Researchers have discovered that coronavirus disease infected individuals may develop a new skin condition called as COVID-19 toes.

The International League of Dermatological Societies and the American Academy of Dermatology revealed in their studies that some patients have experienced chilblain-like inflammation on their feet which lasted for months.

The condition develops two to four weeks after contracting the virus. Toes become swollen or changing color.

Symptoms are said to be mild in the majority of cases and the feet return to normal within weeks.

“It seems there is a certain sub-group of patients that, when they get COVID, they develop inflammation in their toes, which turns them red and swollen, and then they eventually turn purple,” Dr. Esther Freeman, principal investigator of the International COVID-19 Dermatology Registry said.

Most of the cases are mild and will resolve on its own.

“It lasts on average about 15 days. But we have seen patients lasting a month or two months,” the doctor said.

“It’s the fact that some of our patients are at over 150 days now – these are patients with red or purple or swollen toes for many months,” she added.

The study in UK said that 16% of those hospitalized manifested the symptoms.