Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of occupational skin diseases among health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in a general hospital in the center of Saudi Arabia. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from March - May 2021, at King Khaled General Hospital, Al-Majmaah, Saudi Arabia. A self-administered online questionnaire was distributed among healthcare professionals. The questionnaire asked about the severity of skin damage and the frequency or duration of various infection-prevention measures. Results: About 68.2% had newly onset of obvious skin damage while 31.8 % didn't had the skin damages, 21.6% of the new onset of obvious skin damages on fingertips, 46.6% in hands, 22.4% in palms, 3.4% on the face, and 6.0% under the eyes. Around 30% of the symptoms at the damaged site had itching, 44.7% dryness, 12.8% burning/pain, and 12.8% had tenderness. Around 17% of the type of skin lesion was peeling, 28.2% fissure, 18.8% erosion/ulcer, 24.7% redness, 4.7% papule (pimples), and 7.1% were others. Conclusion: Due to heightened preventive measures, frontline doctors are at a higher risk of acquiring skin damage. To address the risk factors and limit skin damage, appropriate measures should be performed. For the best results, persistent instances should be referred to a dermatologist.