportunity for brainstorming and information sharing. People can find out what treatments have been effective for others. Methods such as email groups, Facebook fan pages, Twitter, and interactive forums make this type of information sharing very accessible.

However, here are some things to be cautious of with social media:

• Know who is in charge of the group. Several drug companies have come under fire for starting seeming patient support groups, but peppering them with marketing material. It’s ok to learn from a pharmaceutical company-just as long as you are aware of where the information is coming from.



• Be cautious of giving out personal information. Privacy in a big concern in this area. You may be posting on a seemingly innocuous support forum that you have a particular medical condition, but it is still available in the public arena. Be an educated consumer. Facebook has very specific privacy settings as do other websites, but not everyone has an easy time understanding them. If you are uncertain, use just your first name and an anonymous email account from sites such as Yahoo or Gmail.



• It is very difficult for health care providers to give advice online as the laws in this area are foggy. If you do want medical advice, ask more for general guidelines and overall knowledge rather than specific treatment advice.



• Just because it’s on the internet does not make it true. Thoroughly research any information gained and always consult with your health care provider as needed.

Overall, social media is a wonderful way to learn and share with a greater community. People with unusual allergies can find others and share techniques for how to thrive in the world. With a little dose of caution, allergy sufferers will find a wealth of knowledge and tips online.