Diabetes And Skin Problems - How To Deal With Dry Itchy Skin
If you have diabetic skin problems, like itchy skin, it's important to care for your skin properly – read on for tips to add to your skin care regime! If you have diabetes then you’re more likely to have dry skin, which can lead to itchiness. Are you one of those who suffer with diabetes and itchy skin? Itchy skin and diabetes often go together. The good news is that by taking care of your skin, you may be able to help reduce the risk of developing skin problems due to dryness and maintain healthy-looking, smooth skin. 1 Itchy skin, diabetes related or not, can often be made worse by washing with the wrong skin care products that increase skin dryness. Although you might think you’re doing the right thing by keeping your skin clean, if you’re using the wrong products, or washing too frequently, then you can actually aggravate the problem. Try to use mild and gentle soaps that are free from harsh chemicals and heavy perfumes. Unless it’s necessary, don’t wash your skin more than twice a day – washing too often, especially with hot water, can actually dry the skin out more. Avoiding these triggers may help to minimize itchiness. 2 If you’ve got diabetes, itchy skin due to dryness can be a concern. A good moisturizer like Vaseline® Intensive Care™ Advanced Repair Unscented Lotion may help to soothe and relieve itchiness. With micro-droplets of Vaseline® Jelly and glycerin, this lotion locks in essential moisture to help facilitate the skin’s natural recovery process. It’s fast absorbing and gentle on skin. Moisturizing can help to calm your dry skin and may reduce the urge to scratch. Remember, even though dry, itchy skin can be uncomfortable, always try your best to avoid scratching as this can lead to skin becoming damaged. If you have diabetes an Continue reading >>
Good Skin Care And Diabetes
People with diabetes are prone to dry skin, particularly when blood glucose levels run high. This causes the body to lose fluids and skin to become dry. Dry skin can crack and itch, which can lead to infections. You may also get dry skin with diabetes if you have neuropathy. The nerves in the legs and feet may not get the message to sweat, which is necessary to keep skin soft and moist. Keeping your skin moisturized when you have diabetes is one of the easiest ways to prevent skin problems. Here are some other ways you can prevent skin problems with diabetes: After you wash with a mild soap, rinse and dry thoroughly in every nook and cranny of your body. Use a moisturizer, but not between your toes. Avoid very hot baths and showers, which can dry your skin. “Avoid soaking your feet too,” says Andrea Penney, RN, CDE, at Joslin Diabetes Center. “Extended exposure to water softens the feet and makes your skin more prone to being pierced.” Inspect your body for red spots, blisters and sores that could lead to infection. Look for any bumps or changes in appearance on your feet and have your doctor look at your feet at least twice a year during your physical. Treat cuts right away. Wash minor cuts with soap and water. Keep your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible. Control blood pressure and cholesterol by taking prescribed medications, which will improve circulation and keep your skin healthy. Drink plenty of fluids, like water and caffeine-free, sugar-free drinks, to keep your skin hydrated. Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which nourish the skin. This includes fish like salmon, sardines, albacore tuna and mackerel, as well as tofu and other forms of soybeans, walnuts, flaxseed and their oils. If you notice any skin problems, let your health car Continue reading >>
Diabetes: A Skin-care How-to
Diabetes can dry out your skin. That means you could get injured more easily, be more likely to get an infection, and take longer to heal. Follow these tips to care for your skin and keep it healthy. To shield your skin from the cold or wind, cover your ears and face, including your nose, and wear a hat. Also, wear warm gloves and shoes or boots. Follow these guidelines, too: Use lip balm to prevent chapped lips. To prevent dry skin when the temperature drops, use a room humidifier to add moisture to heated indoor air. When you bathe or shower, use warm (not hot) water, and a mild, moisturizing soap. Don't take long baths or showers. Pat skin dry -- don't rub it. After washing and drying off, use a mild lotion to prevent dry skin. Avoid scratching dry skin. Apply moisturizer instead. Keep a bottle of lotion near the sink so you can use it after washing your hands. Limit products you use on your skin to lower your chances of having a reaction. If you're prone to acne, talk to your dermatologist before choosing a facial moisturizer. Some can cause acne or make it worse. Use products labeled "noncomedogenic" or "nonacnegenic." Keep a first-aid kit close by to take care of your hands and feet. It should include: Antibacterial ointment Gauze pads Hypoallergenic or paper tape Prepackaged cleansing wipes (in case soap and water aren't available) Don't try to break or pop the blister. The skin that covers it protects it from infection. Gently wash the area with mild soap and warm water. Apply antibacterial ointment to the blister. Cover it with a cloth bandage or gauze pad. Secure that with hypoallergenic or paper tape. Change the bandage at least once a day. If the blister is on your foot and came from your shoes, wear a different pair until it heals. Gently wash the area with Continue reading >>
