What is diabetic dermopathy? Skin care tips for people with T1D

Paying extra attention to your skin is essential for people living with type 1 diabetes (t1d). Small changes on the skin can indicate high blood glucose levels or other un-diagnosed health conditions. If you're noticing small pink or brown spots on your shins or other areas of your body, it could be diabetic dermopathy, which is typically harmless — but you should always consult with your doctor first. Here, we're answering the question: What is diabetic dermopathy? We also dive into the importance of monitoring changes in skin conditions and provide some tips for daily skincare.

What is diabetic dermopathy?

Diabetic dermopathy is a skin condition that may look like age spots that appear on the shins, thighs, sides of the feet, forearms, and other body parts. Fortunately, unlike some other diabetic skin conditions, this condition is not an infection that itches, burns, or stings. Persons with long-term t1d are most likely to experience diabetic dermopathy after age 50 as a result of changes in small blood vessels.

Is diabetic dermopathy temporary or permanent?

You might be wondering if the pink or brown spots will eventually go away. This common diabetic skin condition may be visible for 18 to 24 months before changing or disappearing. While there is no treatment for diabetic dermopathy, you can reduce the visibility of the condition with the use of makeup. The best course of action to reduce the likelihood of all skin conditions related to t1d is maintaining blood glucose levels in a good range, exercising, getting sufficient sleep, and eating healthy foods.

What should you do when notice skin changes?

As with any change in health, seeing a primary care doctor is the first course of action to investigate skin changes and discuss blood glucose levels. Diabetic dermopathy and other skin conditions like a rash, blisters, and necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum (NLD) that affects the shins (and which can be itchy and painful), can indicate high cholesterol and blood sugar.

NLD can appear as a patch ranging in color from yellow to purple. The skin in the area can become thin and look like an ulcer that eventually leaves a brownish scar. Taking extra precautions to care for skin ulcers anywhere on the body means keeping the ulcer clean, dry, and bandaged and cleansing the wound daily.

Ask your doctor for wound care instructions including how to use bandages, dressings, fillers, and wound care accessories. With orders from a doctor, a wound care nurse may be able to provide additional support and instructions for managing more complicated or serious wounds.

Seeing a dermatologist is another option to identify other possible skin conditions related to t1d. Scheduling annual skin checks is a good way to stay ahead of potential concerns. Dermatologists can provide prescription medications or make recommendations for treatments to keep your skin looking and feeling its best.

Do skin conditions relate to other health concerns?

The earlier skin conditions are diagnosed and treated, the quicker they might heal. Diabetic dermopathy can be an early indicator of other health concerns like vision, kidney problems, or neuropathy — a loss of feeling in your feet.

Skin conditions like foot ulcers may have other causes. For example, skin irritation from socks rubbing inside your shoes, poor circulation, or an injury like dropping a heavy item on your toe foot can result in a foot wound that requires treatment. See a podiatrist for a foot ulcer and a plan for wound care to speed healing.

Depending on the skin diagnosis and concerns about related conditions, meeting with a specialist can confirm a diagnosis and put your mind at ease. Nephrologists investigate concerns related to the kidneys. Cardiologists can test for heart-related concerns, including poor blood circulation that may also relate to skin conditions on the lower legs and feet. Taking early action to see your primary doctor or a specialist is a wise step to get ahead of skin conditions and remain healthy.

Simple tips to take good care of your skin

Dry skin on the feet, elbows, legs, hands, and other areas of the body are more common in persons with t1d. This is why paying extra attention to hydrate your skin is important. Keeping an eye on dry or red spots and calling your doctor for recommendations are important tasks to help avoid wounds that can quickly worsen.

With the extra hand-washing precautions to minimize exposure to COVID-19, dry skin on the hands can become rough, cracked, or infected. These simple tips will help you take good care of your skin:

Use non-fragrance moisturizing lotion daily, taking extra care not to leave lotion between your toes where too much moisture can result in skin concerns.
Wash with mild soap and gently pat your skin dry.
Avoid hot baths, showers, or soaking in a hot tub that can dry out your skin.
Wear diabetic socks to support good circulation in your feet and ankles.
If you do have a skin concern or ulcer, closely follow wound care instructions from your doctor.

Looking to take better care of your skin? Check out these wound care supplies and a wide variety of skincare products.