Mask exemptions for facial skin diseases: are they warranted?

Patel, Kajal; Nixon, Rosemary L

doi:10.5694/mja2.51513

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To the editor: Clinicians are faced with requests for mask exemptions but guidance remains limited. In keeping with the Australasian College of Dermatologists’ guidelines,1 we believe skin problems are rarely severe enough to warrant exemption.

Occupational Dermatology Research and Education Centre, Skin Health Institute, Melbourne, VIC

Correspondence: kapatel91@doctors.org.uk

Competing interests:

No relevant disclosures.

1. Australasian College of Dermatologists. Guidelines for exemption from face mask use during the COVID‐19 pandemic if there is facial skin disease 2021. https://www.dermcoll.edu.au/wp‐content/uploads/2021/09/COVID‐19_Guidelines‐for‐exemption‐from‐face‐mask‐use‐if‐facial‐skin‐disease.pdf (viewed Jan 2022)
2. State Government of Victoria. Face masks — when to wear a face mask. https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/face‐masks‐when‐wear‐face‐mask#exceptions‐for‐not‐wearing‐a‐face‐mask (viewed Jan 2022).
3. McIntyre WJ, Downs MR, Bedwell SA. Treatment options for actinic keratoses. Am Fam Physician 2007; 76: 667‐671.
4. Prather KA, Wang CC, Schooley RT. Reducing transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2. Science 2020; 368: 1422‐1424.
5. Keng BMH, Gan WH, Tam YC, Oh CC. Personal protective equipment‐related occupational dermatoses during COVID‐19 among health care workers: a worldwide systematic review. JAAD Int 2021; 5: 85‐95.

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