New-Onset and Exacerbated Skin Diseases After COVID-19 Infection: A Systematic Review

This systematic review analyzed 65 articles, including 345 cases, to study the onset and exacerbation of skin diseases following COVID-19 infection. Of these cases, 325 developed new-onset skin diseases, while 20 experienced flare-ups of pre-existing skin conditions. The most common new-onset skin disease was hair disorders, accounting for 84.9% of cases. The average age of patients with hair disorders was 47.0 years, with a female predominance of 77.7%. Hair symptoms typically appeared 57.1 days after a COVID-19 diagnosis. The most common hair disorder was telogen effluvium (TE), followed by alopecia and alopecia areata (AA). The review also found that psoriasis was the most common skin disease to flare up after COVID-19 infection. The study concluded that TE is the most common new-onset skin disease after COVID-19 infection and can resolve spontaneously without medication.