
Diabetes Related Skin Conditions: Bacterial Infections, Prevention and Treatment
Anyone can develop a bacterial skin infection, but people with diabetes are more prone to them. A skin condition can even be the first indication that an individual has diabetes.
Good skin care, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and controlled blood sugar are the primary preventive measures for skin infections. However, even the most hygienic and scrupulous among us might contract one.
Common Bacterial Infections
Styes are painful red lumps, often pus-filled, along the edge of an eyelid. Other symptoms are tearing, eyelid swelling, and crusting.
Preventive measures for styes are:
not touching your eye area with unwashed hands.
always washing your hands thoroughly before changing contact lenses.
always disinfecting contact lenses before use.
removing your makeup before going to bed.
not using old or expired makeup.
Most styes are harmless and resolve on their own, improving within 48 hours. The recommended self-care is to apply a warm moist washcloth to your closed eyelid for at least ten minutes several times each day. For persistent styes, doctors might prescribe an antibiotic (e.g., topical cream, eye drops, pills). Styes occasionally need to be lanced and drained.
Boils, or furuncles, are red, pus-filled, tender lumps that form under the skin when one or several hair follicles are infected by bacteria. A cluster of boils is a more serious infection called a carbuncle.
Preventive factors for boils and carbuncles are:
wash your hands regularly with a mild soap.
avoid contact with those who have a boil, or other staph infection.
prompt treatment and care of other skin probl
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