Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsVaccine Safety and EczemaAvailable VaccinesSide EffectsBefore VaccinationRisks of COVID-19
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Vaccine Safety and Eczema
Available Vaccines
Side Effects
Before Vaccination
Risks of COVID-19
If you haveeczema, you may be concerned that COVID-19 vaccines will trigger symptoms. However, research shows that there have only been 14 reports of flare-ups of the condition and seven reports of new cases of eczema following COVID-19 vaccines. What’s more, these reactions may have been misdiagnosed.
COVID-19 vaccines can prevent people from becoming infected with the virus, and lower the risk of developing severe symptoms that could lead to hospitalization, long-term illness, or even death. They are recommended and safe for most people, including those who have eczema.
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Safety
Whether you have eczema that you treat with a topical substance or a systemic medication that you take as a pill or injection, it is safe to get a COVID-19 vaccine.Even if you are having an eczema flare, there is no data to suggest you should not have a COVID-19 vaccine.
If you suddenly develop eczema symptoms, a healthcare provider can help you identify the trigger. The condition can flare due to a variety of factors, including dry skin, allergens, irritants, environmental changes, and even stress.
People who take medication for eczema that affects the immune system should avoid “live” vaccines (those that contain a weakened version of a virus), but none of the COVID-19 vaccines are live.
There are two types of COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that everyone age 6 months and older receive an updated version of the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine. These new shots protect against the virus strains that are predominantly in circulation. The Novavax vaccine is safe for people aged 12 and older.
Some people who get a COVID-19 vaccine may haveside effects, but there is no evidence to suggest that people with eczema are more likely to have a reaction than people who do not have the condition.
Vaccine side effects tend to be mild and go away on their own within a few days. Common reactions include:
Severe reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine are rare and vaccines rarely cause any long-term side effects.
Precautions
If you take an eczema medication that affects your immune system, it could, in theory, reduce the effectiveness of the COVID-19 vaccine.Your healthcare provider may suggest adjusting your medication schedule around your vaccination.
Anyone who has had an allergic reaction to a previous COVID-19 vaccine should talk to their healthcare provider before getting vaccinated again. They will recommend a vaccine that is least likely to cause a reaction.
COVID-19 Infection and Eczema
Any virus can trigger an eczema flare, so it’s not surprising that some people feel like COVID-19 makes their eczema symptoms worse.Research also suggests there’s a connection between a COVID-19 infection and a higher risk of developing eczema, but future studies are needed.
Eczema does not affect whether a person will have severe symptoms during a COVID-19 infection. The vaccine effectively reduces the risk of having a serious case of COVID-19 and makes it less likely that you will contract it.
Summary
There are no additional risks from the COVID-19 vaccines for people with eczema. Studies reported that a handful of people had an eczema flare after getting the vaccine, but this could have been due to factors other than the vaccine itself.
Even if you are on an injectable medication for eczema, you can still safely get the COVID-19 vaccine. The benefits of being protected from COVID-19 and protecting others far outweigh any risks of vaccination.