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A Skin Cream Survey: Keep Informed And Moisturized
A great number of skin creams and lotions are formulated for, and marketed to, people with diabetes, but why? What is it that makes people with diabetes require skin care products, and why do those products need to be specifically designed for diabetics? People with diabetes, for reasons that are not yet totally understood, are far more likely to develop skin complications. Once these problems set in, they can have serious consequences, including surgical tissue removal and amputation, if they are not cared for properly. Why Do We Have More Skin Problems? According to diabetic skin expert S. William Levy, MD, “Nobody really knows.” Levy first became interested in the subject in 1953, after finding a significant link between diabetes and amputations, and since that time he has worked at hospitals in the San Francisco area and written several articles on the subject for medical journals, as well as the book “Skin Problems of Amputees” Levy says that many believe the root of diabetic skin problems lies in the narrowing of the small blood vessels near the skin (microangiopathy). These vessels protect and nourish the skin of nondiabetics, but, says Levy, “in people with diabetes, they become constricted and may even become completely clogged through the years.” This restricted blood supply delays healing and increases the chances of infection. “When this happens, the tissues dry up and gangrene can set in, which may eventually lead to amputation. Remember, even simple bites and scratches can lead to ulcers [a deep sore on the surface of the skin],” he adds. The Progression of Skin Problems High glucose levels are probably the strongest contributing factor to neuropathy and poor circulation. This can result in dry, infection-prone skin. According to “The Joh Continue reading >>
Skin Care Tips For People With Diabetes
Managing diabetes is about eating right, exercising, and following your doctor’s recommendations. But there are other considerations. For instance, many people with diabetes don’t realize the importance of skin care. With that in mind, here are a few tips to keep in mind: Hydrate – keeping skin hydrated with a moisturizing body lotion or cream helps relieve the itch associated with dry skin while preventing irritation and cracking. Dry skin thoroughly and moisturize with lotion or cream after a shower or bath. Make sure the lotion or cream is fully absorbed before getting dressed. *Do not use creams or lotions on open wounds. Clean & Dry – ensuring that skin is always clean and dry helps prevent fungal growth and harmful bacteria from developing into infections. Check & Treat – checking skin daily for cracks, and treating problems straight away helps prevent infections. The American Diabetes Association recommends avoiding harsh antiseptics and talking to a doctor before using an antibiotic cream or ointment. Avoid very hot baths and showers. Hot water can remove natural oils from skin making it dry and itchy. Try showering or bathing with warm water and limit your time in the water to 10 minutes or less. If your skin is dry, don't use bubble baths. Moisturizing soaps may help. Always drink plenty of water. It’s wise to cut down on alcohol or caffeine, since these substances can dehydrate the body, robbing the skin of fluids. Remember to wear sunscreen. Sun exposure can damage your skin’s ability to protect itself, so choose a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Also, apply a lip balm with an SPF of 15 to help moisturize and prevent chapped lips. Continue reading >>
Top 4 Diabetic Lotions To Help Increase Circulation.
Best Lotions for Diabetic Feet Diabetes can cause deprivation of oxygen to your skin, leading to poor circulation that might lead to severe, chronic dryness, slow healing, redness, cracking and itching. This basically means that diabetics can get injured more easily and are more likely to get infections that take longer to heal. Here are some of the best lotions for diabetic feet that can help alleviate these diabetes complications: Neoteric Advanced Healing Cream Neoteric advanced healing cream provides treatment for cracked, damaged and chronic dry skin. One of its main ingredients is TriOxygenc which helps infuse oxygen into your skin. This diabetic skin care cream is proven to speed healing and increase circulation by strengthening natural defenses of the skin. It provides instant soothing action by quickly restoring your skin to a healthier, smooth soft texture. Main benefits Especially great for feet and hands Speeds healing by strengthening the natural defenses of the skin Protects and restores chronic dry, damaged, cracked skin Helps increase the skin’s natural collagen production and circulation Promotes, healthier, stronger, more resilient skin Provides therapeutic skin moisturization and protection Non-greasy Absorbs very easily Neoteric advanced healing cream provides exceptional skin care for people with all types of dry skin conditions including diabetes. How to use Apply as often as necessary or as directed by the healthcare expert or physician. Daily use is recommended to help maintain the skin’s soft, healthy appearance. Gold Bond Ultimate Hydrating Lotion – Diabetic Skin Care Lotions With diabetes, your skin can become rough, cracked and uncomfortable. Gold bond ultimate hydrating lotion is specifically formulated for dry skin with hydralast and Continue reading >>
