Are the Increased Frequency of Hand Washing After the COVID-19 Pandemic and Xerosis on the Hands Associated with the Occurrence of Hand Warts?

Abstract

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed hand-washing habits. Exposure to water more frequently and time than normal causes dryness, dermatitis, and damage to the skin barrier. Aims: We aimed to investigate the relationship between the frequency and duration of exposure to water on the hands, obsession with hand washing, and warts on the hands. Methods: A questionnaire was administered to hand warts group (n=94), plantar warts group (n=46) and healthy volunteers (n=30) questioning the factors that predispose to wart formation, hygiene behaviors, hand moisturizing habits and hand washing obsession. The presence of warts, localization, number, and clinical type, presence of xerosis, and hand dermatitis were recorded. Data of hand warts group were compared with control groups of healthy volunteers with plantar warts. Results: The total exposure time of the hands to water per day was significantly higher in hand warts group than in plantar warts group and healthy ones (