Urticaria, scaly plaques, frostbite and redness have been observed in patients with persistent symptoms of Covid-19.
- Cutaneous manifestations are observed in patients with persistent symptoms of Covid-19
- Clinicians are encouraged to question Covid-19 patients to assess these symptoms
“The skin is potentially a visible window to inflammation that might be occurring in the body.” This is one of the conclusions that Esther E. Freeman, director of dermatology at the Massachusetts General Hospital, draws from the study presented at the 29th congress of the European Academy of Dermatology which shows that skin conditions are often present in Covid-19 patients with persistent symptoms.
Urticaria, scaly patches, chilblains or redness on the hands and feet – called “Covid toes” – have been observed in so-called “long haul” Covid-19 patients, those whose condition improves but who do not seem not fully recover from illness and who have had symptoms for at least 60 days.
A variable duration depending on the symptoms
The analysis performed by Massachusetts General Hospital evaluated one thousand patient cases with skin manifestations. Ninety cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed among them. The median duration of their symptoms was 12 days but highly variable depending on the form of the skin condition. Signs of urticaria were present for a median of 4 days with a maximum duration of 28 days, scaly patches a median of 20 days, and “Covid toes” a median of 15 days.
“We encourage clinicians caring for patients with Covid-19 to ask questions to assess skin symptoms and healthcare providers to enter information into the International Registry of Skin Manifestations of Covid-19 to deepen our understanding of the dermatological effects of the disease,” says Esther E. Freeman.
