Diabetes Wreaks Havoc On Winter Skin: Here’s How To Cope

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(Photo: Ian Rubin/Trunk Archive)

According to the Center for Disease Control, there are 29 million diabetics in the United States, and for many winter can be a tough time. As someone whose family struggles with various degrees of “the sugar,” I’ve watched my relatives battle all manner of skin conditions that result from this disease, even losing their limbs and lives due to waiting too long to handle the condition.

I wanted to know more about how to handle the skin conditions more prevalent in diabetics during the winter (and, truly, all year long,) so I turned to Dr. David E. Bank, Board-Certified Dermatologist and Director of The Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic & Laser Surgery. He started by explaining why diabetes affects skin. “Elevated sugar levels cause damage to blood vessels and nerves,” explains Dr. Bank, who says it can also put you at risk for stroke or heart attack, since elevated sugar contributes to blood vessel damage, increased fat and cholesterol deposits, and hardening and narrowing of the arteries. “Your skin isn’t getting proper blood or oxygen, which sets you up for a host of potential problems, specifically an increased risk of infections and excessively dry skin. Nerve damage contributes to increased itching, and loss of sensation and blood flow in the extremities causes slow wound healing and very serious problems.” Other conditions include increased bacterial and fungal infections such as Athlete’s foot, and open sores.

Dr. Bank says to baby your skin, using mild cleansers without fragrance like Dove Sensitive Skin Unscented Body Wash ($10), and taking warm-to-lukewarm baths and showers, never hot. “Also, diabetics should check their skin regularly for new spots, blisters, sores, bumps, and call their doctor immediately if they see anything. This is not a condition where avoiding care will serve you well.” Since excessive dryness is a concern, this means maintaining hydration levels is crucial, and even more so in the arid months of winter. In addition to drinking plenty of fluids, Dr. Bank also recommends locking in water after bathing with ample amounts of moisturizer (again, fragrance-free is preferable) like CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion ($15).

One of the main issues prevalent in diabetics is increased sensitivity to skincare ingredients, such as fragrances. Dr. Bank suggests using products with as few ingredients as possible, which means, surprisingly enough, drugstore brands may be the way to go. “The more expensive brands may have more ingredients and are more likely to be fragranced. Ideally, you also want products that have fewer ingredients: the more things in there, the greater chance of a reaction.”

In addition to keeping skin hydrated, products specifically designed for itch relief like Curel Itch Defense Calming Lotion for Dry, Itchy Skin ($8) can prove to be useful when that intense irritation starts. More advanced conditions can use lactic acid-based products such as AmLactin Fragrance-Free 12% Moisturizing Lotion ($20), and other steroid-free products. “There’s no specific one product or ingredient that is off-limits to diabetics; you’re just better off using fragrance-free products due to reactions,” explains Dr. Bank. “You wouldn’t want to use prescription-grade topicals on the skin for long periods of time because it thin and weaken the skin.”

If you are dealing with open wounds, they demand immediate attention, which means cleansing with a mild cleanser such as Cetaphil Gentle Cleansing Antibacterial Bar ($5), then promptly applying a first aid antibiotic and bandage. “Most diabetics know their own skin, so they’ll know when it might be serious enough to call the internist to get oral antibiotics in addition to topical care,” says Dr. Bank. “But an open sore in a diabetic is not something you want to put off.”

Pregnant women dealing with gestational diabetes should treat their skin with all seriousness as well, even though it is a temporary problem. “It is related to the combination of hormones of pregnancy and increased weight. Fortunately, it’s a time-limited condition; you’re not dealing with the same chronic issues from months to years of having elevated blood sugar.”


Related:

How to Remedy Dry, Flaky Skin this Winter

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