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Skin Exposures, Hand Eczema and Facial Skin Disease in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study

Hamnerius, Nils LU ; Pontén, Ann LU ; Bergendorff, Ola LU ; Bruze, Magnus LU ; Björk, Jonas LU and Svedman, Cecilia LU (2021) In Acta Dermato-Venereologica 101(9).
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to enhanced hygiene procedures and use of personal protective equipment, but also to increased attention to occupational skin disease in healthcare workers. The occurrence of hand and facial skin disease in > 5,000 Swedish healthcare workers was investigated in a questionnaire survey. Levels of skin exposure related to hygiene procedures and personal protective equipment were recorded. Caring for patients with COVID-19 entailed higher levels of wet work and face mask exposures, and was associated with higher 1-year prevalence of both hand eczema (36%) and facial skin disease (32%) compared with not being directly engaged in COVID-19 care (28% and 22%, respectively). Acne and eczema were the most common... (More)
The COVID-19 pandemic has led to enhanced hygiene procedures and use of personal protective equipment, but also to increased attention to occupational skin disease in healthcare workers. The occurrence of hand and facial skin disease in > 5,000 Swedish healthcare workers was investigated in a questionnaire survey. Levels of skin exposure related to hygiene procedures and personal protective equipment were recorded. Caring for patients with COVID-19 entailed higher levels of wet work and face mask exposures, and was associated with higher 1-year prevalence of both hand eczema (36%) and facial skin disease (32%) compared with not being directly engaged in COVID-19 care (28% and 22%, respectively). Acne and eczema were the most common facial skin diseases; for both, a dose-dependent association with face mask use was found. Dose-dependent associations could be shown between hand eczema and exposure to soap and gloves, but not to alcohol-based hand disinfectants. (Less)
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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
occupational dermatitis; health personnel; COVID-19 pandemic; facial dermatoses; hand dermatoses; epidemiology
in
Acta Dermato-Venereologica
volume
101
issue
9
article number
adv00543
publisher
Medical Journals Limited
external identifiers
  • pmid:34427318
  • scopus:85116171914
ISSN
0001-5555
DOI
10.2340/00015555-3904
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
db7a9ee5-1812-4b25-b836-2bf1252cdf06
date added to LUP
2021-10-11 16:52:10
date last changed
2023-02-10 23:13:09
@article{db7a9ee5-1812-4b25-b836-2bf1252cdf06,
  abstract     = {{The COVID-19 pandemic has led to enhanced hygiene procedures and use of personal protective equipment, but also to increased attention to occupational skin disease in healthcare workers. The occurrence of hand and facial skin disease in > 5,000 Swedish healthcare workers was investigated in a questionnaire survey. Levels of skin exposure related to hygiene procedures and personal protective equipment were recorded. Caring for patients with COVID-19 entailed higher levels of wet work and face mask exposures, and was associated with higher 1-year prevalence of both hand eczema (36%) and facial skin disease (32%) compared with not being directly engaged in COVID-19 care (28% and 22%, respectively). Acne and eczema were the most common facial skin diseases; for both, a dose-dependent association with face mask use was found. Dose-dependent associations could be shown between hand eczema and exposure to soap and gloves, but not to alcohol-based hand disinfectants.}},
  author       = {{Hamnerius, Nils and Pontén, Ann and Bergendorff, Ola and Bruze, Magnus and Björk, Jonas and Svedman, Cecilia}},
  issn         = {{0001-5555}},
  keywords     = {{occupational dermatitis; health personnel; COVID-19 pandemic; facial dermatoses; hand dermatoses; epidemiology}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{9}},
  publisher    = {{Medical Journals Limited}},
  series       = {{Acta Dermato-Venereologica}},
  title        = {{Skin Exposures, Hand Eczema and Facial Skin Disease in Healthcare Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-sectional Study}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/103604530/7048.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.2340/00015555-3904}},
  volume       = {{101}},
  year         = {{2021}},
}