What Is Diabetic Dry Skin

Diabetes Rash & Other Skin Conditions

People with diabetes have a higher risk of skin rashes like acanthosis nigricans. High claret saccharide (hyperglycemia) is frequently to arraign. A rash can also be a sign of prediabetes. Many diabetes rashes clear upwardly after blood sugar is under control. Proper diabetes direction and skin intendance can prevent pare problems that can atomic number 82 to serious infections.

What is a diabetes rash?

Diabetes affects diverse parts of your trunk, including your skin. An estimated 1 in 3 people with diabetes (Type i or Blazon ii) will develop a skin rash or other skin problem at some bespeak.

When you have diabetes, your chances of having dry, itchy skin are higher than someone who doesn't have the affliction. You lot're as well more likely to get other diabetes-related skin weather condition.

What causes a diabetes rash?

For people who don't accept diabetes, a pare rash may exist the first sign of high blood carbohydrate (hyperglycemia) or prediabetes. Your healthcare provider can assistance you accept steps to preclude diabetes.

If you take medications for diabetes, a skin rash may signal that you lot need to suit treatments to lower your blood sugar (glucose) levels. Another rashes event from reduced blood flow to your extremities (easily and feet).

What does a diabetes rash expect like?

Diabetes rashes look unlike depending on the type and cause.

Some diabetes rashes only affect people with diabetes. They usually get away when blood sugar is nether control. These rashes include:

Blisters (bullosis diabeticorum): Painless blisters may class on the backs of hands and feet and on the legs and forearms. This rare condition well-nigh ofttimes affects people who have diabetic neuropathy.
Diabetes dermopathy: Light-brown, round-shaped scaly patches, like historic period spots, appear on the shins. These harmless spots don't need treatment.
Digital sclerosis: Some people with Type ane diabetes develop hardened, thick, waxy skin on the backs of their easily. The finger joints stiffen, making movement hard. A related rash is scleredema adultorum of Bushke which is tightness, thickening, and hardening of the back, neck, shoulders and face. In that location are various treatments that dermatologists tin provide for this.
Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum (NLD): This lower leg rash is more than common in women. NLD causes raised, blood-red, shiny patches with a yellowish center. Blood vessels may exist more noticeable. The rash may be itchy and painful. You should meet a dermatologist for treatment options.
Diabetes Foot Syndrome: These are ulcers that develop from trauma to the skin. The ulcers can take a long time to heal and there is an increased risk for infection.

Other weather tin can impact anyone, but are particularly common among people with diabetes. These rash-causing conditions can also exist a alert sign of pre-diabetes:

Acanthosis nigricans (AN): This condition causes dark, velvet-looking bands of discolored skin. Information technology commonly affects people who have overweight/obesity. Acanthosis nigricans can exist a warning sign of loftier blood sugar or prediabetes.
Disseminated granuloma annulare: Granuloma annulare often affects healthy children and young adults. In people with diabetes, disseminated granuloma annulare forms rings or arcs on the fingers, hands, feet and ears. The rash may be ruddy, ruby-brown or skin tone. Information technology doesn't cause pain, but it may itch. Many times this volition heal without therapy. For small areas of involvement, topical steroids tin be useful in handling.
Eruptive xanthomatosis: Firm, xanthous, pea-sized skin bumps may itch and be encircled in ruby. This rash nigh oft affects the backs of the hands, feet, arms, legs and buttocks. Among people with Blazon i diabetes, it'due south almost mutual in men who have high cholesterol.
Vitiligo: People with Type one diabetes are more prone to this skin condition. It causes skin to lose pigment, the substance that gives skin its colour. Some people notice light or white patches of skin. Rarely, it itches or hurts. Treatments include corticosteroid creams, laser treatments and low-cal therapy.
Skin tags: These are small dark-brown bumps on your skin, often on your eyelids, neck, armpits or groin. These commonly don't have whatever symptoms and no treatment is necessary.
Lichen planus: A lichen planus rash is characterized by itchy purple bumps on the peel, sometimes with a white lacy pattern. This is usually on the ankles and wrists, simply tin can sometimes exist seen in the mouth. There are many therapies, both topical and pills that tin be used to treat this.
Acquired reactive perforating collagenosis (ARPC): This is usually seen in patients with kidney disease. The rash is usually red itchy bumps. Treatment can consist of topical steroids, steroid injections to the rash and other medications.

What other skin weather affect people with diabetes?

People with diabetes can have whatsoever skin status. Only sometimes, people with diabetes have a rash or other pare irritation due to:

Allergic reactions: People with diabetes may have an allergic reaction to oral diabetes medications or injectable insulin. Y'all may develop a rash or hives and swelling (urticaria) at the injection site or elsewhere on your body. Contact your healthcare provider if you remember you're having an allergic reaction.
Bacterial infections: Having diabetes increases the risk of bacterial skin infections. You lot may develop bacterial infections in eyelid glands (sty) or deep nether the peel (boils and carbuncles). Infected pare may exist swollen, hot, red and painful. You'll need antibiotics to get rid of the infection.
Dry, itchy skin: High claret sugar and certain peel conditions tin can crusade dry, itchy skin. If y'all have poor blood apportionment, your lower legs may itch the virtually. Moisturizers can assistance.
Fungal infections: A yeast called Candida albicans causes near fungal infections in people with diabetes. You'll have moist areas of tiny red blisters or scales that itch. Skin mucus tends to bear on pare folds, including nether the chest, between fingers and toes, around nailbeds, and in the armpits and groin. Common fungal infections include jock crawling, athlete's foot and ringworm. Antifungal medications can aid.

The best thing you can practise to prevent pare problems is to keep blood sugar levels within the range recommended by your healthcare provider. Proper skin care can lower your chances of getting a peel rash, infection or wound that'due south difficult to heal.

Take these steps to prevent skin bug:

Check your skin daily for signs of rashes, redness, infections or sores.
Utilize warm (not hot) water and moisturizing soap in the shower. (Soaking in a tub dries out peel.)
Pat skin dry with a towel (don't rub), making certain to dry out in between fingers, toes and skin folds.
Apply fragrance-gratuitous moisturizers afterward showering while pare is all the same clammy and soft. Look for creams and ointments (not lotions) with ceramide to help skin retain moisture.
Apply creams containing ten% to 25% urea (an emollient) to cracked, dry heels at bedtime.
Prevent aridity and keep skin hydrated by drinking plenty of fluids.
Care for cuts and wounds immediately with soap and water. Utilize antibiotic ointments simply if your healthcare provider gives the OK. Cast the wound daily. Phone call your provider if you discover signs of redness, pain, drainage or infection.
Employ a humidifier to add moisture to the air in your home.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Having diabetes increases your risk for skin rashes and pare issues. It'due south important to pay attention to your pare. Contact your healthcare provider every bit soon equally you lot notice a rash or something that doesn't look quite right. A rash may be a sign that yous need to alter medications or dosages to get claret sugar under control. A proper skin care routine can lower your take a chance of diabetes-related skin bug.