COVID-19: Doctors identify skin problems as another odd potential symptom

Months after COVID-19 appeared on the world stage, the deadly disease is still prompting medical mysteries, and doctors have identified another odd potential symptom: skin problems.

ABC News reports a growing number of prominent dermatologists treating suspected and confirmed coronavirus-positive patients are reporting patterns and trends of skin conditions, suggesting the skin could be a kind of window about what may be happening with COVID-19 inside the body.

Italian doctors published a series of cases signaling a trend about the skin in late March.

In that study, one in five patients had a skin issue, most commonly a red rash or a hive-like eruption.

According to ABC News, Dr. Misha Rosenbach, Associate Professor of Dermatology at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania says it has been dubbed “COVID toes” by the dermatology community because frostbite-like areas of typically red or purple discoloration can appear on the feet can also be seen on the fingers as well.

She says the discoloration doesn't appear to have anything to do with the weather.

Rosenbach said these findings so far have been reported to be seen more in kids and young adults, which is a population that can be asymptomatic or have mild symptoms more frequently than older individuals, though more cases would have to be examined to determine which population is affected by this condition.

There have also been reported cases of skin conditions such as measles-like rashes or hives associated with COVID-19. But, complicating matters, these kinds of rashes are also commonly seen with reactions to medications or in other viral infections.

Rosenbach said because these are indeed common rashes, “there doesn’t seem to be a helpful pattern," meaning it’s harder for doctors to tell whether coronavirus or a more mundane issue is to blame.

Symptoms more commonly associated with coronavirus include fevers, upper respiratory problems like coughing, and fatigue. But more unusual symptoms have been seen in some cases, such as a lost of taste, kidney issues and blood clotting.

Experts suggested the blood clotting could be related to the skin issues.

[Source:abc.news.com]