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A decade-long bibliometric analysis revealed rising global interest in atopic dermatitis–related itch, with an emerging focus on neural mechanisms and novel therapies.  

Researchers conducted a retrospective study published in the June 2025 issue of Frontiers in Medicine to analyze research trends and key focus areas in atopic dermatitis (AD) related itch over the past decade.  

They identified publications on AD–related itch from 2014 to 2023 using the Science Citation Index-Expanded within the Web of Science Core Collection. A bibliometric and visual analysis was performed to evaluate annual publication trends, contributing countries, institutions, journals, authors, co-cited references, and keywords. The VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the bibliometric online analysis platform were utilized for data processing and visualization.  

The results showed that a total of 2,534 articles and reviews related to AD–associated itch were retrieved. The volume of publications increased consistently from 2014 to 2023. The United States emerged as the most influential country in this research area. Among contributors, Simpson et al. were identified as the most productive authors.  

Investigators concluded that research over the past decade primarily focused on barrier function, itch mechanisms, sensory neurons, and treatment strategies in atopic dermatitis, with ongoing trends centered on itch pathways and emerging therapeutics. 

Source: frontiersin.org/journals/medicine/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1503312/full