If you are diabetic and suffer from dry skin, it’s not a coincidence. Around one third of people who have diabetes suffer from skin related conditions that are directly related to or influenced by the condition.1 With dry and irritated skin being such a prevalent condition amongst people with diabetes, it’s important to know how to look after your skin to make it as comfortable as possible. What’s the best lotion for diabetic dry skin? I’m glad you asked!
What Causes Dry Skin for Diabetics?
For people who have diabetes, there are many factors that can affect the health of their skin and cause symptoms of dryness, itch and inflammation. Since diabetes means someone’s body isn’t able to produce insulin, or they don’t produce enough of it, they are likely to experience high blood sugar levels since insulin is responsible for regulating the glucose in our blood. Since blood sugars leave the body through urine, having high blood sugar levels over an extended period of time causes you to urinate more often. This alone can start to dehydrate your skin.1
Having high blood sugar levels can also lead to nerve damage, causing a condition called polyneuropathy.2 Polyneuropathy can lead to poor blood circulation and can cause itchy skin.
Unfortunately, people with diabetes are less able to fight off harmful bacteria on the skin and as a result are more susceptible to bacterial infections and other infections such as fungal infections.2,3 People with type 2 diabetes also have a higher risk of developing psoriasis which can also cause itch and irritation of the skin.1
The Importance of a Good Lotion
It’s clear to see that people with diabetes really need to take care of their skin to keep it in optimal health and to keep themselves protected from further complications. While managing your blood sugar levels is the best way to take care of your skin if you have diabetes, it’s also vital to use a lotion that protects your skin and actively targets the unwanted skin symptoms instead of providing temporary relief or simply masking a skin condition.
When it comes to lotion, you want to avoid products that provide artificial moisture and instead deliver genuine hydration and moisture like Gloves In A Bottle Shielding Lotion or Skin MD Natural. A shielding lotion will not only provide your skin with hydration but will also trap in your own natural oils and moisture to help hydrate your skin from the inside. Be careful of the ingredients that are in your lotion. They should be gentle and non-irritating for your skin but still effective at treating your skin symptoms. You want to avoid any additional allergic reactions or contact dermatitis as the last thing you need is more skin inflammation to deal with!
A key factor in protecting your skin when you have diabetes is avoiding irritants and bacteria from making their way into the deeper levels of your skin to avoid infections as well as itch. A shielding lotion like Gloves In A Bottle creates a natural but invisible protective layer on the top of your skin that prevents unwanted bacteria from entering. The best part is that while your skin is protected and rehydrating, your skin is still able to breathe and function naturally.
The Best Lotion for Diabetic Dry Skin
If you are concerned about any skin symptoms you are experiencing, it is always advisable to get advice from a dermatologist to make sure you aren’t missing the key signs of more serious skin conditions. However, if you’re simply asking, ‘What’s the best lotion for diabetic dry skin?’ then the answer is quite simple. If you want to keep your dry and itchy skin at bay and know that you’re giving it the best protection possible throughout the day, using a shielding lotion should be at the top of your to-do list.
1 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/317360
2 https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/diabetes-and-itching
3 https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/complications/skin-complications
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