IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

What are COVID toes?

This painful skin condition can be a coronavirus symptom.
Houston Texans v Green Bay Packers
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers made a joke that he had COVID toes, when he actually has a fractured toe.Quinn Harris / Getty Images
/ Source: TODAY

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a recent bout with COVID-19 that led to him miss 10 days of the football season. Rodgers, who was not vaccinated, joked during an appearance on the "Pat McAfee Show" that he had one lingering effect from the illness: COVID toes. Yet in a recent press conference, Rodgers clarified that he actually has a fractured toe.

While Rodgers doesn't have COVID toes, it is an unexpected symptom of the coronavirus, much like pink eye and the loss of taste or smell. If you've forgotten all about the strange symptom, here's a quick refresher.

Dubbed "COVID toes" by the dermatology community, it can look like "purple lesions" on feet or hands, Dr. Esther Freeman, a dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, told TODAY in 2020.

The research is ongoing and rooted in "observation," Dr. Tracey Vlahovic, associate professor of podiatry at Temple University in Philadelphia, told TODAY when COVID toes initially surfaced. "There's no one-to-one correlation."

But because COVID toes may appear before or without other coronavirus symptoms, Freeman believes it should be a criterion for testing. Dr. Lindy Fox, professor of dermatology at University of California, San Francisco, agreed.

Download the TODAY app for the latest coverage on the coronavirus outbreak.

What are 'COVID toes'?

The condition usually starts with red or purple discoloration, and the skin may become raised or develop ulcerations, according to Freeman. It can be on hands, too.

Fox told TODAY it has appeared as "purple, red bumps" on the tips of digits and pads, or on the tops of toes or sides of feet.

People with COVID toes may feel the skin is hot, burning or itchy.

One patient, David, 39, who didn't want to share his last name, experienced possible COVID toes. He wasn't tested for the virus, but told TODAY via email: "The affected toes were initially painful to touch and a bit sore while walking ... The pain and soreness lasted just over one week and gradually went away."

David, 39, said his condition, which appeared to be COVID toes, lasted for about a week.
David, 39, said his condition, which appeared to be COVID toes, lasted for about a week.Courtesy of David

While other skin symptoms have appeared in COVID-19-positive patients, this one seems "COVID-specific," Fox clarified.

What causes COVID toes?

Again, the research is still developing, but experts have some ideas.

"One hypothesis is there's just a lot of inflammation caused by the virus," Freeman said. The condition resembles pernio (also called chilblains), caused by exposure to cold temperatures, resulting in inflammation, which can appear as skin sores or bumps.

The other theory is that the symptom is due to blood vessel clots, which can occur in COVID-19 patients.

"I don't feel comfortable saying it's one or the other," Freeman explained. "It could be a bit of both."

How common are COVID toes?

It's unclear how common COVID toes are, according to Freeman.

In a study published in JAMA Dermatology in June, researchers noted how difficult it is to identify whether or not what appears to be COVID toes is actually related to COVID-19. Of the 1,319 patients included in their analyses, only 2% of cases could be directly linked to the coronavirus. Other research, such as this investigation of 32 patients published in July in the Journal of Cutaneous Pathology, found that the skin issues seen in COVID toes are almost identical to those seen in pernio due to other causes. They also found that blood clots were unlikely to be involved.

Rachel Sommer, who lives in Long Island, New York, shared a picture of her foot condition on Twitter. She did not get tested for coronavirus, but her symptoms included a slightly raised temperature, decreased appetite, fatigue, difficulty breathing and a sore throat.
Rachel Sommer, who lives in Long Island, New York, shared a picture of her foot condition on Twitter. She did not get tested for coronavirus, but her symptoms included a slightly raised temperature, decreased appetite, fatigue, difficulty breathing and a sore throat.Rachel Sommer

To answer questions about COVID toes, Freeman is running an international registry to document COVID-19 patients' range of dermatologic conditions. The registry, which was launched in collaboration with the American Academy of Dermatology, includes reports of people who tested positive and those whose health care providers suspect are positive.

"I wouldn't take purple toes as meaning, 'I'm definitely going to get sick' or 'I'm not going to get sick,'" she added.

The condition seems more common in children and young people, but it's "not exclusive" to them, Fox said.

What's the treatment for COVID toes?

For patients who aren't experiencing "a lot of other symptoms, (the condition) tends to resolve on its own," Freeman said, adding, "There's not one particular treatment."

If you notice discoloration on your feet or other hallmarks of COVID toes, contact a dermatologist and ask to be tested for COVID-19, she advised.

Dr. Tracey Vlahovic had a 30-year-old asymptomatic male patient with what appeared to be COVID toes because there's "seemingly no other reason for it," she said.
Dr. Tracey Vlahovic had a 30-year-old asymptomatic male patient with what appeared to be COVID toes because there's "seemingly no other reason for it," she said.Tracey Vlahovic

Vlahovic added that underlying conditions, like a drug reaction or connective tissue disorder, can have similar symptoms, so providers should get a complete medical history.

For patients experiencing discomfort, warming your digits might help, according to Fox.

"Some patients do well with topical steroids," she continued, and the AAD currently recommends starting with an over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream. If that's not enough to help, you should get in touch with your doctor or dermatologist.

What are other skin symptoms of COVID-19?

Skin issues, including COVID toes, can be a symptom of the coronavirus, the AAD explains. In particular, different types of skin rashes may appear in different patients, including itchy bumps and patchy rashes as well as raised bumps or blisters that look like hives or chickenpox.

Fox, Freeman and Vlahovic cited these examples of skin symptoms potentially related to COVID-19:

Ultimately, the importance of COVID toes doesn't lie in the condition itself. Rather, it could help researchers better "understand how much disease is out there," Fox said.

Freeman added that recognizing COVID toes and making it a testing qualifier might "change the course of someone's care ... You could be potentially infecting friends, neighbors without knowing it."

This story was updated on Nov. 24, 2021 to include new information about COVID toes. The story was updated again on Nov. 29, 2021 to clarify that Aaron Rodgers did not have the condition.