Doctors have identified another unusual symptom of the novel coronavirus: Purple or blue toes that look swollen and feel painful to the touch.Dubbed "COVID toes" by dermatologists, experts say the lesions have been popping up in younger people 맥스카지노� sometimes as their first or only sign of COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the coronavirus.맥스카지노�It맥스카지노�s not uncommon, when there맥스카지노�s a viral process, to have skin manifestations,맥스카지노� explains Amy Paller, M.D., department chair of dermatology at Northwestern University and one of the first dermatologists to link the symptom to COVID-19. "This is not just in older children, although I맥스카지노�m seeing it particularly between age 11 and college age."Dr. Paller emphasizes that this is an 맥스카지노�early observation,맥스카지노� meaning there맥스카지노�s no conclusive research on the symptom and that evidence is purely anecdotal at this point.And not everyone with the symptom has tested positive for the virus, so it맥스카지노�s not totally clear how or whether these lesions are directly related to COVID-19.맥스카지노�Are we just catching it too late, and maybe in the first few days, in some individuals, there is active virus?맥스카지노� Dr. Paller said. 맥스카지노�Or is it really a sign of ? We really don맥스카지노�t know that yet.맥스카지노�This isn맥스카지노�t the first skin issue linked to COVID-19.One small report from March, compiled by dermatologists who worked with 88 coronavirus patients in Italy, found that 20% of those people had skin-related symptoms. The most common skin condition among these patients was a red, patchy rash.맥스카지노�We know that there맥스카지노�s more of this, and we suspect it may be related to COVID-19,맥스카지노� Dr. Paller said, but more testing is necessary before any definitive link can be established. Here맥스카지노�s everything doctors know about COVID toes so far 맥스카지노� and what to do if this symptom arises.What do COVID toes look like?COVID toes look a lot like frostbite or pernio, an inflammatory skin condition that causes sores.This leaves the area looking puffy and discolored, often red or purple, said Dr. Paller. Toes may also feel sensitive, itchy, or painful, and perhaps even like they맥스카지노�re burning. As the symptom runs its course, the affected skin may start to crack and peel as it heals.Lesions appear on the bottoms or tops of toes, and can also manifest on the fingers, although this is less common, explains Ebbing Lautenbach, M.D., chief of infectious diseases at the University of Pennsylvania맥스카지노�s Perelman School of Medicine.What맥스카지노�s more, patients often experience COVID toes without other telltale signs of the novel coronavirus, like a fever, dry cough, or shortness of breath.맥스카지노�Almost all of the individuals who are reporting have no symptoms that we would relate to COVID-19, or very mild ones,맥스카지노� Dr. Paller explains. Why might the novel coronavirus cause COVID toes?It맥스카지노�s a bit of a question mark right now, Dr. Lautenbach explains. But experts suspect the skin issue could be a result of both the body맥스카지노�s natural inflammatory response to the virus or 맥스카지노�blood clotting issues in people with COVID-19 infections,맥스카지노� he said.Because COVID toes are more common in young people, that may serve as a clue.맥스카지노�We know that the immune response, in general, gets less robust as we get older,맥스카지노� Dr. Lautenbach explains.In turn, COVID toes might be a sign of a 맥스카지노�brisk immune response맥스카지노� to the virus, but more research is needed to know for sure.Dermatologists suspect a similar link in COVID-19 patients who are developing skin rashes, though.맥스카지노�We don맥스카지노�t understand exactly why, but many viruses that cause upper respiratory tract infections also causes rashes in the skin known as exanthems,맥스카지노� Joshua Zeichner, M.D., director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, recently told Prevention.맥스카지노�Perhaps these are the result of our immune system reacting the virus or the virus may have a direct effect on the skin itself.맥스카지노�What should you do if you think you have COVID toes?The good news: COVID toes could be a sign that the body is on the mend.맥스카지노�We have very little information about whether there맥스카지노�s any contagion with this disorder,맥스카지노� Dr. Paller explained. 맥스카지노�We don맥스카지노�t have strong evidence that there is active virus in those people.맥스카지노�Plus, the symptom will likely resolve itself.맥스카지노�They usually clear up, on average, after about seven to 10 days,맥스카지노� Dr. Lautenbach said.If there's uncomfortable pain or swelling, Dr. Paller recommends nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory meds (NSAIDs), like Advil or Aleve. For itchiness, topical corticosteroids like Cortizone work well. Because doctors don맥스카지노�t know exactly when the lesions could be appearing during the disease맥스카지노�s progression, it never hurts to get a second opinion from a dermatologist if OTC remedies aren맥스카지노�t helping. Skin issues can be caused by various irritations 맥스카지노� and it맥스카지노�s possible these patients may be dealing with something else entirely.Dr. Paller also said it맥스카지노�s crucial to talk to a doctor if any other symptoms of COVID-19 are present. From there, they should be able to guide you on the next best steps.It맥스카지노�s important to remember that COVID-19 is caused by a new virus, and there맥스카지노�s a lot of experts don맥스카지노�t know about it yet, including all of the ways it impacts the body. Dr. Lautenbach said that discovering some symptoms 맥스카지노� outside of respiratory issues and fever 맥스카지노� will take time. 맥스카지노�As we learn more, as we see more patients, and as more get described, we learn about a variety of other things that seem to be related to the disease course,맥스카지노� he said. 맥스카지노�This is just the latest in those examples.맥스카지노