Cutaneous manifestations following COVID-19 vaccination: A report of 25 cases

Dermatol Ther. 2022 Aug;35(8):e15651. doi: 10.1111/dth.15651. Epub 2022 Jul 4.

Abstract

Various adverse effects particularly cutaneous manifestations associated with different COVID-19 vaccines have been observed in practice. The aim of our study was to evaluate all patients who presented to our tertiary center with skin manifestations following COVID-19 vaccines injection from September to December 2021. All patients with skin manifestation within 30 days or less following COVID-19 vaccination were enrolled in our case-series. All cases included in our study were diagnosed based on clinical and/or histopathological evaluation and all other possible differential diagnoses were ruled out. Twenty-five individuals including 16 (64%) males and 9 (36%) females with the mean age of 47 ± 17.62 years (range 18-91) were enrolled in our study. Twenty-two (88%) patients developed lesions after Sinopharm vaccine injection and 3 (12%) cases manifested lesions after the AstraZeneca vaccine. Six (24%) patients developed new-onset lichen planus (LP) and 1 (4%) patient manifested LP flare-up. Two (8%) individuals developed psoriasis and 1 (4%) case showed psoriasis exacerbation. One (4%) patient developed new-onset pemphigus vulgaris (PV) and 1 (4%) case experienced a flare of PV lesions. One (4%) patient manifested pityriasis lichenoides et varioliformis acuta (PLEVA) flare-up. Other new-onset cases were as follows: toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) (n = 1, 4%), bullous pemphigoid (BP) (n = 2, 8%), alopecia areata (AA) (n = 2, 8%), pytriasis rosea (n = 1, 4%), herpes zoster (n = 1, 4%), cutaneous small vessel vasculitis (n = 1, 4%), erythema multiform (EM) and urticaria (n = 3, 12%), and morphea (n = 1, 4%). Physicians should be aware of the possible side effects especially cutaneous manifestations associated with COVID-19 vaccines.

Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccine; astrazeneca; side-effect; sinopharm.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • COVID-19 Vaccines* / adverse effects
  • COVID-19* / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pemphigus* / chemically induced
  • Pityriasis Lichenoides* / chemically induced
  • Psoriasis* / chemically induced
  • Vaccination / adverse effects
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • COVID-19 Vaccines