ABSTRACT
The coronavirus epidemic 2019 is spreading all over the world now. Several parameters are used to monitor the status of hospitalized patients; however, monitoring variations in biophysical properties of the skin has not been investigated yet. In this preliminary study, we seek to monitor skin biophysical parameters among coronavirus patients for three days in a row. Skin moisture, pH, sebum, and temperature during the three days were monitored in 30 coronavirus patients by using non-invasive portable instruments. Skin biophysical parameters were increased on the third day of monitoring compared to the first one. In addition, the increase in both skin moisture and temperature were statistically significant. According to the results of this preliminary study, skin biophysical parameters changed (increased) during the specified period in which the patients were monitored. However, changes in skin sebum content and pH were not significant. These skin parameters need to be further investigated until we know their indication ability for the health condition of coronavirus patients in clinical applications.
ABSTRACT
Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has fostered many new patterns of behavior. One of the more popular strategies has been facialmask wearing. Outbreaks of skin reactions secondary to mask wearing have been commonplace findings in outpatient primary care offices and Conclusions: Facial mask wearing has been extensively utilized throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The classic mask is made of polypropylene, a non-woven fabric which is an effective barrier for transmission of viruses and other microorganisms (1). Materials such as cotton and polyester are also used. Some masks even contain copper and trace metals , so it is not unusual that ubiquitous mask wearing would increase the incidence of facial dermatoses (2).What we have observed is that these new facial eruptions have mimicked other known facial skin entities prompting referrals to specialty offices, misdiagnoses, patient misconceptions, and the potential initiation of erroneous treatments. These facial skin presentations, which we refer to as “mask dermatitis”, have brought about a new “masquarade syndrome”. Recent literature has described similar facial dermatoses which have been termed “maskne” (3). It is surmised that alterations in skin temperature, pH, and humidity apparently affect sebum secretion in the face leading to inflammatory changes (4). Although the analogy to acne is certainly plausible, we feel that our cases may be more consistent with contact dermatitis. We found that simply discontinuing mask wearing often resolves the facial outbreaks and prevents the need for unnecessary topical therapy, oral medications and needless surgical biopsies. In the wake of the recent COVID-19 pandemic, we feel strongly that “mask dermatitis” should be considered as part of the differential diagnosis in all patients presenting with facial skin eruptions.
ABSTRACT
During the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, regulatory agencies have attempted to figure out the possible routes of SARS-CoV-2 viral transmission. It is hypothesized that the lipid bilayer surrounding the SARS-CoV-2 improves its ability to remain stable on sebum-rich skin and serves as another possible route of contracting the virus. One possible aspect of these observations that has yet to be explored in detail is what role arthropods that have been associated with human skin infestation, such as Demodecidae or Pyemotidae species, play in viral transmission. It seems likely that arthropod-coronavirus interactions may take place through the molecular attraction forces between the chitin found on the exoskeleton of mites commonly found on human skin and the lipids present on the viral envelope of the SARS-CoV-2. We believe this may mean that arthropods are currently an overlooked cofactor in viral infection which may have some important biomedical implications for both prevention and treatment