Invited Review Article
Cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19: Report of three cases and a review of literature

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdermsci.2020.04.011Get rights and content

Abstract

Background

Various cutaneous manifestations have been observed in patients with COVID-19 infection. However, overall similarities in the clinical presentation of these dermatological manifestations have not yet been summarized.

Objective

This review aims to provide an overview of various cutaneous manifestations in patients with COVID-19 through three case reports and a literature review.

Methods

A literature search was conducted using PubMed, OVID, and Google search engines for original and review articles. Studies written in the English language that mentioned cutaneous symptoms and COVID-19 were included.

Results

Eighteen articles and three additional cases reported in this paper were included in this review. Of these studies, 6 are case series and 12 are case report studies. The most common cutaneous manifestation of COVID-19 was found to be maculopapular exanthem (morbilliform), presenting in 36.1% (26/72) patients. The other cutaneous manifestations included: a papulovesicular rash (34.7%, 25/72), urticaria (9.7%, 7/72), painful acral red purple papules (15.3%, 11/72) of patients, livedo reticularis lesions (2.8%, 2/72) and petechiae (1.4%, 1/72). Majority of lesions were localized on the trunk (66.7%, 50/72), however, 19.4% (14/72) of patients experienced cutaneous manifestations in the hands and feet. Skin lesion development occurred before the onset of respiratory symptoms or COVID-19 diagnosis in 12.5% (9/72) of the patients, and lesions spontaneously healed in all patients within 10 days. Majority of the studies reported no correlation between COVID-19 severity and skin lesions.

Conclusion

Infection with COVID-19 may result in dermatological manifestations with various clinical presentations, which may aid in the timely diagnosis of this infection.

Keywords

Cutaneous manifestations
COVID-19
Skin
Review

Cited by (0)

Muskaan Sachdeva is a medical student at Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, and is also a graduate of the Bachelor of Health Sciences program at McMaster University. In addition to her medical degree, she is completing her graduate studies in healthcare research. She is an avid supporter of understanding visible skin conditions and cutaneous manifestations of systemic diseases. Her strong interests in dermatology has led her to explore this field through numerous research contributions and community initiatives.

Prof. Raffaelle Gianotti:

Graduated in Medicine Milan University 1986

Specialization in Dermatology and Venereology in 1989

Specialization in Surgical Pathologist in 1993

One year as a resident Fellow at NYU in Bernie Ackerman Dermatopathological Lab.

More than 100 publications in Dermatology and Dermatopathology.

Creator of Lampyris 101 dermatopathological software system for computerized diagnosis of Inflammatory skin diseases in collaboration with Dr. Heinz Kutzner, Friedrichshafen Dermatopathology Lab. Germany

Actually Chairman of Dermatopathology Lab. Of the Clinica Dermatologica – University of Milan Italy

1

Equal contribution.

View Abstract