‘Dr. Google, What Is That on My Skin?’—Internet Searches Related to Skin Problems: Google Trends Data from 2004 to 2019

Mikołaj Kamiński, Linda Tizek and Alexander Zink
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Mikołaj Kamiński: Individual Medical Practice, Bogdanowo, 64-600 Oborniki, Poland
Linda Tizek: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany
Alexander Zink: Department of Dermatology and Allergy, School of Medicine, Technical University of Munich, 80802 Munich, Germany

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 5, 1-12

Abstract: The Internet is a common source of health information as search engines propose websites that should answer users’ queries. The study aimed to investigate the search behavior of Google users related to skin clinical signs as well as to analyze their geographical, secular, and seasonal patterns. The data of Google Trends was used to analyze the number of Google searches related to skin problems from January 2004 to December 2019. Thirty-four topics representing dermatologic complaints were identified. The interests of all topics were calculated in proportion to the Relative Search Volume (RSV) of ‘Scar’. Geographical patterns as well as secular and seasonal trends were analyzed. Countries with few users who searched for skin problems were excluded from the analysis. Globally, gaining the most attention were ‘Itch’ proportion to RSV of ‘Itch’ (2.21), ‘Hair loss’ (1.56), ‘Skin rash’ (1.38), ‘Perspiration’ (1.32), and ‘Scar’ (1.00). In 42 of the 65 analyzed countries, ‘Itch’ was the most popular topic, followed by ‘Hair loss’ ( n = 7), and ‘Pustule’ ( n = 6). The RSV of all topics increases over time, with ‘Comedo’ (5.15 RSV/year), ‘Itch’ (4.83 RSV/year), and ‘Dandruff’ (4.66 RSV/year) being the most dynamic ones. For 23 topics, the highest interest was noted during warm months. Considering skin manifestations, Google users are mainly interested in itch, hair loss, and skin rash. An increasing number of individuals worldwide seem to use Google as a source of health information for dermatological clinical signs during the study period.

Keywords: Google Trends; Internet; skin manifestations; perspiration; pruritus; infodemiology (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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