Skin problems in diabetes: That’s the reason
If the body produces no or too little insulin to break down the sugar ingested with food, the blood sugar level inevitably rises. For diabetics, monitoring and regulating their own blood sugar levels is sometimes vital. Too much sugar in the body has many negative effects on organs and nerves. However, the high blood sugar levels of people with diabetes also have an impact on skin health. Diabetics often suffer from very dry, tight and itchy skin. The body tries to flush out the excess sugar in the system through the urine. Frequent urination removes a lot of fluid that would otherwise benefit the skin.
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Dehydrated skin is much more prone to inflammation because bacteria can enter through microscopic dry cracks in the skin’s surface. Chronically high blood sugar also damages nerves in the skin. Minor injuries are only noticed later or not at all. Sufferers of diabetes then sometimes develop severe skin and tissue inflammation, such as a diabetic foot. The lack of endogenous insulin also has an inhibiting effect on the normal growth of corneal layers. The skin of diabetics is therefore less protected in many places.
All of these factors contribute to the fact that people with diabetes can have particularly sensitive skin that requires care. The weakened skin can be supported as best as possible with the following care tips.
3 tips for healthy skin despite diabetes
1. Cream, cream, cream
Chronically dry skin that is prone to inflammation requires special care. Many diabetics suffer from itchy dry sores. When it gets tense again and the itching becomes unbearable, some sufferers scratch their skin to pieces. Bacteria and pollutants can pass through the damaged skin barrier and cause inflammation. Instead of giving in to the itching, it is much more advisable to apply skin-friendly care creams. Diabetics should use moisturizing creams. In the best case, the creams also contain urea, vitamin E or care additives such as jojoba oil. Fragrances should preferably not be contained in the skin creams.
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2. Avoid long showers and baths
People with sensitive, dry skin – including diabetics – should not spend too much time in the shower or even in the bath. Paradoxically, excessive showering and bathing also dries out the skin. Long showers also wash off many of the natural skin oils that our protective cover needs to keep out external pollutants and pathogens. People with diabetes should therefore only take a short shower, use pH-neutral shower lotions and use moisturizing skin care products after each shower. Moisturizing creams after the shower are also recommended.
3. Foot care and flip-flops in swimming pools
Since the skin of people suffering from diabetes is drier, it is easier for athlete’s foot and nail fungus to penetrate the vulnerable skin barrier. Diabetes sufferers should therefore pay particular attention to regular foot care routines. This includes, for example, short daily foot baths, pH skin-neutral care lotions for the feet and conscientious drying of the spaces between the toes, where bacteria and fungi otherwise have easy play in damp environments. However, the particular susceptibility to skin fungal diseases means, especially during the summer bathing season in outdoor pools and swimming pools: Wear flip-flops! Where there is a lot of barefoot traffic, slippers or bathing shoes should definitely be worn to give bacteria, viruses and fungi not even a chance to infect one’s own, particularly sensitive foot skin.