Who is at Risk of Developing Diabetic Dermopathy?

The most common skin problem in people with poor blood glucose control is called diabetic dermopathy. In fact, about half of them have this skin condition. Even though it usually affects people older than 60, it can affect people of any age, gender, or race. However, the risk increases if we have had diabetes for over ten years. This skin condition can also occur in healthy people after having an injury. Usually, it affects the lower parts of the legs, but it can also appear on the sides of the feet, shins, forearms, and thighs.

What Causes Dermopathy

Although the exact cause of this skin condition is not clear, it could be something to nerve and blood vessel complications. According to studies, it usually occurs in those with diabetes who have nerve or sensory damage (neuropathy), retinal eye damage (retinopathy), and kidney damage (nephropathy). Moreover, this skin condition is closely connected to high glycosylated hemoglobin levels – a sign of poorly controlled blood sugar levels. Sometimes, it can occur as a result of trauma to cold, heat, or blunt objects, or injury to shins and other bony parts of the body.

Symptoms

This skin condition initially occurs as patches in pink to red or tan to brown color. Also, they can be slightly scaly and oval or round-shaped, which can be faintly indented over time. These spots can appear in large numbers, covering a big area. They can rarely itch, sting, hurt, burn, or become open sores. Usually, they are similar to age spots.

How to Treat Diabetic Dermopathy Lesions

The lesions are usually harmless, but they may take a long time to disappear on their own. The best treatment is to control blood sugar levels properly. In fact, this is the only way we can make them go away. The right way to control our blood sugar levels is to follow a healthy diet and lifestyle. Also, we should keep the affected skin areas well moisturized. And, we should be careful to prevent injuring the areas. It's best to consult a doctor to confirm the cause of our lesions.