COVID-19 Skin Manifestations in Skin of Colour

Abstract

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) skin manifestations have been increasingly reported in medical literature. Recent discussions have identified a lack of images of skin of color (SOC) patients with COVID-19 related skin findings despite people with skin of color being disproportionately affected with the disease. There have been calls to prioritize the identification of COVID-19 skin manifestations in patients with SOC and disseminate these findings. The objective of this article is to review the existing literature on COVID-19 skin manifestations and, where possible, discuss how they may present differently in patients with SOC. Further research is needed to allow primary care physicians and dermatologists to be aware of and easily identify patients with cutaneous findings that may be secondary to COVID-19. Patients presenting with idiopathic dermatologic manifestations should be considered for COVID-19 testing and follow public health guidelines for self-isolation.

Keywords: COVID-19; chilblain; coronavirus; exanthem; livedo racemosa; livedo reticularis; maculopapular; papulovesicular; petechiae; purpura; skin manifestations; skin of colour; urticaria.

Figure 1

Urticarial rash in SOC.

Figure 2

Maculopapular rash in SOC.

Figure 3

Psoriasiform Dermatoses in SOC.

Figure 4

Papulovesicular Exanthem in SOC.

Figure 5

Chilblain-like lesions in SOC.

Figure 6

Livedo reticularis in SOC.

Figure 7

Petechial rash in SOC.