Prevalence of eczema and its risk factors in the covid-19 pandemic: A systematic review

The outbreak of COVID-19 disease has led to a dramatic increase in hand hygiene and use of masks and gloves which cause skin problems, including eczema. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of eczema and its associated risk factors among different members of society during the Covid 19 epidemic and also to provide appropriate strategies to prevent and treat eczema.

In this systematic review, relevant studies were searched in scientific databases fusing keywords associated with eczema, Covid-19 and disinfectant from 2019 to 2021.  Articles were evaluated with the STROBE checklist. 

Finally, 10 articles including 6 articles on medical staff, 3 studies on children and 1 study on the general public were reviewed. These studies investigated the prevalence of eczema before and after the pandemic, the symptoms of eczema and its associated risk factors, as well as strategies to prevent and treat eczema.

The findings indicate a nearly two-fold increase in the prevalence of eczema in society during this pandemic. Most important risk factors associated with this finding were the frequency of hand washing, the use of gloves, and exposure to chemicals. Proper hand hygiene education and the use of emollients are the most important ways to prevent eczema.