Is there a need to customize personal protective equipment based on environmental conditions to reduce cutaneous side effects? A descriptive, cross-sectional study of health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic

Background: We conducted a study among healthcare workers (HCWs) who were employed in COVID-19 wards during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted among HCWs who were involved in COVID-19 patient care for a minimum period of two months. Results: Among the 100 study participants, the majority were females (n = 83; 83%). Forty-four (44%) were nurses, 30 (30 %) were doctors, and 26 (26%) were nursing assistants. Fifty-four (54%) participants had recent onset skin changes, which consisted of non-infective (n = 46) and infective (n = 8) dermatoses. The most common among the infective dermatoses was dermatophyte infection (4; 4%), and the most common of the non-infective dermatoses was contact dermatitis (23%). Gowns, scrubs, N95 masks, gloves, and hand sanitizers contributed to the development of non-infective dermatoses. Conclusion: More than half of the HCWs who engaged in COVID-19 care had PPE-related dermatoses. Gowns and scrubs contributed to more than one-third of the dermatoses, necessitating a need to customize PPE according to the working environment.