Prospective study on hand dermatitis in nurses and doctors during COVID-19 pandemic and its improvement by use of adopted recommendations of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Task Force on Contact Dermatitis

Quality of life measurement in rosacea. Position statement of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Task Forces on Quality of Life and Patient Oriented Outcomes and Acne, Rosacea and Hidradenitis Suppurativa

The European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Task Forces (TFs) on Quality of Life (QoL) and Patient-Oriented Outcomes and Acne, Rosacea and Hidradenitis Suppurativa (ARHS) do not recommend the use of any generic instrument as a single method of Health Related (HR) QoL assessment in rosacea, except when comparing quimp (quality of life impairment) in rosacea patients with that in other non-dermatologic skin diseases and/or healthy controls. The EADV TFs on QoL and Patient-Oriented Outcomes and ARHS recommend the use of the dermatology-specific HRQoL instrument the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) and the rosacea-specific HRQoL instrument RosaQoL in rosacea patients. The DLQI minimal clinically important difference may be used as a marker of clinical efficacy of the treatment and DLQI score banding of 0 or 1 corresponding to no effect on patients' HRQoL could be an important treatment goal. This information may be added to consensuses and guidelines for rosacea.

Occupational Contact Dermatitis: An Individualized Approach to the Worker with Dermatitis

Purpose of Review

To provide an up-to-date, customizable approach to the worker presenting with dermatitis.

Recent Findings

Occupational contact dermatitis (OCD) is often a result of combined allergic, irritant, and endogenous factors. Potential causes of OCD can be categorized in 3 main groupings: workplace materials, personal protective equipment, and skin care. Although patterns of dermatitis may provide some indication of the etiological factor(s), patch testing remains essential in the diagnosis of allergic OCD. Management of OCD may require changes in workplace practices to reduce worker exposure to the causative agents and improve skin care practices.

Summary

OCD is a multifaceted condition with significant consequences for affected workers and their families, employers, and insurers. A methodical and individualized approach to the patient with OCD should ensure timely and accurate diagnosis(es).

Personal protective equipment-related occupational dermatoses during COVID-19 among health care workers: A worldwide systematic review

Background

Occupational dermatoses caused by personal protective equipment (PPE) in the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic are emerging occupational health challenges that must be promptly and effectively addressed to ease burden on our health care workers.

Objective

A systematic review was conducted to determine common PPE-related dermatoses, affected body sites, and implicated occupational contactants. We further proposed solutions to mitigate this problem.

Methods

Online databases were searched for articles on PPE-related dermatoses in health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic written in English and published from January 1, 2020, to January 30, 2021.

Results

Sixteen studies, including a total of 3958 participants, were included. The most common dermatoses were xerosis, pressure-related erythema, and contact dermatitis, mainly affecting the face and hands. The most widely implicated contactants were increased frequency of hand hygiene, gloves, N95 masks, and goggles. Proposed solutions were categorized as individual self-care, protection of the workforce, and long-term preventive measures.

Conclusion

Through measures such as regular basic skin care education, early access to specialty clinics via telemedicine, and designing of better-fit PPE, the challenges posed by PPE-related occupational dermatoses can be significantly reduced.

Nails and COVID-19 - A comprehensive review of clinical findings and treatment

The SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, responsible for COVID‐19, has raised the interest for infection‐associated muco‐cutaneous symptoms. While dermatologic symptoms in general gained an increasing awareness, affection of the nail organ has been mentioned only recently. We provide a narrative review on COVID‐19 manifestation on the nail organ and add symptoms induced by personal protective measures and SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccination. Available treatment options are discussed.

Skin problems related to personal protective equipment among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic (online research)

INTRODUCTION

Coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) is a highly contagious infectious disease that first appeared in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. Health care workers (HCWs) are at increased risk of infection because the virus is highly contagious and can be transmitted by a variety of routes. Health care workers are required to use a variety of personal protective equipment (PPE) for prolonged hours and, as a result, they face varying degrees of cutaneous complications.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional online questionnaire survey to investigate skin problems caused by the use of PPE and personal hygiene measures. We developed a survey with 32 questions using Google forms and distributed it via WhatsApp and Facebook groups.

RESULTS

A total of 1142 responses were obtained. Among the respondents, 88.1% reported adverse skin reactions due to PPE and personal hygiene measures. Female sex, working as a nurse, wearing PPE more than 6 h/day, and working more than 3 days/week increase the risk of PPE-related skin problems.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we highlighted skin problems related to PPE and found out risk factors for PPE-related skin problems.

Prospective study on hand dermatitis in nurses and doctors during COVID-19 pandemic and its improvement by use of adopted recommendations of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Task Force on Contact Dermatitis

Frequency of hand disinfection and adverse skin reactions among health care workers dramatically increased since the COVID-19 outbreak and consensus recommendations on hand hygiene were presented. The aim of the present study was to check the efficacy of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Task Force (TF) on Contact Dermatitis (CD) recommendations in a real life and to search if providing products mentioned in that recommendations may increase its efficacy. Doctors and nurses who worked with patients during COVID-19 pandemic and use hand disinfectants received adopted recommendations of the EADV TF on CD only or together with mentioned in that recommendations gel with ethanol and glycerin and emollient. Prevalence of adverse skin reactions on hand disinfectants at baseline was 80.21%. In a month significant improvement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and self-assessed improvement of hand skin (P < .01 for both) was reported in "products" group only. Number of participants that had no impact on their HRQoL became higher and the Dermatology Life Quality Index scores lower than in "recommendations only" group (P = .03 and P = .02, respectively). Our results showed that recommendations of the EADV TF on CD may significantly improve HRQoL and hand skin status in health care professionals but provision with products mentioned in that recommendations is crucial.