Abstract:With the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, millions of health care workers all across the globe have been working as frontline warriors, in the screening and treatment of patients. 1 As a part of the protective measures, 1 the health care workers are using personal protective equipments (cap, goggles, face shield, surgical mask, gown and gloves), hand sanitizers, and prophylactic drugs like hydroxychloroquine. 2 These measures have been related to the development of certain cutaneousmanifestations. 3
“…Wearing a mask is very important to prevent infectious disease transmission, but it may causes adverse effects on the skin 3 . Prolonged mask‐wearing can cause erythema, eruption, pustules, papules, pigmentation, and contact dermatitis along the areas of contact 4 . The adverse effects of prolonged PPE use by healthcare workers have been studied extensively 5,6 .…”
Background
Previous studies have demonstrated the possibility of adverse effects of prolonged wearing of personal protective equipment in healthcare workers. However, there are a few studies about the effects on skin characteristics after wearing a mask for non‐healthcare workers. In this study, we evaluated the dermatologic effects of wearing a mask on the skin over time.
Materials and Method
Twenty‐one healthy men and women participated in the study. All participants wore masks for 6 hours consecutively. Three measurements were taken (a) before wearing the mask, (b) after wearing the mask for 1 hour, and (c) after wearing the mask for 6 hours. Skin temperature, skin redness, sebum secretion, skin hydration, trans‐epidermal water loss, and skin elasticity were measured.
Results
The skin temperature, redness, hydration, and sebum secretion were changed significantly after 1 and 6 hours of wearing a mask. Skin temperature, redness, and hydration showed significant differences between the mask‐wearing area and the non–mask‐wearing area.
Conclusion
Mask‐wearing conditions and time can change several skin characteristics. In particular, it is revealed that the perioral area could be most affected.
“…Wearing a mask is very important to prevent infectious disease transmission, but it may causes adverse effects on the skin 3 . Prolonged mask‐wearing can cause erythema, eruption, pustules, papules, pigmentation, and contact dermatitis along the areas of contact 4 . The adverse effects of prolonged PPE use by healthcare workers have been studied extensively 5,6 .…”
Background
Previous studies have demonstrated the possibility of adverse effects of prolonged wearing of personal protective equipment in healthcare workers. However, there are a few studies about the effects on skin characteristics after wearing a mask for non‐healthcare workers. In this study, we evaluated the dermatologic effects of wearing a mask on the skin over time.
Materials and Method
Twenty‐one healthy men and women participated in the study. All participants wore masks for 6 hours consecutively. Three measurements were taken (a) before wearing the mask, (b) after wearing the mask for 1 hour, and (c) after wearing the mask for 6 hours. Skin temperature, skin redness, sebum secretion, skin hydration, trans‐epidermal water loss, and skin elasticity were measured.
Results
The skin temperature, redness, hydration, and sebum secretion were changed significantly after 1 and 6 hours of wearing a mask. Skin temperature, redness, and hydration showed significant differences between the mask‐wearing area and the non–mask‐wearing area.
Conclusion
Mask‐wearing conditions and time can change several skin characteristics. In particular, it is revealed that the perioral area could be most affected.
“…The regular use of personal protective measures invites skin problems amongst the residents themselves, thereby reducing their interest and scope to examine patients thoroughly. [ 11 ] This is hampering the acquisition of clinical skills, especially amongst the first-year residents learning the basics of the discipline.…”
Background:
Given the all-encompassing foothold of COVID-19, it is plausible that the pandemic would have a long-lasting impact on medical training programs, including dermatology. We conducted a survey amongst the residents of dermatology (across India) to assess the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on their teaching and education programs.
Materials and Methods:
An online semi-structured English questionnaire was prepared on the Google-forms platform and the link was circulated among the residents. The questionnaire comprised of five sections (demographic details, impact on clinical training, procedural training, academic curriculum, and research activities). Appropriate statistical tests were carried out to analyze the data obtained.
Results:
Three-hundred and seventy-eight responses were taken into consideration. A majority of the respondents (63.5%) were engaged in both COVID-19-related duties and departmental work (out-patient and in-patient duty). Around two-thirds of the trainees (65.1%) claimed a reduction in patient footfall (greater than 50% compared to pre-COVID times). Sixty-nine percent reported a decline of more than 50% in in-patient admission; 47.6% felt that the discontinuity in patient care had severely affected their residency training; 50.8% highlighted that no procedures were being performed in their department; 54.5% opined that academic activities were relatively unhampered as regular seminars were being conducted through online web-based applications; and 65.1% of the trainees were not able to devote any time to their thesis-related work.
Conclusion:
Since the after-effects of this pandemic will last long, it is advisable that residents and faculties adapt themselves to web-based learning programs in the academic curriculum so that the training of the future consultants does not get jeopardized. Our survey, being the first of its kind in dermatology, will throw some light on the perspective of residents and the way forward to combat the untoward consequences on their training programs.
“…32 Added emollients or humectants may improve the product's skin tolerability Contact allergy-It may present as delayed-type reactions (allergic contact dermatitis) or less commonly as immediate reactions (contact urticaria). 33,34 Allergic reactions to alcohol-based formulations may represent true allergy to the alcohol or allergy to an impurity or aldehyde metabolite or to compounds that may be present as inactive ingredients in alcohol-based hand rubs including fragrances, propylene glycol, parabens or emulsifiers. 33 Allergic contact dermatitis attributable to alcohol-based hand rubs is uncommon 35 Irritant contact dermatitis and allergic reactions to supplemental antiseptic agents including chlorhexidine, triclosan, etc., have also been reported [36][37][38][39] The propensity to fires-undiluted ethanol is highly flammable and may ignite at temperatures as low as 10°C.…”
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