The COVID-19 pandemic has badly pounded public health, either directly or indirectly. A study investigated outpatient skin disease diagnoses at the dermatology clinic to determine the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

A retrospective study was conducted utilizing the International Codes of Diseases data from the OPD of the Dermatology Clinic. 

The following results were obtained:

• The study enrolled 20,915 patients with 34,116 skin diagnoses. No change in the average weekly dermatologic clinic visits was seen between the years with and without the COVID-19 pandemic. 
• COVID-19 pandemic years showed a marked reduction in the percentage of xerosis cutis, other skin infections (syphilis and parasitic infections), hair and nail disorders, pigmentary disorders, benign skin tumors and drug eruptions. 
• COVID-19 pandemic years showed a marked increase in the percentage of other dermatitis, fungal and viral skin infections, acne, psoriasis, urticaria, vesiculobullous and autoimmune diseases.

Thus, it was concluded that there is a minimal effect on the average weekly skin clinic visits in the COVID-19 pandemic, but the diagnosed skin diseases pattern remains affected. Understanding the pattern of skin diseases will facilitate hospitals to skillfully prepare for future pandemics.

Source: Medicina (Kaunas). 2021;57(8):773.