Research Trends and Hotspots in Female Pattern Hair Loss: A Bibliometric Study.

BACKGROUND

Female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is a common yet understudied condition with significant psychosocial impacts. Understanding global research trends and emerging topics in FPHL is essential for guiding future investigations.

AIMS: This bibliometric analysis aimed to provide an overview of key trends, influential contributors, and evolving research themes in FPHL from 1957 to 2024.

PATIENTS/

METHODS

Publications related to FPHL were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. Bibliometric analysis and visualization were performed using VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the R package "bibliometrix."

RESULTS

The study analyzed 488 publications authored by 2165 researchers across 189 journals. The USA led in publication output and citations, followed by China and South Korea. Leading institutions included the Egyptian Knowledge Bank, University of Melbourne, and National Taiwan University. Shapiro Jerry was the most prolific author. The Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology had the highest publication count, whereas the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology was the most cited. Keyword analysis identified emerging hotspots, such as "mechanisms," "management," and "safety," with growing interest in "scalp," "association," and "telogen effluvium."

CONCLUSIONS

This study highlights the global research landscape of FPHL, emphasizing the focus on treatment efficacy, safety, and underlying mechanisms. Future research may prioritize accurate diagnostic methods and risk factor exploration.