Investigators in Brazil concluded that the severity of acute COVID-19 did not differ among patients with vitiligo, atopic dermatitis, psoriasis and other skin diseases. However, different treatments were linked to specific changes in the course of skin diseases. 

• Antimalarials and hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 were associated with clinical worsening of vitiligo. (Actually, antimalarials are oxidative drugs whose additional stress on melanocytes can influence active vitiligo.)
• Oral corticosteroids for the treatment of vitiligo lead to greater clinical impairment.
• Antihistamines for dermatological diseases were also associated with a longer symptomatic period in cases of acute COVID-19.
• Investigators believe the use of oral glucocorticoids, which were used in cases of unstable vitiligo and chronic urticaria, indicated increased exacerbation caused by viral infection.

Overall, hospitalization due to COVID-19 did not differ between respondents with and without skin diseases, though a lower rate of hospitalization was noted for respondents with vitiligo who used oral antioxidants (e.g. vitamin E, vitamin C or Polypodium leucotomos). 

 

Further reading: Am I at higher risk of catching SARS-CoV-2 if I have vitiligo?