Procedural dermatology during COVID 19 pandemic

Abstract

The Corona virus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has imposed unprecedented challenges on the healthcare system including the specialty of dermatology. Procedural dermatology being an integral part of the specialty has also been profoundly affected where all elective and cosmetic procedures are presently being deferred, giving priority only to urgent and inescapable dermatologic procedures to curb down the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in hospitals. With no certainty as to when the pandemic is going to end, procedural dermatology will be resumed in times to come, which must be taken up with cautious precautions. Dermatosurgeons must formulate protocols, restructure their facilities, and implement stringent measures with the aim to limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2, providing, at the same time, essential surgical care to patients. This review highlights the salient precautions to be observed in a dermatosurgery facility based on the current recommendations. The situation, however, remains fluid and as the pandemic is evolving, dermatosurgeons should remain vigilant and acquaint themselves with the latest guidelines.

Keywords

• covid-19
• dermatosurgery
• precautions
• procedural dermatology
• sars-cov-2