How Diabetes Affects Your Skin: What You Need to Know
- Mikaela Giaquinta
- Mar 22
- 3 min read
Living with diabetes doesn’t just mean monitoring your blood sugar — it can also affect your skin in ways you might not expect. Some skin changes can be early warning signs of diabetes or poor blood sugar control indicators.
Let’s explore how diabetes — including type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes — can impact your skin and what you can do to protect it.
Common Skin Conditions Linked to Diabetes
1. Diabetic Dermopathy
Small, round, brown patches often appear on the shins. These are harmless but can indicate underlying blood vessel changes due to diabetes.
2. Acanthosis Nigricans
This condition manifests as dark, velvety patches on areas like the neck or underarms. It’s often linked to insulin resistance and may even appear before a formal diabetes diagnosis.
3. Necrobiosis Lipoidica
A rarer skin condition, it causes shiny, yellowish-brown patches, usually on the lower legs. These can become itchy or even ulcerate if left untreated.
4. Diabetic Blisters (Bullosis Diabeticorum)
These sudden, painless blisters most often appear on the hands, feet, or legs and heal independently—but they need to be protected from infection.
5. Eruptive Xanthomatosis
These are yellow, pea-sized bumps surrounded by red halos, usually seen when blood sugars and triglycerides are high.
6. Digital Sclerosis
This results in thickened, tight skin — often on the hands — making finger movement difficult and stiff.
Skin Changes in Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and is usually temporary — but it can still lead to skin changes similar to those seen in other types of diabetes. While not all pregnant women with gestational diabetes experience skin symptoms, the following may occur:
Acanthosis Nigricans: Darkened patches on the neck, armpits, or groin may develop or worsen due to insulin resistance during pregnancy.
Increased Skin Sensitivity or Dryness: Hormonal changes plus unstable blood sugar can result in drier skin, increased itching (pruritus), or more pronounced stretch marks.
Skin Infections: Higher glucose levels can make you more susceptible to yeast infections or bacterial infections, particularly in skin folds or under the breasts.
The good news? In most cases, these changes resolve after pregnancy once blood sugar levels return to normal — though they may be a sign of future risk for type 2 diabetes.
Why Does Diabetes Affect the Skin?
There are a few key reasons:
Poor Circulation: Chronic high blood sugar damages small blood vessels, reducing oxygen supply to the skin.
Changes in Collagen: Sugar attaches to collagen in your skin, reducing flexibility and leading to stiffness or hardening.
Weakened Immune Response: Diabetes makes you more prone to bacterial and fungal skin infections.
Caring for Your Skin with Diabetes
The good news is that many of these conditions are manageable—and some are even preventable—with good blood sugar control and proper skin care.
Here’s what helps:
Check your skin daily for any changes, especially your feet and legs.
Moisturize regularly to prevent dryness and cracking. Our La Pelle Serum and Balm can help retain moisture in the skin.
Avoid hot baths or harsh soaps that can dry out your skin. Our La Pelle cleanser is in gel form, pH-balanced, and safe for you and your bubs.
Treat minor cuts or infections early and seek help if they don’t improve quickly. When skin becomes broken, our La Pelle Balm is best used as a protective barrier to encourage healing.
Keep your blood sugar levels in check with support from your healthcare provider. For gestational diabetes, skin symptoms usually improve after birth — but follow-up care is essential to monitor your long-term health.
Final Thoughts...
Your skin is often a window into what’s going on inside your body — and in diabetes, it can be one of the first places symptoms show up. By staying vigilant and caring for your skin, you can help prevent complications and feel more confident in your health.
Medical Disclaimer
This blog post is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the guidance of your doctor, dermatologist, or other qualified health professional with any questions regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you’ve read here.
References (APA 7 Style)
American Diabetes Association. (n.d.). Skin complications. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes/complications/skin-complications
DermNet NZ. (n.d.). Skin problems associated with diabetes mellitus. Retrieved March 22, 2025, from https://dermnetnz.org/topics/skin-problems-associated-with-diabetes-mellitus
James, W. D., Elston, D., Treat, J. R., Rosenbach, M. A., & Neuhaus, I. M. (2020). Andrews' diseases of the skin: Clinical dermatology (13th ed.). Elsevier.
National Center for Biotechnology Information. (2021). Skin manifestations of diabetes mellitus. In Feingold, K. R., Anawalt, B., Boyce, A., et al. (Eds.), Endotext. MDText.com, Inc. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK481900/
Sah, S. K., & Gao, Y. (2022). Cutaneous manifestations in diabetes mellitus: A review. Journal of Diabetes & Metabolic Disorders, 21(1), 45–52. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40200-021-00878-9
댓글