Frequency of skin lesions in healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: an update from Iran

Background: during the recent coronavirus disease 2019 (covid-19) pandemic, we witnessed an increased incidence of contact dermatitis in the hands and other body areas of healthcare workers secondary to using antiseptics and personal protective equipment. this study aimed to investigate the prevalence of skin lesions in healthcare workers in hospitals affiliated with babol university of medical sciences during the covid-19 pandemic. methods: in a cross-sectional study, the healthcare workers of ayatollah rouhani, shahid yahya nejad, and shahid beheshti hospitals in babol, iran, were asked to fill out information collection forms about cutaneous lesions during the covid-19 pandemic. results: three hundred healthcare workers were included in the study. skin lesions were seen in 240 patients (80%), and the hands were the most common site of involvement (36.7%). skin lesions in healthcare workers had no statistically significant relationship with the variables of age (p = 0.84), sex (p = 0.52), and covid- 19-dedicated wards (p = 0.16). however, skin lesions were more common in those with more working hours (p = 0.01) and increased handwashing frequency (p < 0.001). conclusion: the present study showed a high prevalence of skin lesions among hospital healthcare workers during the covid-19 pandemic. therefore, preventive measures are recommended.