Abstract
Background: Due to the increasing number of covid 19 cases, HCWs must use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as N95 masks, latex gloves, and protective clothes due to the significant infectivity of COVID-19, which may cause unpleasant skin responses.
 Materials and Methods: The Demographic data of 89 individuals, duration of work in covid facilities, history of skin pre-existing skin disease, information about personal protective kit used that is a type of mask used ( N95 with ear strap or head strap, FFP2, cloth mask, surgical mask), type of gloves used (nitrile, latex, rubber, plastic), frequency of hand washing and frequency of use of hand sanitizer and any adverse skin reaction seen by their use was collected from a participant who fulfilled the inclusion criteria by the distribution of questionnaires.
 Results: Out of 89 individual, 73 individual showed adverse skin reactions to the use of mask, including nasal bridge scarring (10.11%), facial itching (19.10%), skin damage (4.49%), dry skin (12.36%), and rash (8.99%), acneiform eruption (7.87%), indentation and ear pain (11.24%). Facial itching was the most common adverse skin reaction in individuals using masks. Dry skin (28.08%) and Itching (17.97 %) were common adverse skin reactions. Twenty-nine individuals experienced adverse skin reactions to the use of PPE. The most common skin reactions were dry skin (12) and itching (10).
 Conclusion: Due to the long-term use of PPE, masks, gloves, and adverse skin reactions, healthcare workers are prone to adverse skin reactions; a proper suggestion made that the use of cloth mask under N95 OR FFP2 mask can help reduce such adverse reactions.
Highlights
Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, coronavirus outbreaks have caused significant societal losses, the most serious of which is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS) [1]
Due to the long-term use of protective equipment (PPE), masks, gloves, and adverse skin reactions, healthcare workers are prone to adverse skin reactions; a proper suggestion made that the use of cloth mask under N95 OR FFP2 mask can help reduce such adverse reactions
Participants selected were registered doctors, nurses, attendants, healthcare workers working in COVID 19, those who are repeatedly wearing personal protective equipment such as N95 mask, latex gloves and PPE, the staff coming in direct contact with COVID 19 patients and those who are willing to participate in the study
Summary
Since the beginning of the twenty-first century, coronavirus outbreaks have caused significant societal losses, the most serious of which is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS) [1]. Health care workers are given a personal protective kit that includes an N95 mask, gloves, and personal protective equipment (PPE) that must be worn for hours [2]. Due to the increasing number of covid 19 cases, HCWs must use personal protective equipment (PPE) such as N95 masks, latex gloves, and protective clothes due to the significant infectivity of COVID-19, which may cause unpleasant skin responses. Materials and Methods: The Demographic data of 89 individuals, duration of work in covid facilities, history of skin pre-existing skin disease, information about personal protective kit used that is a type of mask used ( N95 with ear strap or head strap, FFP2, cloth mask, surgical mask), type of gloves used (nitrile, latex, rubber, plastic), frequency of hand washing and frequency of use. Conclusion: Due to the long-term use of PPE, masks, gloves, and adverse skin reactions, healthcare workers are prone to adverse skin reactions; a proper suggestion made that the use of cloth mask under N95 OR FFP2 mask can help reduce such adverse reactions
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