Research is in—Travelers traveling far from COVID-19 can develop skin sensitivity to COVID-19.
Symptoms include rashes, hives, redness, inflammation and more.
What is going on here and can you do something about it?
Covid Skin Sensitivity: What is it?
Although considered a rare side effect of the COVID-19 virus, skin sensitivity has been reported in scientific journals and by major medical groups.
The Mayo Clinicfor example, he notes that the most common skin changes associated with the virus include “a flat rash covered in small bumps,” as well as hives and even discolored areas on the fingers and toes—what are sometimes called “rings feet of COVID’.
Blisters, itching, rough skin or painful bumps may also occur, lasting 10-14 days or more.
What does the research say about skin sensitivity to COVID?
In a 2020 revision, researchers reviewed 43 studies on COVID-19 and analyzed the data related to skin problems. They found a prevalence of 1.0 percent of patients who experienced them. Looking at the case reports, of the 54 patients, 48 (88.8 percent) developed skin manifestations of the virus. Rash and urticaria were the most commonly reported effects.
More specifically, the researchers noted that patients may experience red spots on the hands, blisters on the trunk, pruritic hives, red itchy patches on the skin, and swollen, itchy blisters. Researchers are still unsure if these symptoms are directly related to the virus or if they are complications of the infection.
Also in 2020, researchers reported data of 990 cases from 39 countries of COVID-19 patients with skin symptoms. Patients experienced a wide range of problems that lasted for varying lengths of time, including hives, COVID fingers, and scaly papules and plaques.
Symptoms varied depending on how severe the infection was. Papules and plaques were more common in patients hospitalized for the infection — suggesting inflammation was present — while those with COVID fingers were more likely to have experienced a milder form of the disease.
In a 2021 review, researchers reviewed 87 studies, which included data on 895 patients with skin lesions associated with COVID-19. The most common symptom was a skin rash, although patients also experienced hives and other skin problems. The lesions seemed to appear most often in the first four weeks after contracting the virus, although some patients developed them later.
Skin sensitivity to Covid: COVID toes
In a more recent one review 2022researchers reviewed data from 128 studies, which included nearly 5,000 cases of so-called “cholesterol-like lesions (CLL), or what is commonly known as COVID toes.
Chilblains is a condition that causes inflamed swollen patches and blisters on the hands and feet. It is caused by exposure to moist air that is cold but not freezing. Symptoms include swelling, pain or stinging, changes in skin color, sores or blisters, and small itchy areas of skin.
Scientists have observed the same type of symptoms that appear in some people who have had a COVID-19 infection but have not been exposed to cold, wet air. In the 2022 review, they found that this symptom most often affected patients with an average age of 25, and that women were slightly more likely to be affected.
Although this side effect is called COVID toes, it can also sometimes affect the fingers. Fortunately, the treatment usually resolved the problem in about 16-17 days. The most commonly reported treatments were topical steroids, oral pain relievers, skin heating, topical antimicrobials, oral antihistamines, and other medications.
It is not yet clear whether this symptom is directly related to the disease, because studies show that those who have it do not always test positive for the virus that causes COVID-19. We need more studies to understand this better.
What does a COVID rash look like?
If you’ve been diagnosed with COVID-19—and especially if you’ve had a hard time with the virus (eg, you’ve been hospitalized)—you may have noticed skin problems that accompanied the virus. If you continue to suffer from unexplained rashes, redness and itching, you may be suffering from long-term skin symptoms of COVID.
Someone with a COVID rash may have symptoms such as the following:
- Itchy, raised bumps
- Small blisters that look like chickenpox
- Patchy areas of discoloration
- Itching or sore skin
- Tiny red, purple or darker brown spots
- Urticaria
From what we know so far, it seems that these symptoms usually go away within a few weeks. For some, however, a COVID rash can last for many months.
Why would COVID cause skin symptoms?
Scientists are still learning about the different ways the virus affects the human body. What seems clear so far is that some skin conditions are probably related to the inflammation that occurs when the immune system tries to fight off the disease. Inflammation inside the body can easily translate into inflammation on the skin, resulting in redness, swelling, rashes and hives. Scientists believe that inflammation is also the source of the toes of COVID.
Some of the other symptoms—like rashes that look like bruises—appear to be caused by blood clots, which are also a side effect of COVID-19 in some people. And as the antibodies fight the virus, they can also damage the blood vessel walls, which can cause skin rashes.
Why do some skin symptoms last so long?
Scientists are still trying to figure out all the puzzles of the long-running COVID. So far, they just don’t know why some people suffer these types of symptoms for much longer than others. Some suspect that the virus triggers some other process in the body that continues to cause symptoms. It seems less likely that the immune system is still fighting the virus many months later.
COVID Skin Sensitivity: How to Help Your Skin Feel Better
It is always best to talk to your doctor and/or dermatologist about any skin symptoms you may be experiencing. They may have some medications that can help.
In the meantime, you’ll want to try to tame any inflammation the skin may be dealing with while helping to heal the outer barrier, which is likely damaged.
The best way to do this is:
- Reduce the products you use. Adopt a minimal routine consisting of a gentle cleanser, toner and moisturizer and give your skin a break from harsher treatments containing acids and retinol.
- Avoid tonics with alcohol. We recommend our Rescue + Relief Spray as it helps soothe inflammation while cooling a hot rash. Like all CV Skinlabs products, it contains the exclusive Tri-Rescue Complex, a powerful blend of anti-inflammatory ingredients that soothe and help repair inflammatory skin conditions.
- Choose a nourishing moisturizer. Just any moisturizer won’t do. You need one that will help calm inflammation and encourage healing and restoration. We recommend the Soothing Moisturizing and Body Repair Lotion. They also have the anti-inflammatory Tri-Rescue complex, plus natural shea butter, soothing extracts, healing vitamin E and aloe to help calm and soothe troubled skin.
Have you experienced skin sensitivity to COVID? How did you manage?
Featured image from Freepik.
