When I was newly diagnosed with diabetes, I remember suddenly noticing lotions and creams marketed specifically for diabetics. At the time, I was so overwhelmed, and I simply had no room
in my mind to give this any consideration. Also, dry skin was not an issue for me. More than a decade later, I am older and find my skin is drier. It very well may be that my skin is just older, but I am sure the diabetes is not helping.
Why is dry skin an issue for people with diabetes? Any disease that causes poor circulation can result in dry skin.
Specifically with diabetes, too much sugar in the bloodstream prompts your body to draw fluid from your cells so it can create the urine needed to remove excess sugar.
This causes dry skin.
So, what can you do to care for your skin and keep it moisturized? There are plenty of products out there, but you need to be a smart consumer. For instance, did you know there is a difference between lotions, creams, gels, and ointments?
They are all separated by water content; ointments have the least amount of water, and lotion has the most. If you have dry skin, opt for a cream or gel.
I learned these other tips during a recent visit to a dermatologist.
- Avoid extremes in water temperatures, both hot and cold. This includes saunas and steam baths, all quite drying to the skin.
- A long bath or shower may feel luxurious, but your skin will not thank you. Keep your baths to 15 minutes or less.
- Be mindful about the soaps you use on your skin. Opt for mild fragrance-free soap substitutes for the best results.
- Energetic scrubbing is an enemy of healthy, moisturized skin. Scrub less and pat yourself dry with your towel.
- After bathing, lock in moisture while your skin is still damp by applying moisturizers within three minutes of exiting your bath or shower.
- Apply any prescription creams or lotions only to the affected areas and after you apply your moisturizer.
Vanicream, CeraVe, Curel, Eucerin, Aquaphor, Aveeno, and Cetaphil were all on the doctor’s list of recommended moisturizers. These also tend to be the more expensive brands at your local drugstore.
This may be controversial for some people, but my doctor also recommends petroleum jelly as a moisturizer.
It is certainly affordable, and it does work. After my visit to the dermatologist I purchased a small tub of CeraVe cream and a petroleum jelly product.
I have to admit the petroleum jelly has given me better results. Everyone is different, so head to the drug store, Target, or Walmart and find the aisle with the travel-sized products.
Often you will find many of these brands, and they’re at a price that will make it easy for you to do some comparison shopping.
This is how I learned that I like Aquaphor products for my hands, and I am now ready to invest in a larger-sized container.
Give these tips a try if you struggle with dry skin.
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RJB
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