A Scientometric Analysis of Research on Sunscreen, Benzene, and Skin Cancer: Trends and Spatiotemporal Dynamics
Fran Espinoza-Carhuancho, Sebastián Contreras, Arnaldo Munive-Degregori, Cesar Mauricio-Vilchez, Lucia Quispe-Tasayco, Frank Mayta-TovalinoAbstract
Background:
This bibliometric and scientometric study sought to analyze the scientific output on sunscreen, benzene, and skin cancer. Also, how research has progressed through the years, the collaboration of authors and countries, and the relevant trends and highly dominant in recent years.
Methods:
Based on an analysis of secondary data from the Scopus database, the data was not considered by an ethical committee. Data were collected from the Scopus database between January 2019 and March 2025. The data were processed using the filters and tools SciVal, R Studio, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix to visualize the thematic evolution and collaboration network at the international level.
Results:
During the period studied (2019–2025), 211 documents from 162 sources were analyzed. Scientific production showed a negative annual growth rate (−11.51%), meaning that scientific knowledge in this field may be declining. The University of Ottawa had an impact factor and, therefore, average document citations of 20.8, but King’s College London had the highest number of publications, indicating the university with the most publication output. The
Conclusion:
Throughout the observation period, a shift in research focus was apparent. At the start of the study, the emphasis was on the terms “melanoma” and “skin cancer,” however, later in the study, prevention and sunscreen were more frequently discussed. There was a moderate amount of international collaboration involving some collaborations between Australia and the United Kingdom and Spain and Italy. The research networks were largely in North America and Europe, which is consistent with the knowledge geography of the area.