Publication trends in vitiligo research from 1991 to 2024: a comprehensive bibliometric analysis

Over the last three decades, vitiligo research has expanded across clinical, genetic, and therapeutic domains. Accurate literature retrieval and bibliometric analysis are essential for identifying major themes and emerging topics within this field. A bibliometric analysis was conducted to identify vitiligo-related studies published between 1991 and 2024, using the Science Citation Index Expanded (SCIE) database. Using a "front page" strategy, articles containing "vitiligo" in the title, abstract, or author keywords were included. Extracted data encompassed titles, abstracts, and keywords to identify dominant research themes. Citation indicators, including total and annual citations, were used to assess impact and trends. Analyses were performed using Microsoft Excel 365. A total of 4,925 vitiligo articles were retrieved and divided into three periods: 1991-2010 (1,654); 2011-2018 (1,541); and 2019-2024 (1,730). The most frequent title word was "patients" (17%), while abstracts frequently included "patients" (63%), "skin" (46%), and "treatment" (41%). Prominent author keywords were "melanocytes", "autoimmunity", and a growing focus on "epidemiology". Increasing trends appeared for "immunotherapy" and "oxidative stress", while "efficacy", "prevalence", and "polymorphism" declined. Research is shifting toward molecular mechanisms and innovative therapies, offering guidance for future studies and improved disease understanding and management.