Problems with dry skin occur in many people. But patients with diabetes are particularly often plagued by rough, itchy and cracked skin, because the altered metabolism also affects the skin. Four out of five diabetics suffer from skin problems such as dry skin (for example on hands and feet), chapped skin, nail fungus, athlete’s foot and poorly healing wounds. Protection is offered by good blood sugar control and intensive skin care.
Dry skin: mainly upper layers of skin affected.
Especially the epidermis with its horny layer is affected by diabetes. Its task is to protect the body from dehydration, pathogens and harmful substances. It therefore holds an important protective function for our body. This top layer of skin is supplied by the dermis underneath. This is where the blood vessels, nerves, sweat and sebaceous glands are located. If these are damaged by high blood sugar, they can no longer work properly. The skin no longer receives sufficient nutrients and oxygen. As a result, it can no longer store moisture as usual and dries out more quickly.
Impaired fat production in diabetes
The skin’s own fat production in the sebaceous glands is also usually out of balance in diabetics. The fat film on the cornea gets “holes” and can no longer reliably protect the underlying skin from environmental influences. In addition, this biological acid mantle is dependent on a slightly acidic environment with a pH value of around 5.5. Incorrect care, for example with alkaline soaps, hot water and low-quality creams, can also weaken this natural skin barrier. The skin becomes rough, cracked, flaky, taut and unpleasantly itchy. It is also more susceptible to skin diseases or allergies in this condition. Products with perfumes, fragrances and preservatives can further irritate the skin.
Diabetics often have dry feet
Hands and face, legs and feet are particularly frequently affected by dry skin. Especially the feet are the focus of care for people with diabetes. This is because circulatory and nerve disorders resulting from the disease are common in this location far from the heart. Sweat production decreases, making the skin brittle, cracked and weak in defense. Bacteria and fungi have an easy time of it. In addition, the damaged nerves and circulatory disturbances can also impair sensation. Infections and wounds or, for example, pressure sores thus remain undetected for longer and also heal more poorly; extensive inflammations can occur. This secondary disease is known as diabetic foot. Diabetics should therefore take particularly good care of their feet and, if necessary, have them treated by professional foot care.
Diabetes: optimal and consistent care
With diabetes, the key is to keep the skin from drying out and to care for it gently. Many tend to use a rich cream for dry skin. But well-intentioned care with an oily cream can have exactly the opposite effect. This is because such creams create a kind of greasy film over the skin, which tightens the pores. This can impair the natural respiratory and oxygen exchange functions. However, people with diabetes should not completely forgo lipids when caring for dry skin, because lipids act like a protective film on the skin, forming a barrier to the environment and protecting it from drying out. Instead of rich fat creams or ointments, an oil-in-water emulsion (O-W emulsion) is recommended. The O-W emulsion consists of a high water content, fats and oil are very finely dissolved in the water. As a result, O-W emulsions provide a lot of moisture, but still allow the skin to breathe unhindered. They also do not leave a greasy film on the skin or clothing. An O-W emulsion, for example in the form of a special cream foam, is recommended for rough skin with tension and itching. Even though there is a wide choice when it comes to skin care, experts recommend not switching between products too often. Otherwise, the risk of allergies increases considerably. Those who are satisfied with their skin care range should therefore stick to it. Incidentally, the right sun protection is also particularly important for diabetics to protect the skin from additional damage caused by UV radiation.
Skin cream with urea for diabetes
Particularly good for the skin with diabetes is the use of a moisturizing cream or lotion.Dermatologists and pharmacists recommend creams with ingredients from skin-related lipid complexes. This is because substances that are also present in the skin’s own barrier can help the skin achieve the necessary balance and are generally also particularly well tolerated. Urea (urea) is contained in many products specially developed for skin with diabetes. Urea is known for its ability to bind moisture in high doses and thus also relieve itching. The concentration of the skin’s natural component of urea is up to 90 percent lower in diabetics than in healthy people. An active ingredient combination of urea and lactate has so far proved particularly effective in caring for the skin of diabetics. Different products are recommended depending on the area of application:
- Especially for foot care, there are creams and cream foams with ten percent urea in the pharmacy. Ingredients such as witch hazel and lavender oil additionally promote circulation, invigorate and disinfect.
- For facial skin, five percent urea is enough. Glycerin or allantoin provides additional moisture.
Body care: do not stress skin
In addition to the use of appropriate creams, lotions or care foams in diabetes, it is equally important to take care of the skin in general. Instead of long bathing, short showers are advisable, because the skin should always be protected from moisture and fat loss. Mild and high-quality products are also recommended for the skin and also for facial care. The cosmetics used should also preferably be free of:
- Preservatives
- Perfumes
- Dyes
6 Tips for cleaning the body
The following tips for proper body cleansing should be followed by diabetics:
- Sensitive body parts such as hands, legs and feet should be cleaned daily with a mild, pH-neutral soap or a moisturizing shower oil and warm (not too hot) water. The same applies to body parts that sweat heavily.
- For facial cleansing, moisturizing cleansing lotions are ideal.
- Otherwise, water is absolutely sufficient. Excessive cleaning is more likely to harm the skin.
- When bathing in the tub, fat-donating bath oils are ideal. Longer than ten minutes diabetics should not persevere here, however. Otherwise, the skin swells too much and dries out unnecessarily. The same applies to foot baths.
- After washing, showering or bathing, you should dry the skin with a soft towel. In doing so, skin folds at the elbows or under the chest and toe spaces particularly note. Because moist warm places are the favorite places of bacteria and fungi, for example athlete’s foot.
- Then apply a special care cream for diabetics.
Good for the skin: plenty of fluids and a healthy diet.
In addition to consistent care of the skin in diabetes, you can additionally do something good for your skin and yourself by drinking plenty of water a day. In diabetes, at least two liters of water per day are recommended to provide the body with sufficient fluid from the inside and thus also the skin in the best possible way. A healthy diet can also have a positive effect on the skin’s appearance.
Why do diabetics have skin problems more often?
Why exactly skin problems such as dry skin occur so frequently in people with diabetes is not yet fully understood. It is suspected that various metabolic processes contribute to this. It is considered certain that people with poorly controlled blood sugar levels in particular are more frequently affected by skin problems. The disease can also weaken the immune system and thus promote susceptibility to infections. In addition, allergic rashes or sensitivity to light can, in rare cases, also be a consequence of the diabetes medication. If those affected regularly inject insulin into the same part of the body, so-called lipodystrophies can also form at the injection site, which usually manifest themselves as hardening or thickening of the subcutaneous fatty tissue. In such cases, one should always consult a physician.
