11/17/2020 / By Divina Ramirez
Face masks worn to reduce Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) transmission can trigger eczema flare-ups in people with sensitive skin and allergies. These are the findings of a recent case study presented at this year’s virtual scientific meeting of the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI).
The case study involved a Black man aged 60 years with adult-onset eczema and contact dermatitis, as well as chronic nasal allergies. Lead author and ACAAI member Yashu Dhamija said he and his team treated the man after he showed up three times in their hospital emergency room. The man said he had an uncomfortable face rash.
The man also said he had his skin conditions under control up until April when he started wearing face masks more often due to the pandemic. Soon after, his symptoms began occurring in areas that healthcare providers were not yet accustomed to, said Dhamija.
The man was diagnosed with a case of contact dermatitis, a form of eczema triggered by contact with a certain substance. The physicians who first attended to him prescribed him prednisone to treat his rashes and reduce inflammation. However, it failed to improve his symptoms.
Further investigation revealed that the man began to experience flare-ups from his skin conditions as early as April, which coincided with the pandemic and the man’s use of face masks.
Co-author and fellow ACAAI member Kristin Schmidlin said they realized that the man’s face rashes occurred where the elastic parts of a mask would rest. Instead of putting the man on more prednisone, they advised him to use a topical steroid and immunosuppressant until his rash improved.
Schmidlin said they also told the man to use cotton-based, dye-free masks without elastics. One week after his last visit, the man phoned them to report that his rash was improving.
The authors note that the man might have experienced rashes from wearing masks because common allergens that trigger contact dermatitis are found in the components of face masks, including the cloth and elastic band.
Even in people without skin conditions but have sensitive skin, materials used to make face masks might cause damage due to friction, as well as mild to moderate discomfort.
Overall, the findings show that wearing face masks with elastic bands can trigger eczema flare-ups, particularly in people with skin allergies. (Related: Manage eczema with these homemade remedies.)
Besides eczema flare-ups, wearing face masks for long periods is also associated with other side effects, as well as some disadvantages. These include:
Learn more about mask-wearing and other health measures for COVID-19 prevention at Pandemic.news.
Sources include:
BangaloreMirror.IndiaTimes.com
Tagged Under:
coronavirus, covid-19, eczema, pandemic, skin allergies
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