Abstract
BACKGROUND
Dermatologic surgery research has expanded significantly, but comprehensive analysis of recent publication trends is needed to guide future priorities.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to analyze publication trends in dermatologic surgery from 2014 to 2024, examining volume, article types, geographic distribution, and journal outlets.
METHODS
A PubMed search identified publications using “dermatology” and “surgery,” filtered for English-language human studies including clinical trials, letters, meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials (RCTs), and systematic reviews. Linear regression evaluated temporal trends (
p
RESULTS
Among 8,245 publications across 696 journals, volume peaked at 1,078 articles in 2020 before declining to 572 in 2023. Meta-analyses, RCTs, and systematic reviews increased significantly, with strong correlations for meta-analyses (R
2
= 76.3%) and systematic reviews (R
2
= 90.2%). Top journals included
Dermatologic Surgery
(
n
= 1,390),
JEADV
(
n
= 1,294), and
JAAD
(
n
= 1,224). Research spanned 58 countries, led by the United States.
CONCLUSION
Dermatologic surgery shows robust growth in evidence-based research, although postpandemic declines and geographic disparities warrant attention to sustain momentum and global collaboration.