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Medical review by Elizabeth Gomez MSN, FNP-BC
Skin problems are common in people with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. These issues are often merely “cosmetics”, but they can see something uncomfortable and offensive. In some cases, skin damage can lead to infections. This is always a scary outlook for diabetics.
The skin is the largest organ in the body, and many of its blood vessels and nerves experience dysfunction when they receive hyperglycemia, just like the rest of the body. Even harmless skin problems are considered as warning signs that hyperglycemia must be addressed before it leads to more serious problems.
Diabetes increases the chances of many skin conditions. If you notice curious itching, dryness, or bumps, you may be experiencing diabetic skin complications.
This article is not intended to help readers diagnose their own skin problems. If you are experiencing any type of skin problem, share your concern with your doctor.
(This article essentially referenced two sources: the American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD) and EndoText, an online resource for endocrinologists.)
Common skin conditions
Dry skin
Dry skin (Xerosis) is more likely to occur in people with diabetes, with 40% of cases. Dry skin can be very uncomfortable. The skin can cause cracks and scales, especially at the bottom of the foot.
Dry skin in diabetic patients is often a function of low enlargement and a local loss of their ability to sweat. Topical treatments, such as emollients, may be useful. Only good metabolic control can deal with hyperglycemia, the underlying cause.
infection
Diabetes increases the risk of skin infections and increases the rate at which they grow and spread.
There are two families of skin infections: fungi and bacteria.
Bacterial infections usually show redness, swelling, pain, tenderness, or warmth at the site of the infection, around the nails, scalp, and eyes.
Fungal infections such as tinea, jock itching, athlete’s feet, and vaginal yeast infections can discover that the body of a diabetic patient can be particularly kind. The organisms that cause these infections usually prefer warm, damp areas of the body. These infections can be itchy rashes characterized by dry, scaly skin and blisters.
Treatment: Bacterial infections generally require antibiotics, while fungal infections require targeted antifungals. In either case, good glycemic control can help reduce the chance of future infections.
Open pain
Open saws, cuts, and wounds, including some of the skin conditions discussed in this article, can occur for any number of reasons. The important thing to know is that diabetics need to take open pain very seriously and get the right treatment as soon as possible. High blood sugar dramatically reduces the body’s ability, heals infections and reduces its ability to fight. In the worst case, minor cuts and scrapes ultimately led to cutting. If you are afraid that the wound or pain will not heal quickly, consult your doctor as soon as possible.
Diabetes syndrome
Several other skin complications primarily affect the hands. Various conditions cause the skin of your hands to harden or become waxy. Others reduce finger and wrist mobility. If you are struggling with hand problems, there is an entire article on diabetic hand complications that are sometimes mentioned in the umbrella term “diabetic hand syndrome.”
Complications of diabetic hand: stiff hand syndrome, finger triggers, etc.
Specific skin conditions
Nigricans for Acanthosis
Important symptoms: “velvety” skin, especially the neck, armpits, or gro diameter
Details: Acanthosis nigricans(an) appear as darker (from grey to dark brown) and/or thick skin bands. The texture of the skin is described as “velvety.” It is most common around the neck, armpits, and gro diameter, but also affects the elbow, palms, belly buttons and creases under the chest. Itching or otherwise you may not feel that it’s different.
AN is the result of very high insulin levels and therefore frequently appears before diabetes is diagnosed. In fact, it can warn clinicians of the presence of diabetes or pre-diabetes. It is more common in type 2 diabetes and people with dark skin tones, and especially in Native American teenagers.
Treatment: The best treatments are optimal glycemic control and weight loss. Local and oral skin medications can help people with painful skin skin.
Diabetes flow
Important symptoms: blisters, large and full of pus, usually on the lower legs and feet
Details: Diabetics, sometimes known as diabetic agents, are rare complications that commonly occur in long-standing diabetic patients, especially those with other complications. It is most common among men over 50 years old.
These blisters form very quickly, even overnight, and can be painless. The feet and legs are most frequently affected, but these blisters can also occur in the hands and arms.
