J Drugs Dermatol. 2026 Jul 1;25(7):629-631. doi: 10.36849/JDD.10055.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Pigmentary disorders, particularly hyperpigmentation, disproportionately affect individuals with skin of color and are associated with significant psychosocial burden. Despite their global prevalence, real-time data on public awareness and interest remain limited. Digital tools such as Google Trends offer a novel approach to assessing public interest in dermatologic conditions.
METHODS: Google Trends was used to evaluate public interest in hyperpigmentation-related terms such as “hyperpigmentation”, “pigmentation”, “skin brightening”, “brown spots”, and “dark spot treatment” from January 2004 to October 2025. Data were analyzed for the United States (US) and globally using relative search volume (RSV), a normalized scale from 0-100 representing peak popularity within a defined region and time frame. Temporal trends, seasonal variation, and geographical distribution were assessed.
RESULTS: Across all terms, RSV demonstrated a sustained increase over time both domestically and globally. “Pigmentation” and “hyperpigmentation” consistently showed the highest search interest, with a marked spike in “hyperpigmentation” in early 2025. “Brown spots” exhibited seasonal peaks during the summer months. In the US, the highest relative search interest for “brown spots” was observed in southern states, including South Carolina, Alabama, and Tennessee. Globally, countries such as Ghana, Nigeria, and Mauritius frequently ranked highly across multiple terms.
CONCLUSION: Public interest in pigmentary disorders has increased significantly over the past two decades. Google Trends provides valuable insight into consumer awareness and information-seeking behavior, highlighting potential gaps in education and access to dermatologic care. These findings may inform targeted public health initiatives and culturally responsive interventions for populations disproportionately affected by pigmentary conditions.  .
PMID:42406343 | DOI:10.36849/JDD.10055
