LAUSR

Dear Editor, With the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, millions of health care workers all across the globe have been working as frontline warriors, in the screening and treatment of patients. As a part of the protective measures, the health care workers are using personal protective equipments (cap, goggles, face shield, surgical mask, gown and gloves), hand sanitizers, and prophylactic drugs like hydroxychloroquine. These measures have been related to the development of certain cutaneousmanifestations. In a recently published cross-sectional study, prevalence of skin injuries among medical staff wearing personal protective equipment (PPEs) was found to be 42.8%. Prevalence of injuries was higher in males, doctors (as compared to nurses), ones wearing grade 3 PPE, those with daily wearing time >4 hours, those over 35 years old, and the ones with heavy sweating. In another report, prevalence of skin damage was 97.0%, nasal bridge being the most commonly affected site (83.1%). The skin changes associated with protective measures can be seen in four scenarios: