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Coronavirus & Your Skin - Affiliated Dermatology is a page on Affiliated Dermatology, originally at https://affderm.com/coronavirus-your-skin.
Skip to content schedule onlineAs the coronavirus epidemic continues, researchers, scientists, and even dermatologists are discovering that skin rashes might be a symptom of COVID-19. In recent news, COVID-19 patients might initially present symptoms of skin manifestations or rashes, so we asked our Chief Dermatology Resident Andrew Newman, DO to share more about the potential skin commonalities of people who have tested positive for the virus.
The COVID-19 Rash
Can Coronavirus (COVID-19) cause skin rashes? Healthcare workers and scientists are beginning to understand how COVID-19 affects our bodies. According to Italian researchers in a recent publication in the Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology Venereology, about 1 out of 5 people infected with COVID-19 will have a rash. Dr. Newman shares more on how the rash presents itself on the skin,
“The COVID-19 rash varies from person to person. Some people may experience a viral exanthem (small red spots) while others may have hives or chickenpox-like blisters. The viral rash mostly involves the chest, abdomen, and back, but it may also be seen on the arms and legs. The rash is typically seen at the start of the viral infection.”
Dr. Pimple Popper, aka dermatologist Sandra Lee, MD, also shares her insights on the COVID-19 skin rash in this article by Popsugar and her YouTube channel.
“Around 20 percent of people, we’ve noticed, are experiencing these skin rashes, these skin findings associated with COVID,” said Dr. Lee. “They are even finding that they’re associated with people who are asymptomatic, meaning they don’t have any other symptoms but they end up testing positive, and this was their presentation, or this was their initial presentation before they got really sick. That can mean that you’re an asymptomatic carrier, and they’re finding that in young people. It doesn’t happen in everybody, but this is a sign, and it’s useful for nurses and physicians.”
If you become concerned with a new rash, then it is important to have a dermatologist evaluate your skin. Importantly, individuals that are severely ill should be evaluated by your nearby urgent care.
COVID-19 and Skin Cancer
Those living with skin cancer may be considered higher-risk when it comes to coronavirus, so it’s important to maintain your regular skin cancer screenings and stay in touch with your dermatologist about your treatment plan. We also recommend that our skin cancer patients keep up-to-date with CDC advice including washing your hands regularly and practice social distancing by avoiding large crowds. While the world has stopped for the COVID-19 pandemic, life-threatening skin cancers have not stopped! Dr. Newman says,
“Trust me, I wish skin cancers would cut us some slack during the pandemic, but they are not. Does COVID-19 cause skin cancer? Nope, certainly not, but the sun does! We are getting a lot more sun during the COVID-19 lockdown. During this pandemic, I’m seeing families taking hikes and biking outdoors more than ever before! And this is a great thing, as long as you’re protecting yourself from skin cancer.”
The sun is shining and you might be finding yourself looking for ways to enjoy the great outdoors that Arizona has to offer. If you’re opting for some outdoor activities this month, check out this guide our dermatologists put together to stay safe while enjoying the sun. Dr. Newman shares his best tips on sun safety too,
“A mineral sunscreen and protective clothing like hats and sunglasses are very important to have on your family walks. Lastly, please check your skin for new or changing spots and see your dermatologist for a thorough skin check.”
If you have skin cancer, or you are recovering from your procedure, please reach out if you have any concerns or questions regarding COVID-19 and your treatment. As always, we are here for you! If you need to schedule an appointment for your annual skin exam, our medical dermatology providers are available and accepting new patients.
Meet Andrew Newman, DO | Chief Dermatology Resident
Dr. Newman began his residency training with Affiliated Dermatology in July 2017 and is now the Chief Dermatology Resident as he finishes his training in 202 0. He rec eived his Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry and Physiology from California State University- Long Beach, CA. Dr. Newman then spent two years studying pharmaceuticals at the University of Southern California before completing his Doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine at Touro University- CA. He then trained at Mclaren-Oakland Hospital in Michigan where he completed his medical internship.
Dr. Newman specializes in general dermatology and Mohs surgery at Affiliated Dermatology. When asked why he chose to be a Dermatologist, Dr. Newman replied with “Dermatology is the most fascinating of medical specialties to me. I love that I can treat babies, teenagers, and adults. I also enjoy dermatology because I am able to manage skin cancer, which is abundant yet under-appreciated.”
In addition to caring for his patients, he enjoys making music on guitar and piano or playing a round of golf with his friends and colleagues. Dr. Newman also participates in mentorship programs at local high schools and medical schools.
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A full-service dermatology group offering services in general dermatology, skin cancer detection and treatment, Mohs surgery, aesthetics, and allergy. At our Valley-wide locations, we take pride in our dedication to help inspire and empower you to make educated, healthy decisions about skin care.
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Video transcripts
Video transcript: Skin Findings in COVID-19
Watch the source video on YouTube
[00:00:07] hello guys dr. Sandra Lee here aka dr.
