Is there such a thing as COVID skin?

A few weeks ago, U.K. beauty columnist Sali Hughes posted a video on Instagram that resonated with many. In it, she shared that she’d had COVID over Christmas and that her skin had “gone bananas.”

About a day after testing positive, Hughes says her skin started to feel super itchy. And when she applied the usual products in her regimen, they stung her face.

Currently, there are 210 comments on the post, many echoing Hughes’s experience. “OMG! This is exactly what has been happening to me for a couple of months now. I kept calling it my COVID face!” wrote one follower.

Hughes emphasized that she is incredibly grateful that this was the worst symptom she endured as a result of catching the virus. But nonetheless, she says, “COVID skin is a real thing.”

But is it? Health Canada does list “skin manifestations” as a “rare symptom” of COVID, meaning that it has been found to occur in less than 10 per cent of people infected with the virus. But what constitutes “skin manifestations” exactly?

“I saw three people today who were like, ‘This [skin condition] has been happening to me since I got COVID,’” says Dr. Geeta Yadav, a Toronto-based dermatologist.

At the moment, the literature on the possible dermatological effects of the virus is quite limited. “Probably in six months from now, we might read more about it,” says Yadav.

However, it does make sense that people might be noticing changes in their skin as a result of falling ill, she says. “You can get a number of different rashes from any viral illness.” They’re called “viral exanthem” and present as flat, red patches. They’re more common in children, though you frequently hear about people with mono having them.

But rashes are just one of the possible skin issues that can arise from being sick. “A lot of things can happen when your body is under duress,” explains Yadav. “Your acne can flare up, your rosacea can flare up, your psoriasis can flare up. So it’s not the virus itself, but it’s those underlying conditions that start to flare.”

She likens it to the hair loss that can occur after someone’s undergone a major surgery or given birth. The New York Times actually published a story last year about doctors seeing an increase in patients shedding an abnormal amount of hair during the pandemic. “It’s called telogen effluvium and it’s a stress response,” says Yadav.

It’s not necessarily about feeling stressed, but rather physical stress, “the toll on your body,” she says. Even your nails can display that, but because they grow pretty slowly, you wouldn’t notice it immediately. For example, you could get a fever and then four or five months later, you’d start seeing ridges on your fingernails, a phenomenon known as Beau’s lines. With skin, the effects of stressors tend to manifest more quickly.

It’s also quite common for skin to feel crepey when someone is feverish or sick. “Maybe you didn’t consume enough fluids or you weren’t feeling well enough to eat. There’s a whole bunch of factors in that setting that can dehydrate and irritate the skin,” says Yadav.

Couple that with harsh winter temperatures and indoor heating and you’ve got a perfect storm for dry, scaly, itchy skin. If those adjectives describe the current state of your epidermis, the pro recommends moisturizing liberally (look for a cream that’s fragrance-free), taking lukewarm baths or showers instead of hot ones, drinking lots of fluids and considering getting a humidifier if the air in your home is dry.

You’ll also want to lay off any potentially irritating actives. “When your skin is really dry and you use products like retinoids or vitamin C, they’ll sting,” says the expert. Instead, look for ingredients that add moisture, like hyaluronic acid, and help your skin retain it, like ceramides.

That’s what Huges did when her skin started feeling more reactive, swapping her go-to serums and creams for a gentler, more pared-down routine. Her advice for anyone going through the same situation? “Don’t do very much.”

A less-is-more approach should indeed do the trick for most people, says Yadav. Though if someone is dealing with severe and persistent eczema, she encourages them to consult a dermatologist, who’ll be able to prescribe something to calm the inflammation down.

For the most part, if your skin issues “are truly related to illness and feeling unwell, then they should pass on their own,” says the expert, though it may take a while. “It’s important for people to be patient. A viral rash can sometimes take 12 weeks to resolve, so it’s just a matter of taking your time and letting your skin heal.”

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The gentle cleanser: An oldie but a goodie, Cetaphil has been recommended by dermatologists for more than 70 years. That’s because it cleanses skin without stripping it of moisture or aggravating any sensitivity. In fact, it’s so mild, it’s even suitable for those with eczema, rosacea and psoriasis.

La Roche-Posay Toleriane Sensitive Crème, $26, laroche-posay.ca SHOP HERE

The calming moisturizer: Made for the most sensitive complexions, this soothing facial cream banks on prebiotics to preserve skin’s natural microbiome as well as ceramides to strengthen the barrier function. Not only does it provide 48-hour hydration, but it actually helps to reduce sensitivity over time.

Aveeno Eczema Care Moisturizing Cream, $11, amazon.ca SHOP HERE

The eczema-relieving cream: Developed with leading dermatologists, this cream harnesses the power of colloidal oatmeal to bring comfort to those who suffer from eczema. It’s been clinically shown to help reduce itch and irritation and is gentle enough to use on people of all ages, even babies.

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Katherine Lalancette is the beauty director of The Kit, based in Toronto. She writes about beauty and trends. Reach her on email at [email protected] or follow her on Twitter: @kik_tweets