A Systematic Review of Dermatologic Manifestations Among Adult Patients With COVID-19 Diagnosis
March 2021
in “
Skin health and disease
”
TLDR COVID-19 patients often have skin issues like chilblain-like lesions and rashes, which can help in early diagnosis and sometimes indicate severe illness.
The systematic review from 2021 analyzed dermatologic signs in 347 adult patients with confirmed COVID-19, identifying 27 different skin manifestations. The most common findings were pernio-like lesions, morbilliform exanthems, and vesicular eruptions, primarily located on the trunk and lower extremities. Skin symptoms could precede, accompany, or be the sole indication of infection, with a mean duration of 6.06 days. Histopathological examination of 28 biopsies revealed features like vacuolar interface dermatitis and thrombogenic vasculopathy. While most patients recovered, certain skin signs were linked to severe outcomes. The review underlined the importance of recognizing these signs for early COVID-19 diagnosis and management, despite limitations such as the recency of the infection and potential misdiagnosis. Further research is needed to understand the predictive value of dermatologic signs in COVID-19.
