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Oral Health | Sex and Diabetes | Obesity | Skin Care

Skin Care

People with diabetes need to pay extra attention to their skin because they are more likely to develop skin conditions and also because reduced nerve sensitivity and circulation to the extremities can make it hard to identify skin problems.

One of the results of high blood glucose is loss of fluid in your body. This can lead to dry skin on your legs, feet, elbows, and other locations. Dry skin can crack, letting germs into your body that can cause infections. Therefore it's important to take good care of your skin.

Skin Care Tips

  • After you wash with a mild soap, make sure you rinse and dry yourself well. Check places where water can hide, such as under your arms, between your legs, and between your toes.
  • Keep your skin moist by using a lotion or cream after you wash.
  • Drink lots of fluids, such as water, to keep your skin moist and healthy.
  • Wear all-cotton underwear. It allows air to move around your body better
  • Look at your body after you wash. Make sure you have no dry, red, or sore spots that might lead to an infection.

If you have any skin problems, talk to your healthcare provider about them right away. Next week, we'll look at some specific skin conditions that affect people with diabetes.

Skin Problems That May Accompany Diabetes

  • Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum (NLD) usually occurs on the shins and appears gradually over a period of weeks. It is a patch of plaque that may be yellow-brown to purple, with a pronounced border. The skin over this area may get thin and ulcerate. It usually heals, often leaving a brownish depressed scar. It is associated more with type 1 diabetes than type 2; the cause is unknown.
  • Diabetic dermopathy, also called shin spots, has smaller lesions that are round and raised at the edges. These, too may ulcerate. When they heal, they leave a similar scar as NLD.
  • Bullosis diabeticorum are small to large nodules underneath the skin, like blisters below the skin. They may rupture; cause is unknown.
  • Acanthosis nigricans causes dark brown to black lesions on the skin. It is more common among Hispanics and African Americans.

If you develop any of these lesions, consult your healthcare provider or a dermatologist who is familiar with diabetic skin conditions.

Related information Diabetic Supply Guide - Skin care products