Mask-related dermatological problems during COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of Egyptian population

Abstract

Background During the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, mask wearing was obligatory in many countries to decrease infection risk among individuals. However, long-term mask wearing was associated with the development of various adverse skin reactions. Objective To assess possible dermatological complications due to mask wear during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic among a sample of the Egyptian population. Patients and methods The present hospital-based cross-sectional study included 320 patients who had attended outpatient dermatology clinic of the university hospitals with any dermatological symptoms. Patients wore face surgical masks during the pandemic for at least 3 months during outdoor activity. All patients were subjected to detailed history taking about onset, duration of the skin condition, whether an initial attack or pre-existing condition, and complete dermatological examination to confirm the diagnosis and evaluate severity level. Results This study showed that long‐term mask use caused new-onset skin diseases and increased dermatological facial diseases. The most common skin finding was Maskne (46.9%), followed by contact dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, and rosacea (14.1, 9.4, and 7.8%, respectively), while the remaining 21.9% were complaining of nonmask-related dermatoses. There was a significant positive correlation between mask-wearing duration and disease severity (P<0.001). Conclusion Prolonged mask wearing could induce new-onset skin diseases and exacerbate chronic pre-existing conditions such as acne, contact dermatitis, perioral dermatitis, and rosacea.