Publication date: Sep 04, 2025
COVID-19 can affect the skin, with rosacea flare-ups reported after infection or vaccination. This study compared rosacea patients with and without post-COVID-19 exacerbation to identify contributing factors. A customized electronic questionnaire was administered to rosacea patients, gathering COVID-19 infection/vaccination status, demographics, and rosacea features. Participants were classified by post-COVID-19 rosacea exacerbation vs none. Multivariable logistic regression identified risk factors. Finally, a total of 104 patients were analysed; 15. 4% experienced rosacea exacerbation after COVID-19 vaccination and 28. 8% after infection. Comorbidities such as metabolic diseases or allergic diseases were associated with a higher risk of rosacea exacerbation after vaccination or infection (OR = 11. 083, 95% CI: 1. 136-108. 135). Burning and stinging symptoms predicted higher exacerbation risk after vaccination (OR = 8. 978, 95% CI 1. 968-40. 969). Papulopustular rosacea was associated with lower risk (OR = 0. 276, 95% CI: 0. 066-1. 160). Higher body mass index (BMI) was associated with lower exacerbation risk after vaccination (OR = 0. 646, 95% CI 0. 450-0. 928) and infection (OR = 0. 731, 95% CI: 0. 572-0. 933). Frequent rosacea episodes increased exacerbation risk after infection (OR = 8. 288, 95% CI: 2. 044-33. 608). In conclusion, lower BMI was associated with higher risk of rosacea exacerbation after COVID-19 vaccination or infection. Patients with burning and stinging symptoms or a non-papulopustular subtype were more likely to experience exacerbation after vaccination.
Semantics
| Type | Source | Name |
|---|---|---|
| disease | MESH | Rosacea |
| disease | MESH | COVID-19 |
| disease | MESH | Infection |
| disease | MESH | metabolic diseases |
| disease | MESH | Disease Progression |
| disease | MESH | Symptom Flare Up |