TY - JOUR
T1 - COVID-19 Protection Strategies
T2 - Lessons Learned About Epidermal Barrier Function and the Significance of Optimized Skin Care
AU - Kircik, Leon
AU - Del Rosso, James Q.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2024.
PY - 2024/4
Y1 - 2024/4
N2 - Initially categorized as primarily a respiratory disease, COVID-19 can involve other organ systems and may have direct skin manifestations, including exanthems, morbilliform eruption, generalized urticaria, or pseudo-chilblains —commonly called “COVID Toes.” Frequent handwashing and prolonged wearing of face masks and shields in efforts to minimize transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID, has given rise to indirect skin manifestations of COVID. “Maskne” and handwashing dermatitis are particularly common among healthcare workers. Characterized by skin inflammation, dryness, pruritus, and other symptoms, these conditions are fundamentally disorders of skin barrier dysfunction. This dysfunction may result from the combination of mechanical skin damage, changes in skin pH, reductions in skin lipids attributable to protection measures, and local alterations in the cutaneous microbiome. Strategies to manage these conditions focus on reversing and repairing skin barrier damage with preventative general measures, optimized skin care with the selection of proper products, eliminating irritant exposures, and avoiding certain medications, such as topical corticosteroids, that may further impair barrier function despite temporary improvement in signs and symptoms.
AB - Initially categorized as primarily a respiratory disease, COVID-19 can involve other organ systems and may have direct skin manifestations, including exanthems, morbilliform eruption, generalized urticaria, or pseudo-chilblains —commonly called “COVID Toes.” Frequent handwashing and prolonged wearing of face masks and shields in efforts to minimize transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the novel coronavirus that causes COVID, has given rise to indirect skin manifestations of COVID. “Maskne” and handwashing dermatitis are particularly common among healthcare workers. Characterized by skin inflammation, dryness, pruritus, and other symptoms, these conditions are fundamentally disorders of skin barrier dysfunction. This dysfunction may result from the combination of mechanical skin damage, changes in skin pH, reductions in skin lipids attributable to protection measures, and local alterations in the cutaneous microbiome. Strategies to manage these conditions focus on reversing and repairing skin barrier damage with preventative general measures, optimized skin care with the selection of proper products, eliminating irritant exposures, and avoiding certain medications, such as topical corticosteroids, that may further impair barrier function despite temporary improvement in signs and symptoms.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85189881202&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.36849/JDD.7862
DO - 10.36849/JDD.7862
M3 - Article
C2 - 38564396
AN - SCOPUS:85189881202
SN - 1545-9616
VL - 23
SP - 244
EP - 248
JO - Journal of Drugs in Dermatology
JF - Journal of Drugs in Dermatology
IS - 4
ER -