Abstract
BACKGROUND: Skin cancer incidence is rising globally. This study assessed search behavior for basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and melanoma in Türkiye using Google® Trends. METHODS: We analyzed search volume index (SVI) data from Google® Trends and examined associations with education, Internet access, geography, seasonality, and socioeconomic indicators. RESULTS: BCC had the highest search volume, followed by melanoma and SCC. SCC was the only cancer with a significant upward trend (p<0.001). No seasonal or monthly variation was observed. BCC search volumes correlated with gross domestic product (GDP) (p=0.038) and socioeconomic development levels (SDL) (p=0.018). SCC and melanoma searches also correlated with SDL (p=0.003, p=0.017). SCC searches further increased with high school (p=0.017) and university graduation rates (p=0.003) but showed a negative association with annual ultraviolet (UV) radiation (p=0.002). No significant associations with UV exposure or education were observed for BCC or melanoma. CONCLUSIONS: Skin cancer search volumes in Türkiye are shaped primarily by socioeconomic development, education, and digital access. The inverse SCC-UV association suggests a gap between biological risk and public awareness. Awareness campaigns should be regionally tailored to enhance engagement and prevention strategies.