The care and optimal care of the skin is our current topic. This includes care, but also the promotion of skin regeneration and the natural skin barrier. The variations of possible skin problems are manifold and anyone who has ever been affected knows how annoying they can be.
People with diabetes mellitus often suffer from skin problems. The cause lies in the increased blood sugar levels. This also affects the skin, which very often has to deal with sensitivity. What can be done and what experts advise: Skin care – even with diabetes.
Dry and itchy skin and how to deal with it in diabetes mellitus
Those affected by diabetes mellitus cannot pay enough attention to the skin, the body and its signals and take appropriate measures. This does not mean that the skin should be over-cared for, on the contrary! First and foremost, it is important to provide the skin with sufficient moisture, which the body needs in order to protect itself optimally. This also includes very simple measures such as always drinking enough, avoiding excessive stress, eating a balanced diet and also good protection against excessive UV radiation to prevent the body from reacting accordingly.
What do experts advise for diabetes mellitus?
Skin irritations or skin problems, such as itching, are often a reaction to malfunctions or deficiencies caused by diabetes. However, the exact cause must of course be identified in order to be able to react accordingly. An expert should therefore always be consulted. Shame is not at all necessary here. It is much more important that problems can be identified in good time. Especially when it comes to injuries or illnesses, there should be no hesitation.
The following applies to everyday control and care: anyone who is prone to dry and itchy skin should take special care to avoid further drying out or loss of oil from the skin, i.e.
- Washing or showering should not be done too often and not too hot.
- The skin should always be dried carefully but gently afterwards.
- The cleansing products used should be mild and pH-adjusted to the skin.
- When applying cream afterwards, moisturizing substances such as urea, aloe vera, vitamin E, glycerine or coconut oil are just as important.
- The right ingredients are also crucial when choosing skincare, e.g. urea is beneficial for moisturizing. Parabens, silicones, perfume, colorants and mineral oils, on the other hand, should be avoided.
However, itching can also be caused by a fungal infection. This shows how important it is to speak to an expert in order to provide the right care.
The skin of diabetics is even more sensitive and vulnerable
Incidentally, this applies to all skin types with a tendency to itchy and dry skin, but especially to diabetics. This is because the skin of those affected is even more sensitive and susceptible to the loss of the protective skin barrier.
Athlete’s foot and nail fungus can develop on areas of skin such as the feet. The risk of infection is particularly high in public places such as swimming pools or sports halls. This is because fluctuations in blood sugar levels, a symptom of diseases such as diabetes, affect bodily functions and the water balance. This in turn can lead to impaired skin function. However, this is crucial in order to ward off bacteria, viruses or fungi from the outside.
In many cases, the skin is less well supplied with blood in diabetes and inflammations or injuries can heal less easily. Natural regeneration and protection promoters are therefore helpful, such as products with the microalgae active ingredient spiralin.
The right products and ingredients for diabetes
Spirulina algae have developed protective functions against natural enemies such as stress, radiation or external attacks over thousands of years. These have been made applicable to the skin in a special process and thus support the skin’s functions in the long term. In the case of diabetes, it is essential to prevent the skin from drying out, to protect it from external attacks and to gently regenerate and care for it.
A greasy film is not the solution for problem skin; on the contrary, it tightens the fine skin pores. Light gel and mousse solutions, such as Spirularin HF Gel or Mousse, with a high moisturizing content are therefore the better product choice to reduce or prevent skin problems such as itching. This also applies to foot care, especially for diabetics. Foot problems are very common in diabetic patients. It is therefore important to recognize typical diabetic emergency situations quickly and react appropriately. Read more about foot care for diabetes here.
Further advice on skin care, foot care and corresponding products as well as on diseases such as diabetes can also be found in our expert tips from ocean pharma.
Image source: magicinfoto / shutterstock.com
Experten-Tipp entstand in Zusammenarbeit mit:
Patrick Günther
Patrick Günther completed his pharmacy studies in Hamburg and, after obtaining his licence to practise, worked for several years in marketing and sales in the pharmaceutical industry. In 2003, he took over ocean pharma, the company founded by his father in Reinbek near Hamburg in 1978. Together with his business partner, he patented the important processing and standardisation process for the microalgae active ingredient Spiralin® and developed a wide range of medical cosmetics and foot care products based on Spiralin®.
