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How Does Diabetes Affect Skin Health? Understanding the Reasons Behind Increased Dryness
Diabetes is not just a condition affecting blood sugar levels; its impact extends to many parts of the body, with the skin being significantly affected. Understanding these effects helps us realize why diabetic skin requires special and continuous care:

• High Blood Sugar Levels and Fluid Loss: When blood sugar levels are chronically elevated, the body attempts to eliminate excess sugar through urine. This process leads to a significant loss of body fluids, which directly impacts skin hydration, making it more prone to severe dryness.
• Nerve Damage (Diabetic Neuropathy): Diabetes can cause damage to nerves, especially peripheral nerves that supply the feet and hands. This damage may lead to a decrease in the skin’s natural ability to sweat. Sweating plays a role in maintaining skin moisture, so its reduction contributes to increased dryness. Nerve damage can also reduce the sensation of pain, heat, or pressure, making a diabetic patient less aware of minor injuries.
• Poor Circulation: Diabetes also affects blood vessels, which can lead to poor circulation, especially in the extremities. Impaired circulation means less oxygen and fewer nutrients reach the skin cells, weakening the skin’s ability to repair itself and making it more fragile and susceptible to damage and infections.
• Impaired Skin Barrier Function: All these factors combined—dryness, nerve damage, and poor circulation—contribute to weakening the skin’s natural protective barrier. This barrier, when healthy, protects the skin from moisture loss and the entry of irritants and microbes. Its impairment makes the skin more vulnerable to severe dryness, cracking, irritation, and infections.

These changes mean that the skin of a diabetic patient, particularly the skin on the feet, is in urgent need of meticulous daily care focused on intensive hydration, protection, and supporting the skin barrier function.

Dry Skin and Foot Problems in Diabetic Patients

Dry skin is a common and early dermatological symptom that a diabetic patient may notice, and it can affect any part of the body. However, this problem takes on particular importance and greater risk when it concerns the feet, leading to complications known as “diabetic foot.”

• General Symptoms of Dry Skin in Diabetic Patients:
  • Roughness and Scaly Texture: The patient may feel that their skin, especially on the limbs, has become rough and lost its usual softness, with the appearance of white or gray scales.
  • Itching (Pruritus): Dryness is often accompanied by bothersome itching, which may lead the patient to scratch the skin, increasing the risk of wounds or infections.
  • Feeling of Tightness and Discomfort: Skin affected by dryness loses some of its elasticity, giving a sensation of tightness and discomfort.
  • Superficial Cracks: In advanced cases of dryness, superficial cracks may appear on the skin.
• Special Focus on Diabetic Foot Problems: The feet are considered a particularly sensitive and high-risk area for diabetic patients for several interrelated reasons, most notably poor circulation and nerve damage (neuropathy), which reduces the sensation of pain or injury. When this is combined with dry skin, the risks multiply:
  • Cracked Heels and Skin Between Toes: Severe dry skin on the feet easily leads to deep, painful cracks in the heels or even between the toes.
  • Increased Risk of Infection: Cracks and minor injuries, even those the patient may not feel, become easy entry points for bacteria and fungi. This leads to infections that can be serious and difficult to treat due to relatively weakened immunity and slow wound healing in diabetic patients.
  • Formation of Thick Skin (Calluses): As a result of pressure and friction, thick, hard skin (calluses) may form, which if cracked can lead to deeper problems.
  • Potential for Ulcer Development: If cracks and minor wounds are not treated properly and promptly, or if they are subjected to continuous pressure, they may develop into diabetic foot ulcers. These are serious complications that can, in some advanced cases, lead to limb amputation if not managed by specialists quickly and effectively.

Awareness of these risks and a thorough understanding of the importance of daily foot care and continuous moisturization are the first line of defense for diabetic patients against these complications.

Essential Daily Care Rules for Dry Diabetic Skin

Regular and meticulous daily care is the cornerstone of preventing skin complications associated with diabetes, especially concerning the feet. Here are the most important rules a diabetic patient should follow:

• Gentle Cleansing:
  
  • Use lukewarm (not hot) water when showering or washing limbs, as hot water increases skin dryness.
  • Choose mild cleansers free from harsh soaps and fragrances to avoid skin irritation.
  • Avoid vigorous scrubbing of the skin during cleansing.
• Extremely Careful Drying:
  
  • After washing, dry the skin thoroughly with a soft towel by patting gently, not rubbing.
  • Pay special attention to drying the areas between the toes completely, as residual moisture in this area can encourage fungal growth.
• Intensive and Regular Moisturization:
  
  • This is the most important step to combat dryness. The skin should be moisturized daily, preferably at least twice, or whenever needed.
  • The best time to apply moisturizer is immediately after showering or washing hands/feet while the skin is still slightly damp, as this helps lock in moisture.
  • Use a rich, effective moisturizer designed for dry and sensitive skin, such as Metabase Cream, which contains ingredients that support the skin barrier and provide deep hydration.
  • When moisturizing the feet, ensure to cover the heels, soles, and tops, but avoid applying cream thickly between the toes unless advised by a doctor or if the product is specifically designed for that, to prevent excess moisture that could lead to fungal growth.
• Daily Foot Inspection:
  
  • Due to the possibility of reduced sensation from neuropathy, diabetic patients must inspect their feet thoroughly every day.
  • Look for any cuts, scratches, blisters, redness, swelling, changes in skin color, or early signs of infection.
  • Use a mirror if you have difficulty seeing all parts of your feet, or ask a family member for help.
• Careful Nail Care:
  