12 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Martora F, Battista T, Ruggiero A, Scalvenzi M, Villani A, Megna M, Potestio L.The Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination on Inflammatory Skin Disorders and Other Cutaneous Diseases: A Review of the Published Literature. Viruses. 2023 Jun 23;15(7):1423. doi: 10.3390/v15071423. PMID: 37515110; PMCID: PMC10384785.Leasure AC, Cowper SE, McNiff J, Cohen JM.Generalized eczematous reactions to the Pfizer‐BioNTech COVID‐19 vaccine.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021;35(11):e716-e717. doi:10.1111/jdv.17494.Potestio L, Napolitano M, et al.Atopic dermatitis exacerbation after COVID‐19 vaccination in dupilumab‐treated patients.Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022;36(6):e409-e411. doi:10.1111/jdv.17964Pierre Fabre Eczema Foundation.COVID-19 vaccination in atopic patients.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 Vaccine Basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine.National Eczema Association.Ask the ecz-perts: Covid-19, vaccines, booster shots and flaring from the virus.Picard M, Drolet JP, Masse MS, Filion CA, ALMuhizi F, Fein M, Copaescu A, Isabwe GAC, Blaquière M, Primeau MN.Safety of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with polyethylene glycol allergy: A case series. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022 Feb;10(2):620-625.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2021.11.021. Epub 2021 Dec 20. PMID: 34949564; PMCID: PMC8685412.National Eczema Association.5 Lesser-Known Eczema Triggers (and How to Avoid Them).National Eczema Association.Ask the ecz-perts: Covid-19, vaccines, booster shots and flaring from the virus.Schmitt, J., Ehm, F., Vivirito, A., Wende, D., Batram, M., Loser, F., Menzer, S., Ludwig, M., Roessler, M., Seifert, M., König, C., Schulte, C., Buschmann, T., Hertle, D., Ballesteros, P., Baßler, S., Bertele, B., Bitterer, T., Riederer, C., Sobik, F., Kind, B., Abraham, S. and Tesch, F. (2024),Large cohort study shows increased risk of developing atopic dermatitis after COVID-19 disease.Allergy, 79: 232-234.https://doi.org/10.1111/all.15827
12 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Martora F, Battista T, Ruggiero A, Scalvenzi M, Villani A, Megna M, Potestio L.The Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination on Inflammatory Skin Disorders and Other Cutaneous Diseases: A Review of the Published Literature. Viruses. 2023 Jun 23;15(7):1423. doi: 10.3390/v15071423. PMID: 37515110; PMCID: PMC10384785.Leasure AC, Cowper SE, McNiff J, Cohen JM.Generalized eczematous reactions to the Pfizer‐BioNTech COVID‐19 vaccine.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021;35(11):e716-e717. doi:10.1111/jdv.17494.Potestio L, Napolitano M, et al.Atopic dermatitis exacerbation after COVID‐19 vaccination in dupilumab‐treated patients.Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022;36(6):e409-e411. doi:10.1111/jdv.17964Pierre Fabre Eczema Foundation.COVID-19 vaccination in atopic patients.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 Vaccine Basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine.National Eczema Association.Ask the ecz-perts: Covid-19, vaccines, booster shots and flaring from the virus.Picard M, Drolet JP, Masse MS, Filion CA, ALMuhizi F, Fein M, Copaescu A, Isabwe GAC, Blaquière M, Primeau MN.Safety of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with polyethylene glycol allergy: A case series. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022 Feb;10(2):620-625.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2021.11.021. Epub 2021 Dec 20. PMID: 34949564; PMCID: PMC8685412.National Eczema Association.5 Lesser-Known Eczema Triggers (and How to Avoid Them).National Eczema Association.Ask the ecz-perts: Covid-19, vaccines, booster shots and flaring from the virus.Schmitt, J., Ehm, F., Vivirito, A., Wende, D., Batram, M., Loser, F., Menzer, S., Ludwig, M., Roessler, M., Seifert, M., König, C., Schulte, C., Buschmann, T., Hertle, D., Ballesteros, P., Baßler, S., Bertele, B., Bitterer, T., Riederer, C., Sobik, F., Kind, B., Abraham, S. and Tesch, F. (2024),Large cohort study shows increased risk of developing atopic dermatitis after COVID-19 disease.Allergy, 79: 232-234.https://doi.org/10.1111/all.15827
