A Bibliometric Analysis of Atopic Dermatitis Research over the Past Three Decades and Future Perspectives

Atopic dermatitis (AD) has been increasing in prevalence over the past few decades; however, AD has never been analyzed using a bibliometric approach. We searched for AD studies in the dermatology and allergy category of the Web of Science and SCOPUS databases using the keywords atopic dermatitis, eczema, and atopy. In total, 53,460 documents were retrieved. We analyzed annual publication trends and performed keyword and co-authorship network analyses. The annual number of AD publications has increased over the years. Asthma, food allergies, the skin barrier, IgE, and epidemiology have received extensive attention. The keywords 'allergic rhinitis', 'child(ren)', 'quality of life', and 'probiotics' have become more commonly used in recent years. AD research has been led by only a few countries, such as the USA, Germany, and the UK, and longstanding research topics such as asthma, allergy, and the immune system continue to be important. We suggest that global collaborations, research in developing countries, and research that is more holistic (thus exploring how genes, the immune system, the environment, and the microbiome together impact AD) are necessary.

Automated summary

Research on atopic dermatitis has been increasing in quantity over the years, with a focus on topics such as asthma, food allergies, skin barrier, and epidemiology. Keywords such as 'allergic rhinitis', 'child(ren)', 'quality of life', and 'probiotics' have become more commonly used in recent years. The research is predominantly led by countries like the USA, Germany, and the UK, with recommendations for global collaborations and more holistic research approaches.