Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has associated cutaneous manifestations.
Objective: To characterize the diversity of cutaneous manifestations of COVID-19 and facilitate understanding of the underlying pathophysiology.
Methods: Case series from an international registry from the American Academy of Dermatology and International League of Dermatological Societies.
Results: The registry collected 716 cases of new-onset dermatologic symptoms in patients with confirmed/suspected COVID-19. Of the 171 patients in the registry with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, the most common morphologies were morbilliform (22%), pernio-like (18%), urticarial (16%), macular erythema (13%), vesicular (11%), papulosquamous (9.9%), and retiform purpura (6.4%). Pernio-like lesions were common in patients with mild disease, whereas retiform purpura presented exclusively in ill, hospitalized patients.
Limitations: We cannot estimate incidence or prevalence. Confirmation bias is possible.
Conclusions: This study highlights the array of cutaneous manifestations associated with COVID-19. Many morphologies were nonspecific, whereas others may provide insight into potential immune or inflammatory pathways in COVID-19 pathophysiology.
Keywords: COVID toes; COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; dermatology; global health; macular erythema; morbilliform; pernio; public health; registry; retiform purpura; urticarial; vesicular.
Copyright © 2020 American Academy of Dermatology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.