A Bibliometric Analysis of the Top 100 Most-Cited Articles on Central Centrifugal Cicatricial Alopecia

Background: Central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia (CCCA) is a progressive scarring alopecia that disproportionately impacts Black women. Although research interest in CCCA has grown over time, trends among the most influential publications and the representation of skin of color disparities within the literature have not been systematically evaluated. Objective: The objective of this study was to characterize publication trends, influential contributors, thematic foci, and the representation of skin of color disparities among the top 100 most-cited publications on CCCA. Methods: A bibliometric search was conducted on 1 April 2026 using the Scopus database. The top 100 most-cited publications related to CCCA were identified and analyzed systematically. Co-authorship and keyword co-occurrence analyses were performed using VOSviewer. Representation of skin of color disparities was assessed through keyword-based content analysis of titles, abstracts, and keywords with manual verification. Results: The top 100 most-cited publications on CCCA accumulated a total of 4588 citations and were published between 1968 and 2025. Publication output increased over time, with the greatest number of publications occurring in 2014 and 2018. The most prolific author was M. Miteva, while the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology was the leading publishing journal, and the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and Wake Forest University School of Medicine were the top contributing institutions. Sixty-four percent of publications specifically discussed disparities associated with CCCA. Conclusion: The 100 most-cited publications reflect the substantial advancement of our scientific understanding of CCCA. However, CCCA remains comparatively under-represented within hair research, highlighting a need for continued pursuit of high-quality, equity-centered investigation.