Side effects after hyaluronic acid facial injection in adults during COVID‐19 pandemic

• Published in: Journal of cosmetic dermatology 2023-06, Vol.22 (6), p.1714-1719
• Main Authors: López, Petra Vega, García, Paloma Tejero, López‐Pitalúa, Juan Antonio, Pinto, Hernán
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; adverse reactions; Clinical medicine; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - prevention & control; COVID-19 vaccines; delayed inflammatory reactions; Dermal fillers; Edema; facial fillers; Female; Humans; Hyaluronic acid; Hyaluronic Acid - adverse effects; Infections; Male; Middle Aged; Pandemics; Pandemics - prevention & control; Patients; Retrospective Studies; RNA, Viral; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Skin; Variables
• ISSN: 1473-2130; 1473-2165
• DOI: 10.1111/jocd.15780

Background Different causes may be responsible for delayed inflammatory reactions after hyaluronic acid injections, among them several mechanisms of SARS‐CoV‐2. Aims The study's objective was to assess the percentage of adverse reactions after hyaluronic acid injections in a cohort of adult patients with a test for SARS‐CoV‐2 or vaccinated during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Patients/Methods An observational, retrospective, comparative, multi‐center, non‐interventional in a real‐life setting study was carried out with patients treated with facial injections of hyaluronic acid from May to September 2021, with a test to discard SARS‐COV 2 or that had been vaccinated. Results Sixty‐three patients were included. Seven (11.1%) were vaccinated patients without a test for SaRS‐CoV‐2 and 56 (88.9%) with antigenic or PCR screening tests (18 [32.1%] negative and 39 [69.6%] positives for COVID‐19). The mean age was 51.3 (SD 12.71; range 23–70), and 57 (90.5%) were female. Twenty‐three patients (36.5%) had a history of adverse events with hyaluronic acid injections. During the study, 15 adverse events were reported; 11 patients (73.3%) had a history (p = 0.0018); two patients (13.3%) had been vaccinated; 13 (86.7%) had performed a SARS‐CoV2 test (six [46.2%] negatives, and seven [53.8%] with a positive result; p = 0.5969). All adverse study events were resolved, and none had sequelae. Conclusion Adverse events after hyaluronic acid facial injections were higher among patients with a history but not among those diagnosed with COVID‐19. The new scenario related to COVID‐19 infections or vaccinations would require readapting criteria for applying hyaluronic acid injections.