Increased Prevalence of Face Mask—Induced Itch in Health Care Workers

SIMPLE SUMMARY: The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence, intensity and clinical characteristics of face-mask-induced itch during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in the health care workers (HCW) group. A Google(®) Forms Internet survey was completed by 1156 HCW. Of the people who wore face masks (three layers of surgical, cloth, respirators and half-face masks), 31.6% reported itch. Sensitive skin, atopic predisposition and facial dermatoses significantly predisposed users to the development of itch. The vast majority of subjects reported itch of moderate intensity. Itch in HCW may cause scratching and decrease the effectiveness of the necessary protection. The results indicate that face-mask-associated itch is an important problem, which should be addressed in future studies. The decreased protection may lead to the spread of the virus among health care workers and their shortage during the pandemic. ABSTRACT: Background: Face mask use has increased significantly due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Health care workers (HCW) wear masks for prolonged periods and are prone to adverse effects. Very little is known about face-mask-associated itch. Methods: This Internet survey study investigated the prevalence, intensity and clinical characteristics of itch related to the use of face masks by HCW during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results were subsequently compared to the students’ group. Results: A total of 1156 HCW completed the survey. Among them, 31.6% (365) reported suffering from itch associated with face mask use. Itch was more frequent among females. Moreover, subjects who reported sensitive skin, atopic predispositions and facial dermatoses tended to report itch more frequently. The worst case of itch in the seven days prior to the study, assessed with the numeric rating scale (NRS), was 4.6 ± 2.0 points. Itch prevalence increased along with the duration of face mask use, being 34.6% among those who wore masks for more than 4 h. HCW reported itch significantly more frequently than students. Conclusions: Face-mask-associated itch is a frequent problem among HCW in the COVID-19 pandemic. Itch sensation may cause scratching, which may decrease necessary protection during the pandemic.