Nerve and blood vessel damage and dehydration from chronic high blood glucosecan cause dry skin problems in people with diabetes. Dry, cracked skin is a potential breeding ground for infection. Staying well-moisturized (both inside and out) and using mild soaps and other gentle skin care products is your best bet for healthy skin. One caveat to moisturizing: make sure that areas such as underarms, groin, and between the toes stay dry to prevent fungal infections.
Other skin conditions associated with diabetes include:
- Acanthosis nigricans(A-kan-THO-sis NIH-grih-kans) – velvety, light-brown-to-black markings
- Bullosis diabeticorum (BULL-OH-sis DY-uh-bet-ih-KOR-um) – blisters
- Diabetic dermopathy – light brown scaly patches
- Eruptive xanthomatosis (EE-rup-tive zan-thO-mat-Osis) – small yellow bumps ringed with red
- Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum(NEK-roh-by-OH-sis lih-POY-dik-ah DY-uh-bet-ih-KOR-um) – lower leg rash; shiny red with yellow in center
