DIABETES CARE – SKIN CARE TIPS
- What are the most common skin diseases found in diabetic patients?
- Why are diabetics prone to skin complications/infections?
- How can a person with diabetes take care of the skin?
People with diabetes usually have skin complaints such as boils, carbuncles, abscesses, cysts etc. It often starts with dry skin, itching especially on the folds of skin like groin, armpits etc. However, if they are ignored for a long time in diabetics, this may also lead to harmful conditions like skin ulcerations, diabetic foot, necrobiosis lipoidica diabetocorum, eruptive xanthomatosis etc.
Generally, high blood glucose level favour the growth of bacterial and fungal infections. It also affects the sweat and sebaceous glands causing itching. There is neural and vascular skin damage in diabetic skin that makes the skin defense even weaker.
Follow simple skin care tips to prevent skin problems, if you have diabetes:
- Keep your blood sugar within normal limits
- Always keep your skin clean and dry. Talcum powder helps prevent sweat accumulation in skin folds like groin, armpits etc.
- Avoid bathing with very hot water, and try going lukewarm
- Moisturize your skin with a mild moisturizer to avoid skin dryness
- Take good care of your feet lest they develop sores
- Be careful with any cuts, wounds or burns on skin. Always consult the doctor before you use any antiseptic.
- Check for rashes anywhere on the body especially at the site of injection.
The fact is that skin complaints are the first sign of diabetes in many people with diabetes. If you have a skin problem that is recurrent and also has a poor healing, always consult your doctor or dermatologist.
