The Effects of Changing Lifestyle and Daily Behaviours in the First Months of COVID-19 Outbreak on Dermatological Diseases: Retrospective Cross-Sectional Observational Study

ABSTRACT

Objective: COVID-19 disease caused panic, fear of death, anxiety in people at the beginning of pandemic. This situation has dramatically changed people's lifestyle and daily behavior. The aim of our study was to determine the effects of changing lifestyle and daily behaviours on dermatological diseases in the first months of outbreak. Material and Methods: The diagnosis of the first patient with COVID- 19 in Turkey was established on 11 March 2020.In the same period, between 11 March and 30 April of 2020 and 2019, 454 versus 2.903 patients were admitted to the dermatology outpatient clinic and included in the study. The rates of dermatological diseases were compared. Pearson's chi-square test was used for statistical analysis. Results: Most of the patients were women (59.2 and 64.8%), and the average ages of the patients were 36.6±17.5 and 35.1±18.2 years for these time periods. Although admission to the hospital for those under 20 years of age due to curfew was decreased (16.8-10.1%), acne frequency increased (18.6- 21.1%, p=0.198). The frequency of psoriasis among papulosquamous diseases significantly increased (p=0.016). Urticaria (4.33-9.47%, p<0.001), drug eruptions (0.17-1.32%, p<0.001), and dermatitis and eczema (25.52-30.44%, p=0.025) significantly increased. The frequency of alopecia areata among hair disorders significantly increased (p=0.005). Rosacea (1.59-0.44%, p=0.05), bacterial infections (1.45- 0.44%, p=0.046), fungal infections (5.29-3.3%,p=0.042) and xerosis cutis (6.26-1.1%, p=0.025) significantly decreased. Admissions due to benign skin diseases (1.38-0%, p=0.012) significantly decreased. Conclusion: We consider that this study will contribute to providing the needed-evidence for the prevention and treatment of dermatological comorbidities by helping to identify the effects of changing lifestyles and daily behaviours on dermatological diseases because of the novel experimental environment created by the COVID-19 outbreak.