Occupational Dermatoses During The Covid-19 Pandemic: A Multicentre Audit In The Uk And Ireland

During the Covid-19 pandemic, with the increased need for donning personal protective equipment (PPE) and frequent handwashing, we have noted growing reports from at home and abroad of high rates of irritant dermatitis in frontline healthcare workers (HCWs). In China, where the SARS Cov-2 virus was first reported, up to 97% of frontline HCWs reported skin changes related to new infection control practices. A recent study of 146 HCWs from Manchester and London diagnosed irritant contact dermatitis (ICD) in 97.1%, with high rates of pressure-related facial dermatitis from masks and goggles.