Abstract
Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) continues to spread globally, outpacing the capacity and resources of health systems worldwide. A therapeutic vaccine is not yet on the rise, and preventive measures are the current approach to restraint the transmission of cases. As the virus is highly contagious via respiratory route (droplets from infected persons, widely spread by coughing or sneezing) and via contact with contaminated surfaces, community transmission and spread can be decreased through the practice of regular and diligent hand hygiene. Frequent hand washing implies a prolonged exposure to water and other chemical or physical agents and may induce several pathophysiologic changes, such as epidermal barrier disruption, impairment of keratinocytes, the subsequent release of proinflammatory cytokines, activation of the skin immune system, and delayed-type hypersensitivity reactions. Adverse dermatologic effects, such as excessive skin dryness or even contact dermatitis (particularly the irritant subtype and, to a lesser extent, the allergic subtype), can occur, especially in individuals with a history of atopic dermatitis. These skin conditions are perfectly manageable, and applying a moisturizer immediately after washing hands or after using a portable hand sanitizer is the cornerstone in preventing the development of eczematous changes in the hands. In the current global context, the potential occurrence of these dermatological adverse events should in no way cause people to deviate from strict hand hygiene rules.
Highlights
BackgroundCOVID-19 stands for “coronavirus disease 2019,” and it refers to an outbreak of acute respiratory infection caused by a novel coronavirus
As the virus is highly contagious via respiratory route and via contact with contaminated surfaces, community transmission and spread can be decreased through the practice of regular and diligent hand hygiene
Compliance with hand hygiene recommendations is essential in preventing the spread of COVID-19 and, under no circumstances, should be diminished by the eczematous changes that may occur in the hands
Summary
COVID-19 stands for “coronavirus disease 2019,” and it refers to an outbreak of acute respiratory infection caused by a novel coronavirus. The specific coronavirus strain was initially referred to as 2019-nCoV (2019 novel coronavirus) and designated as SARS-CoV-2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2) It was first identified in late 2019 in the city of Wuhan, Hubei Province of China, and it rapidly spread throughout other Eastern countries (e.g. South Korea, Japan, Iran) as well as Europe and the United States [1]. Frequent hygienization of hands may generate various changes in skin texture, ranging from the development of cutaneous xerosis (dryness of the skin) up to irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) or, rarely, even allergic contact dermatitis (ACD). Overall, these skin disorders are induced by various physical, chemical, and immunological mechanisms. When measures of diligent hand hygiene are implemented, these mechanisms may be activated mainly by the following circumstances
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