  • Cut toenails straight across and not too short, avoiding curving the edges, to prevent ingrown toenails.
  • If you have trouble seeing or reaching your feet, or if your nails are very thick, it is best to have a podiatrist or foot care specialist cut them.
• Choosing Appropriate Footwear and Socks:
  
  • Always wear comfortable, well-fitting shoes (not too tight or too loose).
  • Choose shoes made of breathable natural materials (like leather or canvas) with a soft lining and no rough internal seams.
  • Check the inside of shoes with your hand before wearing them to ensure there are no foreign objects or torn linings that could injure your feet.
  • Wear clean, dry socks every day. Choose socks made of moisture-absorbing materials (such as cotton, wool, or fibers specifically designed for diabetics) and avoid socks with tight elastic bands that might impede circulation.
• Avoid Walking Barefoot: Even indoors, to prevent injuries and cuts you might not feel.
• Do Not Attempt to Self-Treat Calluses or Corns with Sharp Tools: Leave this to specialists to avoid causing wounds or infections.

Adherence to these daily care rules can significantly reduce the risk of serious skin problems for diabetic patients and help them maintain the health and comfort of their feet and skin in general.

The Role of Metabase Cream in Supporting Diabetic Skin Care

Choosing the right moisturizer is a vital part of the skincare routine for a diabetic patient, especially concerning feet that are at increased risk. Metabase Cream, with its carefully designed and medically balanced formula, offers effective and safe support, considering the special needs of this sensitive skin (suitable for use over 3 years of age).

• Deep and Intensive Hydration to Combat Severe Dryness: Metabase Cream’s formula contains 10% Urea, an ingredient renowned for its superior ability to attract moisture from the environment and deeper skin layers and retain it. This deep hydration is crucial for diabetic skin, which tends to lose fluids quickly. Urea at this concentration also helps to soften thick, dry skin, such as calluses that may form on the feet, reducing the risk of painful cracks developing.
• Repairing and Strengthening the Protective Skin Barrier: Diabetic patients often suffer from a weakened skin barrier. Metabase Cream contains Ceramides, essential lipid components that work to restore this barrier and strengthen its integrity. A strong, healthy skin barrier reduces transepidermal water loss (TEWL) and protects the skin from the entry of irritants and microbes, which is vital for preventing infections, especially in the feet.
• Soothing the Skin and Alleviating Irritation: The dry and sensitive skin of diabetic patients can be prone to irritation and redness. Metabase Cream includes soothing and calming ingredients like Panthenol (Provitamin B5), Allantoin, and Calendula Extract. These components work together to calm the skin, reduce itching and discomfort, and support natural healing processes in case of minor cracks or scratches.
• Providing a Light Protective Layer: Dimethicone and Paraffin Oil in Metabase Cream contribute to forming a thin, breathable protective layer on the skin’s surface. This layer helps to lock in the moisture provided by other ingredients and reduces direct friction from clothing or footwear, offering additional protection for delicate skin.
• Safe and Gentle Formulation: It is crucial to choose products free from common irritants when caring for diabetic skin. Metabase Cream is free from lanolin, artificial colors, and parabens, making it a safe and suitable option for regular daily use without the worry of aggravating sensitivity or irritation.

Using Metabase Cream as part of the daily skincare routine for a diabetic patient, especially for the feet, can significantly contribute to maintaining its hydration, supporting the integrity of its protective barrier, and providing comfort, thereby helping to prevent serious skin complications.

When Should a Diabetic Patient Consult a Doctor About Skin Problems?

Although daily and preventative care plays a major role in maintaining the skin health of a diabetic patient, certain situations require immediate and specialized medical consultation to avoid serious complications. A diabetic patient should not hesitate to see their doctor, dermatologist, or diabetic foot care specialist in the following cases:

• Appearance of any wound or ulcer that does not heal: Even small cuts or simple scratches, especially on the feet, must be taken seriously. If a wound does not heal within a few days or starts to worsen, it requires medical examination.
• Noticing signs of infection: These signs include increasing redness around the wound or affected area, swelling, a sensation of warmth in the skin, pus discharge, fever, or pain that worsens.
• Sudden changes in the color or shape of the foot or toes: Such as the appearance of dark spots, abnormal paleness, a change in skin temperature (extreme coldness or heat), or deformities in the shape of the toes or foot.
• Loss of sensation or increased numbness or tingling in the feet: These could be signs of worsening diabetic neuropathy.
• Severe or persistent pain in the feet or legs: Especially pain that occurs at rest or disrupts sleep.
• In case of any doubt or concern: If a diabetic patient has any concern about the condition of their skin or feet, or if they notice anything unusual that was not present before, it is always best to consult a doctor.
• For regular periodic foot examinations: Even in the absence of any clear problems, diabetic patients are advised to have a periodic foot examination by a specialist (at least once a year, or more frequently as recommended by the doctor) for early detection of any potential problems.

Early medical intervention if any of these signs appear can prevent the development of serious complications that could threaten foot health or even necessitate amputation in advanced cases.

Conclusion

Caring for the skin of a diabetic patient, especially the feet, is not merely a luxury but an imperative necessity for maintaining overall health and preventing serious complications. The changes induced by diabetes make the skin drier, less able to heal, and more susceptible to infections and ulcerations. However, with a proper understanding of these challenges and a commitment to a meticulous and proactive daily care routine, a diabetic patient can significantly reduce these risks. This routine includes gentle cleansing, intensive and regular moisturization, careful daily foot inspection, choosing appropriate footwear and socks, in addition to regular medical follow-ups. For optimal support in this routine, Metabase Cream, with its specialized formula, provides the effective and safe care your skin needs.

Try Metabase today!