Healthy Skin
Looking after your skin Diabetes can accelerate the natural process of your skin drying out as you age Moisturise daily to avoid dry and cracked skin Healthy skin acts as a barrier to keep out infection Diabetes can also cause your eyes, nose and mouth to feel dry Treatment is available for your dry eyes, nose or mouth Why your skin is important The skin is the body’s largest organ and performs several important roles in protecting your health. Your skin acts as a barrier between the dry and potentially dangerous outside and the venerable inside mechanisms of our bodies. Glands associated with hair follicles produce the oils and sweat that maintain the barrier. The nervous system controls these glands and if damage occurs and the skin dries out, small cracks can occur which signifies the barrier has been broken. Moisture from beneath the skin can then leak out and lead to more cracking, which can increase the risk of infection and skin discomfort. As we get older, we gradually lose the individual nerve fibres in our body which means that our skin cannot protect us as well and we are more susceptible to damaging factors from outside, such as dryness. Dry skin Damage to the small blood vessels and nerves common in people with diabetes can cause very dry skin. This can lead to small cracks in the skin. When you have dry skin, over washing, excessively hot water, exposing your skin to the sun and not moisturising can make the problem worse. To help improve the condition of dry skin: Use warm water rather than hot water for washing Use a ph balanced soap or minimise the amount of soap you use Limit the time you spend bathing – don’t linger as you are just washing the oils out of your skin Take a few extra minutes after your skin has been exposed to water and before bed Continue reading >>
Diabetes And Your Skin
Protecting Your Outermost Layer The phrase “feeling comfortable in your own skin” is usually used figuratively to describe a level of self-confidence or self-acceptance. But when your skin itches, hurts, flakes, breaks out, changes color, or just doesn’t look or feel the way you’d like it to, the phrase can take on a new, very literal meaning. Diabetes can affect the skin in a number of ways that can make a person feel less than comfortable. In fact, as many as a third of people with diabetes will have a skin condition at some point in their lifetime. While some conditions may appear uniquely in people with diabetes, others are simply more common in people with diabetes. The good news is that a fair number of these conditions are treatable or can be prevented by maintaining blood glucose control and taking good daily care of your skin. Dry, itchy skin Dry skin can occur as a result of high blood glucose. When the blood glucose level is high, the body attempts to remove excess glucose from the blood by increasing urination. This loss of fluid from the body causes the skin to become dry. Dry skin can also be caused by neuropathy (damage to the nerves) by affecting the nerves that control the sweat glands. In these cases, neuropathy causes a decrease or absence of sweating that may lead to dry, cracked skin. Cold, dry air and bathing in hot water can aggravate dry skin. Dryness commonly leads to other skin problems such as itching (and often scratching), cracking, and peeling. Any small breaks in the skin leave it more exposed to injury and infection. It is therefore important to keep skin well moisturized. The best way to moisturize is to apply lotion or cream right after showering and patting the skin dry. This will seal in droplets of water that are present on t Continue reading >>
Diabetes: Skin Care
If you have diabetes, there are some steps you can take to help prevent skin problems. Consider the following tips for good skin care: Keep your diabetes under control. Follow your healthcare provider's advice about nutrition, exercise, and medication. Keep your blood glucose level within the range recommended by your health care provider. Keep your skin clean and dry. When bathing or showering, use warm water and a mild, moisture-containing soap. After washing, make sure to rinse and dry yourself well (pat your skin dry; do not rub). Check places where water can collect, such as under the arms, under the breasts, between the legs, and between the toes. Look at your body after you wash. Make sure you don't have any dry, red, or sore spots that could become infected. Avoid bathing in hot water and taking long baths or showers. Also avoid bubble baths, which often contain detergents that can be drying. Avoid scratching dry skin. Apply moisturizer instead. Keep your skin moist by using a lotion or cream after you wash. Ask your healthcare provider to suggest a good lotion. Keep a bottle of lotion near the sink so you can use it after washing your hands. You should use a fragrance-free and dye-free moisturizer. Apply lip balm to prevent chapped lips. Limit the products you use on your skin to decrease your chances of having a reaction. Treat cuts right away. Wash them with soap and water. Avoid antiseptics, iodine, or alcohol to clean cuts, because they are too harsh. Ask your healthcare provider to recommend an antibiotic cream or ointment to use on minor cuts. Drink lots of fluids, especially water, to keep your skin moist and healthy. To prevent dry skin when the temperature drops, use a room humidifier to add moisture to heated, indoor air. To protect your skin from the Continue reading >>
Top 5 Diabetic Lotion Reviews- All You Need To Know About Diabetes Skin Lotion
