According to a report by JAMA Dermatology, as COVID-19 infection spreads globally, dermatologists are recognizing a variety of skin manifestations in patients with the coronavirus. JAMA Network Open is a monthly, open-access, medical journal published by the American Medical Association covering all aspects of the biomedical sciences.
JAMA wrote that a recent Spanish report categorized skin findings in 375 patients with suspected and confirmed COVID-19, including livedoid, a blood vessel disorder that causes painful ulcers and scarring on the feet and lower legs, and necrotic eruptions, which were noted in patients with more severe disease.
Necrosis is a form of cell injury which results in the premature death of cells in living tissue through the destruction of cells or tissues by their own enzymes. Necrosis is caused by factors external to the cell or tissue, such as infection, or trauma.
The authors suggested that these skin manifestations may be associated with occlusive vascular disease, which is a disease that predominantly manifests in the lower extremities i.e. arms and legs.