JMIR Med Inform. 2026 Mar 6. doi: 10.2196/77651. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Fractional carbon dioxide (CO₂) laser resurfacing is widely used for the treatment of scars and photoaging. In recent years, public interest in minimally invasive aesthetic procedures has grown, influenced by social media exposure and changing beauty norms. However, data quantifying population-level attention to CO₂ laser treatments in Germany are limited.
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to assess the long-term trajectory and seasonal patterns of public information-seeking behavior regarding fractional CO₂ laser treatments in Germany from January 2020 to December 2025 using Google Trends data.
METHODS: Monthly normalized search volume (NSV) for the category “Health” and the term “CO2 laser” was retrieved for the period January 2020 to December 2025. Seasonal-Trend decomposition (STL) using LOESS (locally estimated scatterplot smoothing) was applied to isolate the long-term trend from seasonal fluctuations. The significance of the upward trajectory was assessed using linear regression on the extracted trend component, and seasonal differences were evaluated via the seasonal component amplitude.
RESULTS: Public interest in CO₂ lasers increased significantly, with the annual mean NSV rising from 15.0 in 2020 to 68.1 in 2025. Regression analysis of the STL trend component revealed a steady, statistically significant monthly increase (slope = 0.87 NSV/month; 95% CI 0.83-0.92; P< .001). Furthermore, a robust seasonal pattern was identified (P< .001), with search interest consistently peaking in winter (January mean seasonal deviation = +13.8) and reaching a nadir during the summer months (August deviation = -14.4).
CONCLUSIONS: Digital information-seeking behavior regarding fractional CO₂ laser treatments in Germany increased by 354% over the past six years, accompanied by consistent, clinically relevant seasonal peaks in winter. These findings reflect broader shifts in aesthetic awareness. The identified temporal patterns provide valuable insights for timing educational messaging, managing patient inquiries, and addressing safety considerations in aesthetic medicine.
PMID:41793085 | DOI:10.2196/77651
