Diabetic skin problems are most often excessive dryness, itching and flaking. The skin of a diabetic is also more prone to injury, and wounds heal less. In addition, diabetics much more often complain of mycosis, which often recurs. If you experience such problems, check your blood sugar level - you may have diabetes. And if you already have diabetes, learn how to care for your skin to keep it he althy.

Skin problems - dry skin, itching or recurrent mycoses - are still rarely associated with a disease such as diabetes. Very often these symptoms of diabetes are overlooked in the diagnosis - specialists talk about hidden diabetes with good reason.

The skin of a diabetic patient is much more delicate than that of a he althy person. Nearly 20 percent of all diabetics, both women and men, suffer from skin ailments. In women, however, these ailments are more troublesome, because their skin is thinner and more sensitive, it is more easily damaged and reacts more painfully to insufficient hydration.

Skin conditions may be related to diabetes itself or be a side effect of insulin use. It is also known that skin problems appear more often in people with the so-called uncontrolled diabetes, i.e. fluctuating, unstable blood sugar levels.

Diabetes skin problems - causes

The main cause of skin hypersensitivity in a diabetic person is vascular changes (diabetic angiopathy), which can affect both larger and smaller vessels to the same extent. Simply put, it can be said that excess blood sugar leads to degenerative changes in capillaries, arterioles and veins, which results in impairment of the vascular system and skin malnutrition.

This is most often manifested by her uncomfortable dryness, flaking and hypersensitivity. Even small cuts can be dangerous then, because they take a long time to heal. There are also mini-infusions - characteristic discolorations (brown spots) appear on the skin. You can see them on the lower legs. Such ailments are usually caused by type 1 diabetes, i.e. the insulin-dependent type of diabetes.

In young people, the so-called diabetic blush. It is easy to recognize because it is on the cheeks, forehead, sometimes also onon the lower legs and feet, the skin is very red. Unfortunately, it is not easy to get rid of such "colors". They only disappear after applying an appropriate diet and the right dose of insulin.

In addition, excessive hair (hirsutism) may appear around the navel and between the shoulder blades. Type 2 diabetes is often associated with vitiligo, which is a local discoloration of the skin. Treatment is difficult and does not always give good results, i.e. even the white discoloration of the skin.

Extremely dry and sebum-free skin causes very troublesome itching. The sick person scratches himself, cutting his delicate skin. Wounds are difficult to heal and can even become accidentally infected.

Diabetic skin features

  • itching of the skin, including generalized itching (one of the very early symptoms of the disease)
  • reduced sweat secretion as a result of damage to the nervous and vascular systems
  • excessive skin dryness
  • diabetic blush
  • exfoliating
  • canary yellow color of the skin
  • tendency to eczema changes
  • purulent diseases
  • mycoses and yeasts

The skin of people suffering from diabetes resembles senile skin. It is prone to maceration and the formation of exudates, it is also less resistant to:

  • wounds, cuts and abrasions
  • thermal stimuli, i.e. high and low temperature
  • solar radiation (UV)
  • chemicals
  • infections

Diabetic skin: yellow tufts or yellowish

Lipid disorders usually accompany diabetes, which is characterized (for various reasons) by fluctuating blood sugar levels. It is in people who suffer from this type of diabetes that the level of blood lipids most often increases. The result of such irregularities are the so-called yellows (yellow tufts), in which cholesterol and lipids accumulate.

Yellows form on the eyelids, elbows and knees, and sometimes also on the buttocks. These yellowish pancakes or lumps appear symmetrically, i.e. on both eyelids. Yellow tufts do not hurt, are not life-threatening, but can be quite a cosmetic defect. Once your diabetes is balanced, the yellows slowly fade away.

Diabetic skin: susceptibility to fungi and yeasts

Fungal and yeast infections are the bane of all diabetics. And in this case also the main culprit is the so-called decompensated diabetes, because fluctuations in blood sugar levels facilitate the development of microorganisms.

Mycosis of the skin, especially athlete's foot and onychomycosis, is usually more serious than in he althy people. It is often associated with acute inflammationintense peeling of the epidermis and the formation of numerous bubbles.

Treatment of mycoses in diabetics is difficult, therefore the treatment must be carried out by a dermatologist. You should not use any creams, ointments or herbs without consulting him. Healing is faster if the skin is properly cared for.

In the case of foot disease, daily hygiene is very important, because it is from the feet that the infection often spreads to other surfaces of the body. Careful hygiene and proper treatment have one more task - to protect the nails against fungal attack, because if the feet are neglected, the infection may spread to the nails.

The fungi first penetrate the inside of the plate and are not visible. Over time, however, the plate will delaminate, crack, and air will collect in it, which can be seen in the form of white streaks on the nail. Treatment is always preceded by tests determining the type of pathogenic fungi.

In turn, yeast infections (candidiasis) attack not only the skin, but also the mucosa of the reproductive organs, mouth and even the stomach. Small spots appear in the folds of the body, in the armpits, in the groin and under the breasts, which itch and hurt. In order to choose the right treatment, the type of yeast is first measured. However, the therapy will not be effective if blood sugar levels are not balanced.

Diabetic skin: adverse effects of insulin administration

Each patient reacts differently to the applied diabetes therapy. It may also happen that the body rejects insulin and the drug does harm instead of helping. It is then said about the so-called insulin intolerance, which affects not only overall he alth but also the appearance of the skin. Fat tissue may disappear in the places where the drug is administered (needle puncture). Such a defect is easy to observe because there are cavities or nodules at the injection sites. Unfortunately, there is no cure for this. The only solution is to frequently change the injection site.

There is one more dermatological problem associated with injecting insulin. Painful blisters may form in places of mechanical injuries (such as a needle puncture). They are treated with aerosol preparations. The condition for the success of the therapy is to select the right dose of insulin, because this is what usually eliminates the basic problem.

Diabetic skin care

People suffering from diabetes should therefore take special care of their skin. Fortunately, it is not difficult now, because there are many agents in pharmacies that are perfect for the care of very dry and sensitive skin - some of them are even dedicated to people with diabetes.

NaEmollients, i.e. permanently moisturizing preparations that prevent water from escaping from the skin, deserve special attention. After applying them to the body, a filter remains on the skin to prevent water from evaporating through the pores. They also facilitate the reconstruction of the skin weakened by the disease, do not irritate it, because they have no fragrances. They also quite effectively protect the skin against bacterial and fungal infections. Emollients are available in the form of gels, shower lotions, lotions and body creams. Importantly, those for baths do not contain soap that dries the skin.

People with diabetes should also regularly use antibacterial creams to prevent mycosis and foot sweating. Creams with urea and glycerin are recommended as they moisturize dry skin well. Obese people must sprinkle talcum powder on areas exposed to rubbing (armpits, breasts, thighs, buttocks) to protect the skin from abrasion. After each bath, gently dry the body (do not rub). The skin between the toes can be dried with a hair dryer.

"Zdrowie" monthly

About the authorAnna Jarosz A journalist who has been involved in popularizing he alth education for over 40 years. Winner of many competitions for journalists dealing with medicine and he alth. She received, among others The "Golden OTIS" Trust Award in the "Media and He alth" category, St. Kamil awarded on the occasion of the World Day of the Sick, twice the "Crystal Pen" in the national competition for journalists promoting he alth, and many awards and distinctions in competitions for the "Medical Journalist of the Year" organized by the Polish Association of Journalists for He alth.

Category:

Diabetes