Skin Care for Patients with Diabetes
People with diabetes can’t often feel injuries or lesions on their skin and can quickly worsen if patients are unaware of their condition. Therefore, we highly recommend having a yearly check-up with a dermatologist and performing self-examinations.
Practice Self Examinations Regularly
In between office visits, check your skin regularly. The areas to keep an eye on are :
- under breasts
- in the groin
- between toes
- and any other site where moisture, warmth, and where there is lack of air circulation
- Feet: check for sores, cuts, calluses, redness, and cuts. Taking care of your feet is essential if you have diabetes.
Taking Care at Home
Haven’t visited your dermatology? Here are some tips on how to take care of your skin at home:
- Taking short showers with lukewarm water and using fragrance-free cleansers can help minimize inflammation or irritation of the skin.
- After showering, dry the entire body completely
- Apply fragrance-free moisturizers or ointments that contain ceramides while the skin is still damp to ensure maximum absorption
- Taking care of your nails and ensuring that they are well-groomed (ex. keeping your toenails short) helps prevent infections.
If you have diabetes or have a family history of diabetes, book your dermatology visit to speak with our board-certified dermatologist today!
