Ear‐looped face masks associated retro‐auricular abscesses during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Abstract Universal mask‐wearing has become public‐health recommendations and a necessity in daily life since coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Accumulating evidence suggests that facial masks may damage the skin. We present a series of six patients with ear‐looped face mask associated re...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2023-06-01
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| Series: | JEADV Clinical Practice |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/jvc2.114 |
| _version_ | 1827935866673168384 |
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| author | Irit Duek Sofi Matot Avital Baniel Narin N. C. Neiderman Oshri Wasserzug Yael Oestreicher‐Kedem |
| author_facet | Irit Duek Sofi Matot Avital Baniel Narin N. C. Neiderman Oshri Wasserzug Yael Oestreicher‐Kedem |
| author_sort | Irit Duek |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Universal mask‐wearing has become public‐health recommendations and a necessity in daily life since coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Accumulating evidence suggests that facial masks may damage the skin. We present a series of six patients with ear‐looped face mask associated retro‐auricular abscesses (RAAs) from a tertiary referral centre, observed between March 2020 and May 2021. Patients’ past medical history included recurrent skin abscess (n = 2), seborrhoeic dermatitis (n = 1) and pre‐existing postauricular cyst (n = 4). All patients reported prolonged use of ear‐looped face masks. Incision and drainage of the abscesses were carried out in all cases, followed by systemic antibiotic treatment. All patients recovered without complications and no recurrences (follow‐up 11−17 months). We hypothesise that ear‐looped face masks may promote the formation of RAAs. Possible mechanisms include local mechanical pressure, friction, changes in the skin's temperature, humidity and microbia, inducing local inflammation and infection, leading to retro‐auricular sebaceous duct obstruction. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:01:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-47fc354108f24b7491dc8be03f2aca60 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2768-6566 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:01:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | JEADV Clinical Practice |
| spelling | doaj.art-47fc354108f24b7491dc8be03f2aca602023-06-01T15:13:20ZengWileyJEADV Clinical Practice2768-65662023-06-012232632910.1002/jvc2.114Ear‐looped face masks associated retro‐auricular abscesses during the COVID‐19 pandemicIrit Duek0Sofi Matot1Avital Baniel2Narin N. C. Neiderman3Oshri Wasserzug4Yael Oestreicher‐Kedem5Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine Tel‐Aviv University Tel Aviv IsraelDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine Tel‐Aviv University Tel Aviv IsraelDepartment of Dermatology, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine Tel‐Aviv University Tel Aviv IsraelDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine Tel‐Aviv University Tel Aviv IsraelDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine Tel‐Aviv University Tel Aviv IsraelDepartment of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center, Tel Aviv, affiliated to the Sackler School of Medicine Tel‐Aviv University Tel Aviv IsraelAbstract Universal mask‐wearing has become public‐health recommendations and a necessity in daily life since coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Accumulating evidence suggests that facial masks may damage the skin. We present a series of six patients with ear‐looped face mask associated retro‐auricular abscesses (RAAs) from a tertiary referral centre, observed between March 2020 and May 2021. Patients’ past medical history included recurrent skin abscess (n = 2), seborrhoeic dermatitis (n = 1) and pre‐existing postauricular cyst (n = 4). All patients reported prolonged use of ear‐looped face masks. Incision and drainage of the abscesses were carried out in all cases, followed by systemic antibiotic treatment. All patients recovered without complications and no recurrences (follow‐up 11−17 months). We hypothesise that ear‐looped face masks may promote the formation of RAAs. Possible mechanisms include local mechanical pressure, friction, changes in the skin's temperature, humidity and microbia, inducing local inflammation and infection, leading to retro‐auricular sebaceous duct obstruction.https://doi.org/10.1002/jvc2.114adverse skin reactionCOVID‐19face maskpandemicretro‐auricular abscess |
| spellingShingle | Irit Duek Sofi Matot Avital Baniel Narin N. C. Neiderman Oshri Wasserzug Yael Oestreicher‐Kedem Ear‐looped face masks associated retro‐auricular abscesses during the COVID‐19 pandemic JEADV Clinical Practice adverse skin reaction COVID‐19 face mask pandemic retro‐auricular abscess |
| title | Ear‐looped face masks associated retro‐auricular abscesses during the COVID‐19 pandemic |
| title_full | Ear‐looped face masks associated retro‐auricular abscesses during the COVID‐19 pandemic |
| title_fullStr | Ear‐looped face masks associated retro‐auricular abscesses during the COVID‐19 pandemic |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ear‐looped face masks associated retro‐auricular abscesses during the COVID‐19 pandemic |
| title_short | Ear‐looped face masks associated retro‐auricular abscesses during the COVID‐19 pandemic |
| title_sort | ear looped face masks associated retro auricular abscesses during the covid 19 pandemic |
| topic | adverse skin reaction COVID‐19 face mask pandemic retro‐auricular abscess |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/jvc2.114 |
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