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Review
. 2021 Mar:2:119-133.
doi: 10.1016/j.jdin.2020.12.003. Epub 2020 Dec 16.

Skin manifestations of COVID-19: A worldwide review

See Wei Tan  1 , Yew Chong Tam  2 , Choon Chiat Oh  1
Affiliations
Review

Skin manifestations of COVID-19: A worldwide review

See Wei Tan et al. JAAD Int. 2021 Mar.

Abstract

Objective: Because of the increasing emergence of skin manifestations of COVID-19 worldwide, we investigated the published reports of these lesions.

Methods: We conducted a literature search for original and review articles published from November 11, 2019 to September 30, 2020.

Results: We identified 5 skin lesions common in patients with COVID-19: pseudo-chilblains, rashes containing macules and papules, and urticarial, vesicular, and vaso-occlusive lesions. These lesions manifested at various times in relation to the COVID-19 symptoms, which may indicate whether the lesions are virus-induced or are delayed immunological responses to the infection. Skin lesions were more prevalent among Europeans and United States residents than among Asians, as was pseudo-chilblain, and the morphology of the skin lesions varied among continents. Pseudo-chilblains were the most common COVID-19 skin manifestation in Europe and the United States, but there was only 1 reported case from Asian populations. Additionally, patients with vaso-occlusive lesions were more likely than those with pseudo-chilblains to be admitted to the intensive care unit and to die.

Conclusion: Different cutaneous manifestations in patients with COVID-19 could reflect a wide spectrum of viral interactions with the skin, though reporting bias may play a role as well.

Keywords: COVID-19; acral ischemia; coagulopathy; pseudo-chilblains; rash containing macules and papules; skin manifestations; urticaria; vesicle.

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Conflict of interest statement

None disclosed.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
COVID-19: summary of systematic review according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

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