What Are The Effects of Diabetes on Skin And Hair?

If you have been suffering from diabetes for years, you are probably aware that this metabolic condition affects many parts of your body, including the kidneys, heart, eyes, feet, and legs. But did you know that diabetes also affects your skin and hair?

This could be another reason to keep your blood sugar levels under control.

Krishna’s Ayurveda Diabic Care Juice can help you achieve that naturally, keep them that way, and prevent many complications of diabetes, including skin and hair problems.

Before we dive into the effects of diabetes on skin and hair, here are a few important facts:

• 1 in 3 people with diabetes will experience a skin-related issue at some point.
• High blood sugar levels slow down wound healing.
• Diabetes increases the risk of bacterial and fungal skin infections.
• Hair thinning and excessive hair loss are common in people with uncontrolled diabetes.

Skin Problems Associated With Diabetes

If you notice the following changes in your skin, it could be a sign that you have undiagnosed diabetes or pre-diabetes. It may also mean that your current diabetes treatment needs to be adjusted. Paying attention to these signs can help you take the right steps to manage your health better.

1. Acanthosis nigricans (AN)

This is a skin pigmentation disorder in which dark patches of velvety and thick skin appear in areas where creases form, like your neck, armpits, elbows, knees or groin. It is most commonly associated with type 2 diabetes and is a sign of insulin resistance.

This skin condition is usually indicative that someone has diabetes or prediabetes. There’s no cure for this problem, but addressing its root cause, which is obesity or insulin resistance, may help.

2. Diabetic dermopathy (shin spots)

These are shiny, round, or oval spots that appear on the thin skin of the front of your legs, called your shins. They are usually light brown or red and affect both legs but not necessarily to an equal degree. In the early stages, these spots feel scaly. Over time, when they flatten out, they leave small dents in your skin.

The problem occurs due to changes in small blood vessels, which reduce blood supply to the skin. The patches do not cause any symptoms like itching, pain, or blisters and generally do not require treatment. But you may seek treatment if you have any concerns about shin spots.

3. Bacterial infections

Such infections are common in people with poorly controlled diabetes. The reason is straightforward, bacteria thrive in high blood sugar environments as glucose serves as a preferred carbon source for many bacterial pathogens. Staphylococcus, or staph is a common pathogen that is responsible for bacterial infections in diabetics.

Commonly seen bacterial skin infections are styes (swelling on the eyelids), nail infections, boils, and folliculitis (hair follicle infection). Bacterial infections make your tissue inflamed, hot, swollen, red, and painful. These infections need to be treated with antibiotics, but it is best to keep your diabetes under control to avoid the condition in the first place.

4. Fungal infections

Uncontrolled diabetes makes you more prone to fungal infections, especially from a yeast-like fungus called “Candida albicans” This can cause red, itchy, swollen skin, blistering or dry scales and a white discharge like cottage cheese. Common fungal infections are athlete’s foot, jock itch, ringworm and vaginal infections.

They usually develop in warm, moist folds of the skin, so make sure to keep your skin dry and wear breathable fabrics. Consult your doctor to get treatment for the specific fungal infection you have, and of course, keep your blood sugar levels under control.

5. Dry, itchy skin

If you have dry, itchy skin, it could be due to poor circulation, which is more common in diabetes. High blood sugar causes your body to pull fluid from its cells to remove excess sugar through urine, resulting in skin dryness. To keep your skin healthy, maintaining your blood sugar within the healthy range is of utmost importance. Also, do not take hot showers for long, use mild soaps, and moisturize your skin well with body lotion or coconut oil.

6. Digital sclerosis

This is another effect of diabetes on the skin. The condition occurs due to poor blood supply and makes your skin thick, tight, and waxy. Over time, your finger joints can become stiff and hard to move, and if blood sugar levels stay high, the condition can spread to other parts of your body, causing swelling and hardness. This is more common in people with type 1 diabetes, and the only way to manage it is by keeping your blood sugar within a normal range. Physical therapy can also help improve joint movement.

7. Bullosis Diabeticorum (Diabetic Blisters)

If you notice burn-like blisters on your lower legs and feet, you might have Bullosis Diabeticorum, or Diabetic Blisters. Though they may look serious, they are usually painless and heal on their own as long as you manage your blood sugar levels. This condition occurs when blood sugar remains high for a long time. Most blisters heal without leaving scars and are often discovered during routine skin and foot checks.

Hair Problems Associated With Diabetes

Like all cells in your body, your hair follicles need proper blood circulation to go through the natural cycle of hair fall and hair growth. Restricted blood flow, which is a common occurrence in poorly controlled diabetes, prevents certain cells from getting the oxygen and nutrients they need. This negatively affects the normal growth cycle of hair follicles, resulting in slow hair growth and increased hair fall.

Another way diabetes affects hair is by causing premature graying. Excessive sugar in your blood makes your cells produce free radicals, which are unstable molecules that damage healthy cells. In normal conditions, your body has sufficient antioxidants to fight these free radicals, but in diabetes, it is imbalanced and results in oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress can damage various cells’ melanocytes, the pigment-producing cells in hair follicles. This causes hair to turn gray or white earlier than usual.

The best thing to do is to eat a nutrient-rich diet and complement your diabetes treatment with Ayurvedic supplements like Krishna’s Diabic Care Juice. This formulation contains herbs that naturally keep your pancreas strong and help regulate blood sugar levels. It is also clinically proven for managing blood sugar levels.

Learn  more about Diabic Care Juice Is Beneficial For Managing Sugar Levels

Takeaway!

Diabetes is a slowly progressing disease that causes a lot of damage to your body. Fortunately, the effects of diabetes on skin and hair can be prevented or easily treated if you bring down your blood glucose levels. A few of the above-mentioned skin conditions are not a major cause for concern but can be a cosmetic issue for some. Regardless, it’s important to keep an eye on the signs and symptoms and consult your doctor, especially when conditions worsen. If you’re concerned about hair loss, consult your doctor for advice on how to reduce or prevent it. It’s always better to be safe than sorry!