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Martora F, Battista T, Ruggiero A, Scalvenzi M, Villani A, Megna M, Potestio L.The Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination on Inflammatory Skin Disorders and Other Cutaneous Diseases: A Review of the Published Literature. Viruses. 2023 Jun 23;15(7):1423. doi: 10.3390/v15071423. PMID: 37515110; PMCID: PMC10384785.Leasure AC, Cowper SE, McNiff J, Cohen JM.Generalized eczematous reactions to the Pfizer‐BioNTech COVID‐19 vaccine.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021;35(11):e716-e717. doi:10.1111/jdv.17494.Potestio L, Napolitano M, et al.Atopic dermatitis exacerbation after COVID‐19 vaccination in dupilumab‐treated patients.Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022;36(6):e409-e411. doi:10.1111/jdv.17964Pierre Fabre Eczema Foundation.COVID-19 vaccination in atopic patients.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 Vaccine Basics.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine.National Eczema Association.Ask the ecz-perts: Covid-19, vaccines, booster shots and flaring from the virus.Picard M, Drolet JP, Masse MS, Filion CA, ALMuhizi F, Fein M, Copaescu A, Isabwe GAC, Blaquière M, Primeau MN.Safety of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with polyethylene glycol allergy: A case series. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022 Feb;10(2):620-625.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2021.11.021. Epub 2021 Dec 20. PMID: 34949564; PMCID: PMC8685412.National Eczema Association.5 Lesser-Known Eczema Triggers (and How to Avoid Them).National Eczema Association.Ask the ecz-perts: Covid-19, vaccines, booster shots and flaring from the virus.Schmitt, J., Ehm, F., Vivirito, A., Wende, D., Batram, M., Loser, F., Menzer, S., Ludwig, M., Roessler, M., Seifert, M., König, C., Schulte, C., Buschmann, T., Hertle, D., Ballesteros, P., Baßler, S., Bertele, B., Bitterer, T., Riederer, C., Sobik, F., Kind, B., Abraham, S. and Tesch, F. (2024),Large cohort study shows increased risk of developing atopic dermatitis after COVID-19 disease.Allergy, 79: 232-234.https://doi.org/10.1111/all.15827
Martora F, Battista T, Ruggiero A, Scalvenzi M, Villani A, Megna M, Potestio L.The Impact of COVID-19 Vaccination on Inflammatory Skin Disorders and Other Cutaneous Diseases: A Review of the Published Literature. Viruses. 2023 Jun 23;15(7):1423. doi: 10.3390/v15071423. PMID: 37515110; PMCID: PMC10384785.
Leasure AC, Cowper SE, McNiff J, Cohen JM.Generalized eczematous reactions to the Pfizer‐BioNTech COVID‐19 vaccine.J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2021;35(11):e716-e717. doi:10.1111/jdv.17494.
Potestio L, Napolitano M, et al.Atopic dermatitis exacerbation after COVID‐19 vaccination in dupilumab‐treated patients.Acad Dermatol Venereol. 2022;36(6):e409-e411. doi:10.1111/jdv.17964
Pierre Fabre Eczema Foundation.COVID-19 vaccination in atopic patients.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.COVID-19 Vaccine Basics.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Staying Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Getting Your COVID-19 Vaccine.
National Eczema Association.Ask the ecz-perts: Covid-19, vaccines, booster shots and flaring from the virus.
Picard M, Drolet JP, Masse MS, Filion CA, ALMuhizi F, Fein M, Copaescu A, Isabwe GAC, Blaquière M, Primeau MN.Safety of COVID-19 vaccination in patients with polyethylene glycol allergy: A case series. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2022 Feb;10(2):620-625.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jaip.2021.11.021. Epub 2021 Dec 20. PMID: 34949564; PMCID: PMC8685412.
National Eczema Association.5 Lesser-Known Eczema Triggers (and How to Avoid Them).
Schmitt, J., Ehm, F., Vivirito, A., Wende, D., Batram, M., Loser, F., Menzer, S., Ludwig, M., Roessler, M., Seifert, M., König, C., Schulte, C., Buschmann, T., Hertle, D., Ballesteros, P., Baßler, S., Bertele, B., Bitterer, T., Riederer, C., Sobik, F., Kind, B., Abraham, S. and Tesch, F. (2024),Large cohort study shows increased risk of developing atopic dermatitis after COVID-19 disease.Allergy, 79: 232-234.https://doi.org/10.1111/all.15827
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