A Healthcare Worker's Adverse Skin Reaction to the Use of Personal Protection Equipment and Frequent Hand Washing in COVID 19

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.