CoviDerma- Skin Problems due to Covid-19 – By Dr. Shilpi Bansal MD Dermatologist.
CoviDerma- Skin Problems due to Covid-19
– By Dr. Shilpi Bansal MD Dermatologist.
Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, popularly known as Covid-19, is better known to all than any other disease. Covid has led the world into turmoil. Not only in the sense of economy and freedom but also with regard to health of the human beings. With advancement in medicines and vaccination, Covid-19 is being brought under control with high drop in the fatalities. But does it end there? Covid-19 brings along with it other problems such as drop in immunity and change in lifestyle. Covid-19 has been mainly been dealt with symptomatically which is predominantly characterised by respiratory and flu like symptoms like cough, breathlessness, fever, malaise, etc. But as the COVID 19 continued for longer time newer symptoms like loss of taste and smell, skin manifestations were also noted. Here we discuss various skin issues brought upon by Covid-19 on individuals irrespective of the fact that they have contracted Covid or not.
Causes for skin problems in Covid
Our body responds to every change in lifestyle with skin being a predominant indicator. No other disease had as big an impact as Covid has. It has altered our lifestyle and the way we carry ourselves. Covid-19 assisted by Lockdowns has brought about three main changes in our movement and behaviour:
Wearing Facemasks
Use of Sanitizers
Screen time exposure to televisions, mobiles and Laptops.
Different Skin Problems due to Covid-19
The main cause of the following disease and disorders is Covid-19 or lifestyle changes due to Covid 19.
1) Maskne/ Face Mask Acne: It has been observed and studied that portion of the skin covered by face masks have higher incidences acne than other portions of the skin. It has been mainly attributed to two causes i.e higher temperature and humidity inside the face mask and Pilosebaceous duct occlusion due to local pressure on the skin from the close-fitting masks. Type of mask does not affect occurrence of Maskne and it mostly affects cheeks, chin and bridge of the nose due to pressure from mask.
Symptoms: Icthy skin, oily skin, appearance of comedone, papules on cheek and nose.
Recommendations: To mitigate the chances of Maskne :-
– Limit the time of wearing mask while being safe.
– Places gauze inside masks to absorb excess water vapor
exhaled.
– Patients with oily skin should wipe face 3-4 times a day.
If the problem persists or aggravate consult dermatologist for treatment.
2) Contact Dermatitis: Contact dermatitis is a skin rash caused by use of a certain substance. A substance might irritate skin and trigger an allergic reaction which causes Contact Dermatitis. This allergic reaction and disorder has increased due to use of the Sanitizers. Allergic hand eczema is caused by increased use of soap and Sanitizers. Sanitizers damage the natural skin barrier. Symptoms: Fissures on skin, edema (swelling), superficial cracks, bleeding (in some cases),redness. Recommendations: To mitigate the chances of Contact dermatitis:-
– Use Moisturizers containing sanitizers
– Using moisturizers after washing hands with soap or sanitizer
– Pat-dry your hands after washing.
Consult dermatologist for topical steroids or oral steroid depended on severity of the disorder.
3) Hyperpigmentation: Lockdown has forced everybody to increase their screen time for work as well as entertainment. Effects of screen time of eyes are well known but on skin are considered insignificant. Blue light from the screen damages are skin too. It damages the skin and in some cases destroys some cells.
Symptoms: Skin redness, signs of aging and hyperpigmentation(patches of dark colour skin).
Recommendations: To mitigate the chances of Hyperpigmentation:-
– Use Moisturizers/ mineral sunscreens to protect your skin.
– Swap out standard LED bulbs with ones that emit less blue light
– Limit the amount of blue light emitted from device.
Consult dermatologist for ways to remove hyperpigmentation from the skin.
4) Urticaria: Aside from the general pneumonia like symptoms in Covid patient, rise of cases with Urticarial eruption has been noticed. Urticaria (also called Hives or nettle rash) are red itchy welts formed on skin as result of skin reaction. It is skin rash triggered by medicine, food or any other irritant causing such reaction or physical triggers like cold, sweat, stress, infection, etc.
Symptoms: Red skin welts, itching, size varies from 1 mm to many cm.
Recommendations: To mitigate the chances of Urticaria:-
– Avoid the identified trigger substance.
– Avoid wearing tight clothing
– Avoid alcohol, aspirin and NSAIDs
Consult dermatologist for ways to manage and treat Urticaria.
5) Folliculitis: Protective gear has become a necessity due to pandemic. Protective gear such as mask is sine qua non to stay in public place but it also results in perfect environment for fungus and bacteria to proliferate on skin. Folliculitis is a condition where hair follicles become inflamed and infected.
The pressure from protective gear on skin and hair follicles is one of the major
causes for the disorder. Symptoms: Blisters, White pimple around hair follicles, itching, pain, etc.
Recommendations: To mitigate the chances of Folliculitis:-
– Wash face before wearing masks and after removing them..
– Cloth masks should be washed properly with soap and hot water.
– Keep yourself clean and avoid itching to prevent it spreading.
Consult dermatologist for ways to manage and treat Folliculitis.
6) Herpes Zoster: Herpes zoster represents a cutaneous viral condition caused by reactivation of varicella zoster dormant at the dorsal root ganglia of cutaneous nerve endings following a primary early episode of chicken pox. The clinical presentation of HZ at the time of the current pandemic even in patients giving mild or no suggestive history of upper respiratory symptoms should be considered as an alarming sign for a recent subclinical SARS CoV2 infection.
Symptoms: Multiple painful unilateral vesicles, and ulceration, sing of single dermatome innervated by single dorsal root or cranial sensory ganglion. Recommendations: Consult dermatologist at earliest to treat Herpes zoster and prevent it from advancing.
7) Dermatophytosis: It is also called as Ringworm or Tinea. It is fungal skin infection which has increased due to use of protective gear. Prolonged mask usage to protect against Covid-19 has led to rise in number of Tinea infection to be called as Mask tinea. Humid microenvironment and sweating inside mask makes it perfect environment for fungus to strive
.
Symptoms: Rashes, scaly skin, redness, itchiness. Recommendations: To mitigate the chances of Dermatophytosis:-– Wash face before wearing masks and after removing them..
– Cloth masks should be washed properly with soap and hot water.
– Keep yourself clean and avoid itching to prevent it spreading.
Consult dermatologist for ways to manage and treat Dermatophytosis.
Takeaways
Covid-19 has not only affected our lungs and lifestyle but also increased advent of various skin complications and disorders. Some skin disorders are even symptoms of Covid-19. of various skin complications and disorders. Some skin disorders are even symptoms of Covid-19. Skin is primary indicator of overall health. Skin disorders must not be overlooked, especially since pandemic. Compromised immunity due to Covid can result in worsening the skin problem. Consult dermatologist at Elite Clinic to know more about your skin problem.
