Diabetes affects many organs in the body, including the skin. People with diabetes are more prone to skin problems, including dry skin, injection-related scarring that affects insulin absorption in the body, and vaginal infection. Because diabetes increases the risk for infection, even a minor skin condition can develop into a more serious problem.
Diabetes skin conditions generally fall into three categories :
- Skin conditions that happen mostly to people with diabetes
- Common skin infections made worse by having high blood sugar
- Skin problems that occur from injecting insulin ( hypertropy or atrophy of the skin )
causes of diabetes-related skin conditions vary. Many are harmless, but it's helpful to recognize them and know when to see your doctor for treatment.
Diabetic dermopathy. this skin condition develops as a result of changes to the blood vessels that supply the skin. Dermopathy appears as a shiny round or oval lesion of thin skin over the front lower parts of the lower legs.
Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum : Another disease that may be caused by changes in the blood vessels is necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum (NLD). NLD causes spots similar to diabetic dermopathy, but they are fewer, larger, and deeper
Disseminated granuloma annulare. This causes red, red-brown, or skin-colored raised rings or arcs on the skin. It usually occurs on the fingers, ears, or lower legs
Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum : Another disease that may be caused by changes in the blood vessels is necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum (NLD). NLD causes spots similar to diabetic dermopathy, but they are fewer, larger, and deeper
Disseminated granuloma annulare. This causes red, red-brown, or skin-colored raised rings or arcs on the skin. It usually occurs on the fingers, ears, or lower legs
Digital sclerosis. About one-third of people with type 1 diabetes have this condition, which can make the skin on the back of the hands become thick, waxy, and tight
Acanthosis nigricans. With this condition, the skin on the neck, armpits, or groin thickens and becomes brown or tan
Eruptive xanthomatosis. Young men with type 1 diabetes who also have high levels of cholesterol and fat in the blood often develop this condition
Vitiligo: Vitiligo, a skin problem more commonly associated with type 1 diabetes than type 2 diabetes, affects skin coloration
Vitiligo: Vitiligo, a skin problem more commonly associated with type 1 diabetes than type 2 diabetes, affects skin coloration
Diabetes and Skin Infections
Bacterial skin infections are pretty common with diabetes such as : boil , folliculitis , or infection of the nail bed, Styes
Bacterial skin infections are pretty common with diabetes such as : boil , folliculitis , or infection of the nail bed, Styes
Fungal infections are pretty common too, according to Hatipoglu. People with diabetes are likely to develop fungal infections in areas that get hot and sweaty, including:
- Under the breasts
- Between fingers and toes
- In the armpits
- In the groin area
- men genital area
Keeping your diabetes under control is the most important factor in preventing these skin problems
References :medscape , wikipedia ,diabetes.org , webmd
