Essential skin care tips that you should know if you have diabetes.
If you have diabetes, then taking great care of your skin is vital. People with diabetes are more prone to infections. Minor things like a cut or scrape can turn into a significant skin infection. Diabetes causes circulation problems, which prevents blood from getting into the skin to heal it. Because of nerve damage, you might not notice when something is wrong with your skin. For these reasons, you must take extra care of your skin every day. Here are some skincare basics for diabetes.
Control Your Diabetes
The first step in taking good care of your skin is to control your diabetes. When your blood sugar levels are out of control, then you are more likely to have skin problems. If you already have issues with your skin, keeping your blood sugar within the normal range will help prevent these problems from getting worse.
Protect Your Skin
You must take extra care to protect your skin when you have diabetes. Always wear a hat and earmuffs to shield your skin from the wind and cold. If you have diabetic neuropathy, you might not notice if you have frostbite until it’s too late. Therefore, always wear warm gloves and boots when you are outside. Also, use sunscreen every day. Exposing your skin to the sun without protection can cause sunburn, as well as long-term damage. Make sure you wear shoes whenever you are outside — even at the beach. If you go swimming, it can be a good idea to wear water shoes.
Keep Skin Clean and Dry
It is essential to keep skin clean if you have diabetes. This can help prevent fungal and yeast skin infections. Also, make sure you thoroughly dry your skin. Moisture can collect between your legs and toes and under your arms, which can also cause fungal skin infections. Make sure you completely dry off after a shower. Females should also dry underneath the breasts as this is an area that is also prone to moisture-related fungal infections.
Moisturize Often
It is essential to keep skin clean if you have diabetes. This can help prevent fungal and yeast skin infections. Also, make sure you thoroughly dry your skin. Moisture can collect between your legs and toes and under your arms, which can also cause fungal skin infections. Make sure you completely dry off after a shower. Females should also dry underneath the breasts as this is an area that is also prone to moisture-related fungal infections.
Use Chapstick or lip balm to keep your lips moisturized. This will help prevent cracked lips.
Use a humidifier to prevent your skin from getting too dry in the winter.
Always moisturize your skin after you get out of the shower or bath.
If your skin is itchy or dry, don’t scratch it. Use lotion instead. Try one that is made especially for people with diabetes. You can get a diabetes skin lotion that has cortisone in it. This lotion is especially helpful for extremely dry skin.
If your skin is itchy or dry, don’t scratch it. Use lotion instead. Try one that is made especially for people with diabetes. You can get a diabetes skin lotion that has cortisone in it. This lotion is especially helpful for extremely dry skin.
Avoid Harsh Skin Care Products
When you have diabetes, you should choose gentle skin care products that will not dry out or irritate the skin. Choose moisturizing soap. Avoid products that have harsh chemicals. And, don’t use products that are overly perfumed like bubble bath and hygiene spray. These can be irritating to the skin. Both products that contain colloidal oatmeal are great for people with diabetes because they are soothing and moisturizing.
Avoid Harsh Skin Care Products
When you have diabetes, you should choose gentle skin care products that will not dry out or irritate the skin. Choose moisturizing soap. Avoid products that have harsh chemicals. And, don’t use products that are overly perfumed like bubble bath and hygiene spray. These can be irritating to the skin. Both products that contain colloidal oatmeal are great for people with diabetes because they are soothing and moisturizing.
Check Skin Regularly
Check your skin every day for cuts and scrapes. Because of poor circulation, these minor issues can turn into significant injuries and increase the risk of amputations. Pay extra attention to the
feet and toes. Check your feet every night before you go to bed. Properly Care For Injuries If you have minor injuries like small cuts or burns, you can care for them yourself at home. Here are some first aid basics:
For small cuts, wash the area with mild soap and warm water. Afterward, put a small amount of first-aid ointment on the wound. Then, cover it with a bandage.
If you have a blister, gently wash the area, apply an ointment and then cover the blister with a special bandage for blisters. Band-Aid makes an advanced healing blister bandage that is perfect for this.
For minor burns, soothe the area with cool running water. Do not put ice on the area. Gently wash the area. Apply an over-the-counter burn cream and then cover with a moist burn pad.