Evolution of Acne Research Based on Top-Cited Articles

According to a study published in Medicine, there are shifting trends of acne research over the last decade, with research on acne flourishing.

Researchers conducted a comprehensive search of the Web of Science database on August 8, 2023, using terms such as "acne," "acne vulgaris," and "common acne," identified the top 100 most cited articles from 2014 to 2023. These articles were then analyzed using bibliometric tools, including CiteSpace 6.2.R4, VOSviewer 1.6.18, and MapChart.

The findings revealed that the top 100 articles, cited between 50 and 712 times, were published from 2014 to 2021 and originated from 48 different countries, with the United States and Germany being the most prominent contributors. Brigitte Dreno, MD, PhD, from Nantes University, was identified as the most frequently cited author. The Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology was the leading journal, contributing 12 articles to the top 100 list.

Key terms frequently mentioned in these articles included "Cutibacterium acnes," "sebaceous," "Western diet," "antibiotic resistance," "Staphylococcus epidermidis," "insulin-like growth factor 1," "benzoyl peroxide," and "polyunsaturated fatty acids," indicating major research areas and focal points in acne studies.

“The related pathogenesis and therapeutic strategies have been the focus of current research and developmental trends in future research,” the authors concluded.

Reference
Wei L, Zhang B, Wang L, Liu A. Mapping the evolution of acne research based on 100 top-cited articles: a bibliometric analysis of trends and hotspots from 2014 to 2023. Medicine (Baltimore). 2024;103(21):e37657. doi:10.1097/MD.0000000000037657