Looking for safe and effective diabetic lotion for dry skin or just to keep your skin healthy? We have spent close to 35 hours researching on the best lotion for diabetics and came up with an ultimate review. Diabetes can affect any part of the body, including the skin. People with diabetes should take extra care of their skin to avoid skin complications. Do not hesitate to see you doctor if you start noticing skin problems. Diabetic skin complications can be brought under control if it is diagnosed and treated early. How does diabetes cause skin problems? There are two links For one, high blood sugar levels is associated with dry skin. When the blood sugar levels are high, the body react by excreting a lot of water through urine. Chronic loss of fluids in the body makes the skin dry and even crack. Any cracks or breaks on the skin makes the skin more exposed to injuries and infections either fungal or bacterial. Dry skin is also as a result of damage to the nerves (neuropathy). This affects the nerves that control the sweat glands. It can decrease or complete absence of sweating resulting to dry cracked skin. Sweating helps to keep the skin soft and moist. Diabetic lotion softens and smoothens rough dry skin, moisturizes and hydrates dry skin, it speeds up healing process and makes the skin healthier and resilient. Choosing a diabetic lotion that works out well for you and applying it every day is one of the easiest ways to prevent skin-related complications. We have spent close to 35 hours researching on the best diabetic lotion and we came up with a review and an ultimate buyer’s guide. Our review is based on safety and effectiveness of the lotions. Read our review below and get yourself a diabetic lotion to start using it to maintain a healthy skin and feet. Diabe Continue reading >>
5 Essential Skincare Tips For Diabetics
Source: Best Health magazine, November/December 2015 Over nine million Canadians are living with diabetes or prediabetes, a disease that comes with a host of problems, including a susceptibility to dry, sensitive skin. We asked Francine Krenicki, SVP Product Development, at Skinfix, for her advice. Why do those with diabetes often have problem skin? When blood glucose levels run high the body loses fluids and this causes skin to dry out all over, especially on the extremities like hands, legs and feet. Many people find that what worked for their skin before diabetes isn’t as effective anymore. Moisturizers might not be enough to maintain hydration and other products could even be causing irritation. What should someone with diabetes do differently, to care for their skin? Avoid Hot Showers: Hot water is irritating and it weakens the skin barrier. Replace harsh bar soaps and body washes. Lock in Moisture: Moisturize your skin immediately after bathing. Pat skin dry thoroughly, paying attention to areas like underarms, calves and skin folds. Water trapped on the skin can lead to irritation. Go Fragrance-Free: Frequent handwashing before glucose meter readings can leave hands dry, especially if using antibacterial hand soaps or sanitizers. Replenish moisture with a rich, protective hand cream; avoid formulas with fragrance, which can irritate skin. Use a Humidifier: In the cold winter months, a humidifier can help add moisture to the air in your home and help prevent skin from drying out. Take Care of Your Feet: Find shoes with extra cushion and support to reduce the risk of injuries. At night, use a rich, urea-free foot cream to provide protection and increase skin moisturization to dry, cracked skin. What ingredients should someone with diabetes look for in skincare pr Continue reading >>
Diabetic Skin Care
Prevent Infection and other issues Diabetic Skin Care, courtesy of the American Diabetes Association. Diabetes can affect every part of the body, including the skin. As many as one third of people with diabetes will have a skin disorder caused or affected by diabetes at some time in their lives. In fact, such problems are sometimes the first sign that a person has diabetes. Luckily, most skin conditions can be prevented or easily treated if caught early. Good Skin Care There are several things you can do to head off skin problems: 1. Keep your diabetes well managed. People with high glucose levels tend to have dry skin and less ability to fend off harmful bacteria. Both conditions increase the risk of infection. 2. Keep skin clean and dry. Use talcum powder in areas where skin touches skin, such as armpits and groin. 3. Avoid very hot baths and showers. If your skin is dry, don't use bubble baths. Moisturizing soaps may help. Afterward, use a standard skin lotion, but don't put lotions between toes. The extra moisture there can encourage fungus to grow. 4. Prevent dry skin. Scratching dry or itchy skin can open it up and allow infection to set in. Moisturize your skin to prevent chapping, especially in cold or windy weather. 5. Treat cuts right away. Wash minor cuts with soap and water. Do not use Mercurochrome antiseptic, alcohol, or iodine to clean skin because they are too harsh. Only use an antibiotic cream or ointment if your doctor says it's okay. Cover minor cuts with sterile gauze. See a doctor right away if you get a major cut, burn, or infection. 6. During cold, dry months, keep your home more humid. Bathe less during this weather, if possible. 7. Use mild shampoos. Do not use feminine hygiene sprays. 8. See a dermatologist (skin doctor) about skin problems if Continue reading >>
