Alopecia: A Google Trends Analysis of the Past 5 Years (2018-2023)

November 2024 in “ Skin Appendage Disorders ”

Lidiya N Todorova, Nicolas Kluger

alopecia alopecia areata telogen effluvium androgenetic alopecia frontal fibrosing alopecia

TLDR Google trends show varying interest in alopecia types, but it's not a reliable health measure.

The study analyzed Google trends data from 2018 to 2023 to assess public interest in various alopecia-related diagnoses. It found that search volumes for "alopecia" and "alopecia areata" remained stable, while "telogen effluvium" saw increased searches during 2020-2022. Interest in "androgenetic alopecia" and "frontal fibrosing alopecia" has grown over the past 5 years. Geographic differences were noted, with Middle Eastern countries showing more interest in alopecia areata, Latin American and Spanish-speaking countries in telogen effluvium, and Western countries in frontal fibrosing alopecia. The study concludes that while Google trends can provide insights into public interest, it is not a true epidemiological tool, as it only reflects searches by individuals with internet access and does not indicate the reasons behind the searches.

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