ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic impacted the delivery of healthcare services and medical treatments to many patients, including those with benign skin conditions such as keloids. However, direct impact of the COVID-19 illness on the biology of the keloid disorder has not been previously reported in the literature.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of COIVD-19 on biology of keloid disorder.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: Following report of a patient who noticed worsening of his chest keloid, a survey was sent to 4,492 keloid patients in February 2022 to collect anonymous information about the impact of COVID-19 on the biology and behaviour of keloid lesions. 45% of recipients opened the e mail and 6% clicked on the link to the survey. 85 subjects (1.9%) completed the survey.
RESULTS: Among eighty five respondents who completed the survey, 43(51%) reported having tested positive for COVID. Fifteen respondents reported that their keloids became more swollen, became more symptomatic, or experienced rapid rate of growth on stable keloids.
DISCUSSION: To the author’s knowledge, direct impact of COVID-19 disease on the biology of keloid disorder has not been previously described. Dysregulated inflammatory immune response associated with significant cytokine release from COVID-19 infection is most likely the underlying triggering factor that causes change in behavior and biology of keloid disorder. Further investigation into the impact of COVID-19 and keloid biology is warranted.