Board certified dermatologist Dr. Joan Paul gives advice on caring for your skin when you live with diabetes.

Diabetes is so hard on people. Not only do you have to be mindful of your diet and exercise to keep your blood sugar levels in a healthy range, but you also have to be vigilant about your skin.

Many people forget that the skin is the body’s largest organ and serves as the first line of defense against infections. People who live with diabetes tend to have more dry, irritated, and sensitive skin. When skin is dry and irritated, it becomes itchy, triggering scratching that can disrupt the skin barrier.

Once the skin barrier is broken, bacteria, fungi, and viruses can easily penetrate the skin, leading to infections that are often painful and can be very serious. Diabetes also weakens your immune system, increasing your risk of various infections, ranging from mild but persistent skin irritations like intertrigo to life-threatening conditions like cellulitis.

Experts believe that an overgrowth of yeast within moist skin folds makes people more vulnerable to intertrigo. Intertrigo typically occurs in the folds of the neck, armpits, below the breasts, and in the groin. Keeping these areas dry and free from moisture will help prevent intertrigo. Although not life-threatening, intertrigo is often irritating and can be embarrassing due to its location and the foul odor it can cause.

Taking good care of your skin by following gentle daily skin care practices and keeping skin folds dry can help keep your skin more comfortable and less vulnerable to harmful infections.

Moisturize for skin health

Keeping your skin hydrated is one of the most important things you can do to help prevent dry, itchy skin. Using a lotion specially formulated for skin affected by diabetes is an easy way to get the moisture your skin craves.

Gold Bond Diabetics’ Dry Skin Relief Body Lotion is formulated for people with diabetes and clinically tested to deliver 24 hours of hydration. It includes moisturizers and vitamins like aloe, vitamin C, and vitamin E.

*use product as directed on the label
**sponsored

When you have diabetes, you do need to be careful about which moisturizers you use, and you must moisturize your skin at least once a day. If you have diabetes, good skin care is essential, not a luxury. Your skin needs more support to help prevent complications, like wounds and infections.

People with diabetes have a harder time fighting off infections, too. That’s why it’s so important to keep your skin barrier intact and free from cracks. A moisturizer containing ceramides will be particularly helpful in maintaining a healthy skin barrier.

If you experience dry, cracked heels, using a product with 10-25% urea is a good idea. Urea helps break down thick, dead skin (keratolytic) and also brings moisture from the environment into the skin (humectant), making it a powerful ally in combating dry, cracked skin.

Yes! Taking long, hot showers several times a day while using harsh skin care products can further dry out your skin. Try keeping your shower or bath time to 5-10 minutes, using lukewarm water and fragrance-free, gentle skin care products. As soon as you leave the shower, apply a hydrating moisturizer.

Consistency is everything! Here’s a recap of a skin-friendly routine for people with diabetes:

  • Bathe or shower daily for 5-10 minutes max in lukewarm water.
  • Once you’re done, gently towel-dry skin with a 100% cotton towel.
  • While your skin is still moist, apply a thick layer of a hydrating moisturizer.
  • Avoid products containing fragrances (e.g., perfume, cologne, laundry detergent, and fabric softener).
  • Wear natural fiber clothing (cotton) and avoid synthetic materials (polyester, nylon).

Do: Take good care of your skin every day.
Don’t: Take your skin for granted.

Dr. Sheel Patel is an ABMS board certified physician in hematology, oncology, and internal medicine. Dr. Patel is a practicing physician at the Orlando VA Medical Center in Florida. He specializes in genitourinary oncology.