BENGALURU: Often, we overlook the changes in our skin type and color and if noticed mostly blame these differences on the pollution, sun tan, or even worse ageing.
In reality skin changes are connected to numerous disease; one such being the epidemic of the present - diabetes, that has a close link to the skin. Skin problems can be either the cause or symptoms of Diabetes. Dr. Sanjoy Paul, Apollo Sugar helps us identify the top 10 skin afflictions that are linked to diabetes.
Here’s what you need to look out for -
Acanthosis Nigricans: This condition mostly strikes overweight people and usually is a prologue to diabetes (considered to be a marker for the disease). It results in darker, thicker and velvety skin; predominately on skin folding areas such as sides of the neck, armpits and groin and sometimes on hands, knees and elbows.
Diabetic Dermopathy: Diabetes causes this condition in which changes occur in the blood vessels supplying to the skin. It is also termed as shin spots and appears to be light brown, shiny and scaly - round or oval patches/lesion of thin skin over the front lower parts of the legs. They do not hurt, itch or burn and often confused for age spots.
Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum: Condition is a more complex version of diabetic dermopathy most likely occurring in adult women. A shiny scar with a violet border appears where the blood vessels under the skin may become easily visible. They sometimes turn to be itchy and painful with the spots cracking open in few cases.
Eruptive Xanthomatosis: This condition is caused by intensive diabetes and results in firm & yellow pea-like bump in the skin with an itchy red halo; occurring commonly on the rear of the hands, feet, arms, legs and buttocks. People with high cholesterol and fat especially young type 1 diabetic men are the most likely subjects.
Vitiligo: Similar in looks to albinism, this condition occurs upon the destruction of color pigmentation producing cells melanin, and appears as irregular and blotchy patches on the Hand, face or chest.
Diabetic blisters (bullosis diabeticorum): Caused by intensive diabetes, they look as sores or burn blisters which are painless and occur on the fingers, hands, toes, feet, legs, or forearms. They easily heal on their own in about three weeks.
Digital Sclerosis: This condition in prevalent in about one third diabetics wherein one develops tight, thick and waxy skin on their hands, toes and forearm. This also results in stiffness in the fingers, knees, ankles, or elbows.
Disseminated granuloma annulare: These are skin deformities which are sharply defined - ring or arc-shaped bumps on the skin most common in the fingers and ear lobes. They are usually red, red-brown, or skin colored.
Always keep your skin pampered, nourished and in check! Any unwanted or deformity - consult your nearest doctor!
– Dr Sanjoy Paul, Senior Consultant Diabetologist, Apollo Sugar