Think about diabetes, and topics such as high blood sugar and the importance of eating right may come to mind.
But skin care is an important part of the picture too.
Along with damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes and kidneys, diabetes can also harm the skin, says Robert Rizza, MD, past president of the American Diabetes Association (ADA).
Sometimes skin problems provide the first clue that a person has diabetes.
Spotting and treating these problems provides relief and helps prevent dangerous infections that could lead to amputation.
Watch out for problems
According to the ADA, skin problems that may come with diabetes include:
Itching. Poor circulation caused by diabetes can make skin itchy, especially on the lower legs. To ease symptoms, limit how often you bathe, use mild soap with moisturizer and apply skin cream after bathing.
Fungal infections. These infections can cause moist, itchy rashes that appear as red areas surrounded by tiny blisters and scales.
The infections usually occur in warm, moist folds of the skin—under the breasts, between fingers and toes, and in the armpits and groin.
A doctor can prescribe medicine to help treat them.
Bacterial infections. Several types of bacterial infections can affect people with diabetes, including:
- Styes—infections of the glands in the eyelids.
- Boils or folliculitis—infections of the hair follicles.
- Infections around the nails.
- Carbuncles—deep infections of the skin and tissue underneath.
Infected areas are usually hot, red, swollen and painful.
Bacterial infections can be treated with antibiotics.
Diabetic dermopathy. Diabetes can cause changes in small blood vessels resulting in light-brown, scaly patches. The patches may be oval or round and are sometimes mistaken for age spots. Usually they appear on the front of both legs. The patches are harmless, don't hurt or itch, and don't require treatment.
Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum. Another condition caused by blood vessel changes, this disorder results in fewer but larger and deeper spots than diabetic dermopathy.
The condition usually starts as a dull-red, raised area. Eventually it starts to look like a shiny scar with a violet border. Blood vessels under the skin may become easier to see. Sometimes the spots are painful and itchy, and they can crack open. The condition is rare and affects women more often than men. Treatment usually isn't needed unless the sores break open, according to the ADA.
Eruptive xanthomatosis. Out-of-control diabetes can result in this condition, which causes firm, yellow, pealike enlargements on the skin—often on the backs of hands, feet, arms, legs and buttocks.
It usually occurs in young men with type 1 diabetes. The bumps usually disappear once diabetes is under control.
Digital sclerosis. This condition results in thick, waxy skin on the backs of the hands. As a result, finger joints may stiffen and can be difficult to move normally. Skin on the toes and forehead also may become thick. The condition occurs in one-third of people with type 1 diabetes.
Disseminated granuloma annulare. A condition that causes raised ring- or arc-shaped areas on the skin—often on the fingers or ears. The areas can be red or skin-colored. The condition can be cleared up with medicine.
Acanthosis nigricans. A condition resulting in tan or brown raised areas on the sides of the neck, armpits and groin. It's most common in people who are very overweight. Losing weight helps resolve the condition.
Allergic reactions. Insulin or diabetes pills may cause allergic skin reactions. Let your doctor know if you're having a reaction to medicine.
Taking care of yourself
Managing your diabetes reduces your risk for skin problems, Dr. Rizza says.
"You want to be sure you see your doctor regularly and that you're working with your healthcare team to keep your blood sugar levels carefully controlled," he says.
Following these tips from the ADA and the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases can help too:
- Drink lots of fluids to keep your skin moist and healthy.
- Prevent dry skin by applying moisturizer, especially in cold or windy weather. Ask a doctor to suggest a good one.
- Avoid taking very hot baths and showers. Use mild shampoos and avoid bubble baths if your skin is dry.
- Treat wounds right away. Wash them with soap and water. See a doctor right away for major cuts, burns or infections.
- Check your feet daily for sores and cuts. Poor circulation caused by diabetes can reduce sensation in the feet, so you may not feel a wound. Plus, lack of blood in the feet reduces the body's ability to fight off infection and heal. All of this boosts the risk for serious infections that can lead to amputation. "If you have a foot problem, you don't want to leave it alone," Dr. Rizza says. See a doctor right away.
Keeping things under control
"The bottom line is that diabetes is a serious disease. But you can take care of it," Dr. Rizza says. That means staying on top of skin problems, along with other aspects of managing the disease.
If you are struggling to manage your diabetes, it may be time to schedule an appointment with Hamilton Diabetes and Endocrinology Center. Click here to learn more.