Dermatologic Manifestations of COVID-19: A Comprehensive Systematic Review

The systematic review analyzed 86 studies involving 2,560 patients and found that the most common dermatologic manifestations of COVID-19 were chilblains/pernio-like lesions, erythematous maculopapular rashes, and viral exanthem. The latency from respiratory symptoms to skin findings was shorter in children than in adults, and a notable percentage of patients either were asymptomatic or had only skin manifestations. The review suggests that skin findings could be key for early COVID-19 detection. A case series from Italy highlighted a predominance of viral exanthem in male patients with a median age of 60, and an observational study in Spain suggested a link between severe COVID-19 and androgenetic alopecia in Caucasian males. The review emphasizes the importance of recognizing dermatologic signs as potential indicators of COVID-19, which could aid in managing the disease's spread.