The cutaneous symptoms of COVID-19 illness are not well understood. 

The current study′s objective is to explain the cutaneous symptoms of COVID-19 disease and link them to other clinical findings. 

The study entailed a nationwide imaging and clinical data collection survey. Researchers described five clinical patterns based on a rapid prospective consensus. Following the survey, the connection of these patterns with patient demographics, timing in relation to disease symptoms, severity and prognosis was described. 

The lesions were characterized as acral regions of erythema with vesicles or pustules (pseudo-chilblain) (19%); various vesicular eruptions (9%); urticarial lesions (19%); maculopapular eruptions (47%); and livedo or necrosis (6%). It was noted that vesicular eruptions arise early in the diseases progression – 15% before other symptoms. The pseudo-chilblain pattern emerges late in the progression of COVID-19 disease – 59% after other symptoms, whereas the rest appear with other COVID-19 symptoms. 

COVID-19 severity varies from less severe disease in acral lesions to more severe disease in the latter groups. In terms of clinical and epidemiological data, the outcomes for confirmed and suspected cases are comparable. Identifying cutaneous symptoms of COVID-19 infection may aid clinicians in approaching patients with the condition and recognizing cases even with mild symptoms.

Source: The British Journal of Dermatology. 2020 Apr 29: 10.1111/bjd.19163.doi: 10.1111/bjd.19163