An Overview of Dermal Complications
Skin problems are a common complication of bothtype 1andtype 2diabetes.
How Diabetes Affects Skin
Diabetes can have an impact on the health of skin in multiple ways.
High blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia) are behind most of the skin problems resulting from diabetes.
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Damaged nerves may not get the message to perspire, and perspiration helps to keep skin moist and soft.
In turn, when skin is overly dry, it can crack, peel and become itchy.
Scratching it can create small openings in the skin.
Beyond dryness and infections are an array of other skin problems associated with diabetes.
The skin also may be thicker and take on a velvety texture.
It’s especially common in people withobesity.
What to do:Call your healthcare provider if you have an allergic reaction to a diabetes medication.
The only treatment is to bring blood sugar levels under control.
Usually oval or round in shape, they resemble age spots and sometimes are called skin spots.
They do not hurt or itch.
Why it happens:Changes in small blood vessels reduce blood supply to the skin.
What to do:This harmless, painless condition does not need treatment.
What to do:Getting better control of diabetes can help.
Meanwhile, physical therapy can bring more ease of movement to stiff joints.
Why it happens:There are no known causes of granuloma annulare, even when not associated with diabetes.
Eruptive Xanthomatosis
Eruptivexanthomatosisproduces itchy, waxy, yellow bumps on the skin surrounded by red halos.
They are most often found on the face and buttocks but can also appear on the extremities.
They are especially prevalent among young men with pop in 1 diabetes.
What to do:Treatment involves bringing blood fats under control;lipid-lowering drugsmay also be needed.
More common in women.
Usually goes through stages of activity and inactivity.
Sometimes requires a biopsy to diagnose.
Why it happens:Changes in fat and collagen beneath the skin’s surface.
What to do:Although difficult to treat,NLDsometimesresponds to topical cortisone creams or cortisone injections.
Ultraviolet light treatment has been found to control this condition when it is flaring.
Scleredema Diabeticorum
A rare condition that involves thickening of the skin on the upper back and neck.
What to do:Moisturizers may help, but treatment entails bringing blood sugar levels within control.
Skin Tags
About 75% of people withskin tagshave diabetes.
These small, polyp-like pieces of flesh occur most often on the neck, eyelids, and armpits.
Bacterial Infections
Painful, swollen, inflamed skin that is often hot to the touch.
Examples of bacterial infections areboils, eyelidstyes,carbuncles, nail infections, and hair follicle infections.
Why it happens:Bacteria can thrive in the presence of excess glucose.
Staphylococcus is a common bacterium responsible forbacterial infectionsin people with diabetes.
What to do:These infections usually can be treated with antibiotics and improve with good blood sugar control.
Fungal Infections
Itchy rashes in moist areas of the body, such as skin folds.
Why it happens:As with bacterial infections, excess glucose is beneficial to fungus.
What to do:Prescription medicines and good diabetes control help in treatment.
Examples of fungal infections areyeast infections,jock itch, ringworm, and athlete’s foot.
Candida albicans is a common fungus responsible forfungal infectionsin people with diabetes.
In: Feingold KR, Anawalt B, Boyce A, et al., editors.Endotext[Internet].
South Dartmouth (MA): MDText.com, Inc.
American Diabetes Association.Skin complications.
