Diabetes Skin Care
How to take Care of your Skin when you have Diabetes?
People having diabetes need to pay extra attention to their skin because they are more likely to develop skin problems. Skin problems are not usually a symptom of diabetes, but can be a result of it. Therefore the key to diabetes skin care is prevention. Actually skin should be tight and rosy but the skin of a diabetic is often wrinkled, looks limp, is reddened, has a bad blood flow and stretched or scales. One of the results of diabetes is loss of fluid in your body. This can lead to dry skin, which can crack, letting germs to enter into your body that can cause infections. Damaged skin is more easily infected when you have diabetes. Therefore it's important to take good care of your skin.
Good skin care habits are very important. When you have diabetes, you have to take very much care of your skin, you want to look good and stay healthy. Here are few tips for diabetes skin care.
- First step you should follow in diabetes skin care is drinking lots of fluids, such as water, which keeps your skin moist and healthy. Drink at least two litres of water every day, the more, the better. Coffee and alcohol dehydrate the body, so they don't add to the needed amount of liquids.
- Maintain proper diet and nutrition, as recommended by your physician. A healthy and full value diet those with vitamins and trace minerals, gives the skin the nutrients it needs. Antioxidant Vitamins like A & E are important preventive measures.
- Use a mild soap and use warm or lukewarm water with a moisturizer added. Avoid antibacterial and deodorant soaps, which may be drying. After having a wash, make sure you rinse and dry yourself well with a soft towel.
- Keep your skin folds such as under your arms, between your legs, and between your toes dry since moist areas increase the risk of infection. Always check your skin after you wash. Make sure you have no dry, red, or sore spots that might lead to an infection.
- Minimize skin dryness by increasing omega-3 fatty acids intake with dietary supplements like flax seed oil or oily fish, which are good for you and your skin.
- Keep your skin moist by using a skin softener, lotion or cream after you wash on dry skin. Use a mild powder such as baby powder after bathing. Use a sunscreen to protect the skin from sunburn that can lead to blistering and peeling.
- Wear all-cotton underwear. It allows air to move around your body better.
- Avoid injuries to your skin such as scratches and punctures. Always wear gloves whenever you are doing hard work, gardening, using household chemicals, or doing dishes. Even then if you have an injury, take care of it as soon as possible. Wash the area well with water. Cover the wound with a dry, sterile pad or bandage.
- To prevent dryness use a home humidifier during cold weather and in dry climates.
Diabetics are more prone to have problems with their skin. Fortunately, with proper diabetes skin care, most conditions can be prevented; if found early, they can be successfully treated. But remember that minor skin conditions can become serious problems if not cared for properly. So the best way to minimize them is to keep your diabetes under control. That, and proper diabetes skin care will help reduce your risk of skin-related problems.