A potential symptom to COVID-19 may have been discovered. A rash similar to a frost-bite on an individual's toes could be a symptom to the deadly illness, says a recent article. However, research is required to identify if COVID-19 causes this rash.

The rash that is pinkish to reddish can turn purple over time. In some cases, it causes a burning sensation, says Massachusetts General Hospital dermatologist Esther Freeman. However, the inflammation disappears in two to three weeks without the need for any treatment, Freeman added.

COVID Toes

As of the moment, the latest data reveals that many people who got COVID toes are either asymptomatic to the deadly illness or have mild cases, Freeman says. Additionally, this type of rash is typically observed in younger cases of COVID-19, such as minors and those in their 20s or early 30s, Freeman added.

Freeman does not want everyone to think that they will end up on a ventilator in the ICU if they see purple spots on their toes.

Still Much to Learn 

According to Freeman and her colleagues, there is still much to learn about the illness. She is a member of a task force in the American Academy of Dermatology that created an online COVID-19 dermatology registry. Through this registry, healthcare workers can report skin-related concerns that are perceived as linked to COVID-19.

The group aims to help doctors have an understanding of the connection between the skin and COVID-19. Also, it targets to identify if any of the skin conditions specified in the database can help with the early detection of the illness.

Based on a recent report, more or less than half of the approximately 300 database entries include cases of COVID toes.

The Toes

According to Freeman, the toe rashes in the database include skin bumps or skin sores that are also called chilblains or pernio. Normally, it occurs when someone's foot gets exposed to intensely cold temperatures. Since the rashes are appearing during spring and in COVID-19 patients, there is a low chance that cold temperatures cause the rashes.

Some dermatologists say that there is a possibility that the inflammation in the toes is the cause of the rash. While others suggest that the small blood clots on the blood vessels located in the toes may be the cause of the inflammation. Furthermore, some believe that the walls of the blood vessels are inflamed by vasculitis.

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The First Mention of the Term

One of the first mentions of COVID toes occurred in the earlier parts of April when a French medical practitioner stated that the rash looked like a pseudo-frostbite.

On April 18, COVID-19 related toe rashes were mentioned again in a case report in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. It reported about a Belgian student who is 23 years old and was suffering from "COVID-19 infection-induced chilblains."