Treatment: Diabetics usually improve within a few weeks. However, it is important to note that there are no ruptures that can cause a risk of infection. Very large blisters may need to be treated by a professional. Bullosis Diabeticorum itself is not a dangerous condition, but it can be treated as a warning sign that the patient needs to control blood glucose levels.
Diabetic Dermatosis
Important Symptoms: Shin Spot
Details: Diabetic dermatosis is the official diagnosis of mild lesions that are common in diabetic patients. These lesions most commonly appear in the shins and are sometimes referred to as “shin spots.” It is less common elsewhere in the body, such as on the sides of the legs and forearms.
Dermatological lesions may be reddish or darker than the surrounding skin color. They may also have scaly or scar-like surfaces. It is often round or oval and symmetrical.
Thankfully, the lesions are not usually itching, burns, or stab wounds.
Treatment: Treatment is not recommended for diabetic dermatosis. The American Diabetes Association simply states, “dermatosis is harmless and does not need to be treated.” Lesions usually disappear after 1 or 2 years, but are often replaced by new lesions in other areas, especially if underlying hyperglycemia is still present.
Eruption Xanthomatosis
Important symptoms: Reddish acne that is generally found on the soft side of the elbow and knee
Details: Eruption Xanthomatosis appears as a red, wavy acne patch. These small papules can be itchy or soft. It is most often seen in soft areas on the opposite side of the opposing joint, such as the elbow con man and the back of the knee, but can also be seen in butt areas and other parts of the body.
Eruption Xanthomatosis is rare. It is mainly caused by very high levels of triglycerides. Insulin resistance and insulin deficiency associated with hyperglycemia in diabetes reduce the body’s ability to metabolize triglycerides and are more likely to cause the condition to develop.
Treatment: The only way to treat the root cause of eruption Xanthomatosis is through improved metabolic control, whether diet, exercise or medication. Loss and improve weight loss and improvement in cholesterol or glycemic control can help resolve your condition.
Granuloma annulare
Important symptoms: Groups of raised bumps that can appear on the trunk and extremities
Details: The papules (uplimbs) of the Annuloma granuloma annulae initially become reddish or skin-colored, but may also appear purple. The bumpy areas may or may not be itchy. These papules can grow very large up to 5 centimeters, and the rash can cover most of the body.
Granuloma annulara may resemble the early stages of necrotic lipoids.
The more common form of granuloma annulae has a small ring pattern in which the bumps appear, but are not thought to be associated with diabetes.
Treatment: These bumps may go back and forth, but the condition is long and difficult to treat. The 2006 guidelines suggest that dermatologists may need to use many different systemic therapies to treat granuloma circular pathology.
Necrotizing lipodica
Important symptoms: acne that swells into large discolored patches in the shins
Details: To not be confused with relatively harmless diabetic dermatitis (see above), necrotic lipoids are rare conditions in which small acne-like bumps gradually spurt into large patches of discolored, hardened skin. Although it may damage the appearance, the disease may not suffer from other symptoms.
The early stages of necrotic lipoids can also be confused about granuloma annulae (see above).
Necrotizing lipoids usually occur several decades after initial diagnosis of diabetes and are more common in women than in men. It also occurs in people who do not have diabetes, so the cause is somewhat mystical.
Treatment: Treatment for this chronic condition is not known. Many cases resolve spontaneously, especially when the patient does not feel uncomfortable, while others do not require treatment. If it causes open pain, the clinician should adopt wound care. Dermatologists can prescribe steroids or choose from a number of treatments that can help with skin ulcers.
Skin tags
Skin tags – dermatologists call them acrocords – are more likely to occur in diabetic patients, but are harmless. In fact, it has been suggested that the appearance of these flaps in the skin may indicate diabetes risk in people who have not yet been diagnosed. Skin tags are most commonly occurring around the neck, eyes and armpits. They usually do not require treatment, but they can be removed, especially if there are skin tags in unsightly areas.
(TagStoTRASSLATE) Complications (T) Skin Diseases
