Abstract

Nearly all health care workers (HCWs) worldwide have seen a significant change in their practices as a result of COVID-19's global outbreak. On the other hand, prolonged and extensive use of personal protective equipment (PPE) may result in a variety of undesirable skin reactions. The causes may include increased usage frequency and duration, wearing apparel that is too tight or too loose, or having a material allergy to PPE. Methodology: This cross-sectional observational study was carried out in April 2020. A particular questionnaire was prepared and made available online via a link generated by Google Forms. After 206 HCWs expressed interest in participating in the study, the study's final sample size consisted of 206 HCWs. The following questions were freely answered by participants: Work environment, demographic information, and any symptoms or signs of dermatology Results: The HCW's mean age was 32 ± 5.2 years. In the study, 119 (57.8%) females and 87 (42.2%) males participated. Among these were 128 (62%) doctors, 41 (20%) nurses, 21 (10%) technicians, and 16 (8%) housekeepers. Regarding protective gear, the N95 mask was most frequently used (94.6%), and its most frequent side effect (54.1%) was redness at the nasal bridge. Conclusion: . Healthcare workers who wear PPE for extended period of time have a higher risk of developing dermatosis. Therefore, it is necessary to control the hours that HCWs work. Preventive guidelines for occupational dermatitis secondary to PPE must be established and the afflicted HCWs must receive efficient dermatological care.

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