[00:00:11] pimple popper as you can see I'm not in
[00:00:13] the office
[00:00:15] I am social distancing I'm sheltering in
[00:00:17] place like most of us are in the country
[00:00:20] no it's really been quite devastating
[00:00:23] and stressful the changes that have been
[00:00:27] going on what we've seen actually as
[00:00:29] board-certified dermatologists we have
[00:00:31] come together around the nation and we
[00:00:33] have noticed that there are certain skin
[00:00:36] findings that are coming up that are
[00:00:38] that seem to be associated with cope in
[00:00:41] nineteen many of us dermatologists think
[00:00:43] it is important for you guys to be able
[00:00:45] to recognize or identify some of these
[00:00:48] skin findings because this really might
[00:00:50] help us to slow the spread of this virus
[00:00:52] and really might help to directly save
[00:00:55] lives one thing that we know as
[00:00:58] dermatologists is that rashes are often
[00:01:01] seen in various viral illnesses and
[00:01:04] that's what koban 19 is it is a viral
[00:01:07] infection I'd like to present to you
[00:01:09] guys what we think we know so far and
[00:01:12] this is not meant to scare anyone in
[00:01:14] fact I think that it really gives us
[00:01:16] control it gives us power if you
[00:01:19] recognize these skin findings if you see
[00:01:22] these and anyone that you know has an
[00:01:24] infection or has been exposed to
[00:01:26] somebody with Coppa 19 maybe identifying
[00:01:30] this or bringing this to the attention
[00:01:31] of your board certified dermatologists
[00:01:34] or your primary care provider can help
[00:01:35] to slow the spread of this virus can
[00:01:37] help to save a life
[00:01:39] the first rash I'm showing you pictures
[00:01:41] of has findings we refer to as a livid
[00:01:44] or pattern that being a red or purple
[00:01:47] colored modeled reticulated net like
[00:01:51] coloration pattern and to the skin livid
[00:01:54] Oi is the word we use to describe this
[00:01:57] pattern so it's this language that we
[00:01:59] dermatologists have with each other when
[00:02:00] we say livid oi pattern we
[00:02:02] dermatologists understand and we
[00:02:04] recognize that we're talking about this
[00:02:06] certain pattern in the skin this pattern
[00:02:09] of a rash is certainly not specific to
[00:02:11] Coba 19 and in fact can be a normal
[00:02:14] variant in people people can normally
[00:02:17] have a livid or pattern that
[00:02:20] on the skin in fact I am one of those
[00:02:22] people I have a condition
[00:02:25] a benign condition called Judas Mirada
[00:02:27] it is when you have this net-like
[00:02:29] pattern when you get cold on your skin
[00:02:33] this kind of vascular see this is this
[00:02:35] is this pattern that we're talking about
[00:02:36] this modeled net-like pattern here this
[00:02:42] is called livid Oy
[00:02:43] pattern and I have cutest mamata and I
[00:02:46] get it on my legs in my arms I can show
[00:02:48] you pictures here it's nothing that I am
[00:02:51] worried about so I don't want people to
[00:02:53] worry if they see this kind of condition
[00:02:56] but I do want you to bring this to the
[00:02:58] attention of your dermatologist to your
[00:03:00] primary care provider it is a new
[00:03:02] condition and nuance that condition and
[00:03:04] it's associated with you feeling unwell
[00:03:07] feeling like you might have the virus or
[00:03:10] knowing that you've been exposed to
[00:03:12] people that have been tested positive
[00:03:15] the second skin condition that we are
[00:03:17] seeing pretty commonly is something we
[00:03:20] call Kearny OSIS or / neo also known as
[00:03:23] chilblains this is usually occurring on
[00:03:26] your fingers or your toes most commonly
[00:03:28] your toes it's like these purplish firm
[00:03:33] bumps on the tips of your toes or around
[00:03:36] your fingers that can be painful to
[00:03:38] touch their like this purple bruised
[00:03:41] kind of look in a normal situation it's
[00:03:44] due to exposure to cold or damp
[00:03:47] environments and it is fairly common and
[00:03:50] it is oftentimes a benign condition we
[00:03:52] are seeing this breakout this / neo
[00:03:55] SACEUR chilblains these people tend to
[00:03:57] be younger and be asymptomatic
[00:03:59] individuals meaning that they don't show
[00:04:02] any other symptoms of Kovach but they do
[00:04:04] end up testing positive for Cova 19 if
[00:04:07] you have never had this sort of
[00:04:09] condition before and you suddenly get
[00:04:12] this bring this to the attention of your
[00:04:14] board-certified dermatologists your
[00:04:16] primary care provider this could be an
[00:04:19] early indication this could be your only
[00:04:20] indication that you are
[00:04:22] kovat 19 positive and that's important
[00:04:25] for you to know right my ability to
[00:04:27] recognize these conditions they're not
[00:04:28] things that I just learn overnight this
[00:04:30] takes years of
[00:04:31] raining so that's why we're here for you
[00:04:33] we are here to help you we are available
[00:04:35] in our offices for emergencies certainly
[00:04:39] and we are also available via
[00:04:40] teledermatology or telemedicine where
[00:04:43] you can have a visit with us really our
[00:04:45] purpose right now during this pandemic
[00:04:48] is to help take the pressure off of
[00:04:51] hospitals emergency rooms
[00:04:53] I see yous that are dealing with these
[00:04:55] patients with Koba 19 who are on
[00:04:57] ventilators who are really sick lastly I
[00:05:00] want to just say how proud I am to be a
[00:05:03] board-certified dermatologists how proud
[00:05:05] I am of my community we are here to help
[00:05:08] flatten the curve we want people to be
[00:05:11] safe we want people Skinit to be healthy
[00:05:13] - it's really important to continue with
[00:05:16] social distancing remember that we are
[00:05:18] safe at home we are not stuck at home
[00:05:21] and please treat each other with
[00:05:24] kindness we will all get through this
[00:05:25] together and we will come back so much
[00:05:28] stronger
[00:05:37] you