Objective:

To measure the prevalence of skin lesions in health personnel related to the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic.

Methods:

A cross-sectional, descriptive and quantitative study was carried out; A questionnaire was applied to medical and nursing staff who treated patients with COVID-19, the most frequent adverse reactions caused by: masks, gloves, glasses, protective clothing and alcohol gel were quantified.

Results:

90 people participated, of which 81 (90%) presented skin lesions associated with PPE. The accessory that caused the most injuries was the mask (87.7%), followed by glasses (85.5%) and alcohol gel (82.2%). The most frequent reaction to masks was nasal bridge ulcer (68.9%); in glasses it was pressure injury to the forehead (76.7%); and due to the use of alcohol gel it was dryness (75.5%).

Conclusions:

Prolonged use (>5 hours) of PPE can cause adverse skin effects in healthcare personnel. The mask was the accessory that generated the most skin lesions, with pressure ulcers on the nasal bridge being the most frequent.