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Background Adherence to treatment is important in chronic dermatological diseases. There are limited data regarding the adherence to treatment in patients with psoriasis during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Aims We aimed to determine the rates of adherence to systemic treatments in patients with psoriasis and to identify the causes of non‐adherence during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Methods We conducted a cross‐sectional multicenter study from May 2021 to August 2021. A questionnaire including items regarding sociodemographic characteristics of the patients, disease‐related characteristics, and treatment‐related characteristics were filled out by the physicians. The Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI), Hospital Anxiety, and Depression Scale, and the Dermatology Life Quality Index were calculated. The rate of adherence and non‐adherence to treatment and reasons for non‐adherence to treatment were examined. Results A total of 342 patients with psoriasis were included (182 male/160 female) in the study. The mean age of the patients was 45.9 ± 14.2 years. The average duration of psoriasis was 192 ± 134.7 months. While the rate of adherence to treatment was 57.6%, the rate of non‐adherence to treatment was 42.4%. There were no significant differences with respect to adherence to treatment in comparison with oral and injection‐therapy groups. The most frequent reasons for non‐adherence to treatment were inability to go to the hospital (19.2%), concern about the COVID‐19 infection (16.3%), discontinuation of the treatment by the doctor (13.7%), inability to reach the doctor (7.3%), and inability to have access to the medication (7.3%). Conclusion Adherence to oral and injection therapies was fairly high among our patients with psoriasis during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Psoriasis severity and duration of medication use had a negative impact on adherence to treatment.

BackgroundHand eczema (HE) has increased among healthcare workers (HCWs) working in coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) units, and was associated with increased hand hygiene practices.ObjectivesTo compare the prevalence and clinical characteristics of HE, and hand hygiene practices in HCWs working in COVID‐19 and non‐COVID‐19 units.MethodsA total of 244 HCWs working in COVID‐19 (n = 118) and non‐COVID‐19 patient care units (n = 126) were examined by dermatologists with regard to demographic parameters and hand hygiene practices. The COVID‐19 and non‐COVID‐19 groups were matched at a 1:1 ratio according to age, atopy, and generalized dry skin.ResultsHE was more frequent in the COVID‐19 group (48.3% vs 12.7%, P < .001), whereas working years (P < .05) and additional housework at home (P < .001) were longer in the non‐COVID‐19 group. After the development of HE, moisturizing creams were reported to be more frequently used in the COVID group (P < .001). Topical corticosteroids were used in a minority (40% in the COVID group and 26.7% in the non‐COVID group).ConclusionsHCWs in COVID‐19 units developed HE more frequently. A majority increased the frequency of moisturizer use, instead of using topical corticosteroids, after the development of HE for the purpose of treating eczema. New approaches are needed for the prevention and management of HE in HCWs, especially by facilitating access to dermatologists.

The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID‐19) outbreak significantly affected the clinical practice in hospitals and the management of many diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pandemic‐related factors on the severity and course of chronic urticaria (CU). A total of 194 CU patients who were on regular follow‐up, were enrolled in the study. The disease activity was assessed by means of the weekly urticaria activity score (UAS7) and urticaria control test (UCT). Patients were divided into two subgroups according to their disease aggravation as “aggravated” and “non‐aggravated”. Two groups were compared in terms of demographic, clinical, COVID‐19‐associated parameters, and parameters related with the effect of COVID‐19 pandemic on CU management. The omalizumab use was statistically higher (P = .017), and the systemic corticosteroid use was statistically lower (P = .025) in the “aggravated” group. Adherence to quarantine was significantly lower in the “aggravated” group (P = .027). 173 patients (89.2%) were unable to contact a dermatologist during the pandemic. Among 186 patients who received treatment for CU before the pandemic, 48 (25.8%) did not continue the existing treatment during the pandemic. CU aggravated in one patient with COVID‐19 and remained stable in the other. This study showed that CU patients, especially those on omalizumab therapy, had difficulties in attending medical care and even in the maintenance of their existing therapies during the pandemic. Creating novel follow‐up and treatment models as well as the increased use of teledermatology might be beneficial in the management of this life‐disturbing condition.

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