Are the Increased Frequency of Hand Washing After the COVID-19 Pandemic and Xerosis on the Hands Associated with the Occurrence of Hand Warts?

Abstract

Aim: The COVID-19 pandemic has changed hand-washing habits. Exposure to water more frequently and time than normal causes dryness, dermatitis, and damage to the skin barrier. We aimed to investigate the relationship between the frequency and duration of exposure to water on the hands, obsession with hand washing, and warts on the hands. Material and Method: A questionnaire was administered to hand warts group (n=94), plantar warts group (n=46), and healthy volunteers (n=30) questioning the factors that predispose to wart formation, hygiene behaviors, hand moisturizing habits, and hand washing obsession. The presence of warts, localization, number, and clinical type, presence of xerosis, and hand dermatitis were recorded. Data from the hand warts group were compared with control groups of healthy volunteers with plantar warts. Results: The total exposure time of the hands to water per day was significantly higher in hand warts group than in the plantar warts group and healthy ones (<0.001, both). While xerosis was observed in 51.1% of the hand warts group, further clinical evaluation was recommended with the suspicion of handwashing obsession in 26.6%. The suspicion of handwashing obsession was reinforced by bilateral warts, hand dorsum involvement, more than one anatomical region involvement, and a high number of warts (p=0.039, p=0.048, p=0.027, p=0.018; respectively). Conclusion: Water exposure might be a novel unrecognized risk factor for hand warts. Patients with hand warts should be evaluated regarding OCD and the need for moisturizer by questioning the frequency of handwashing.