Diabetes is a common disease that affects several organs in your body, including the skin and hair. If you notice changes in your skin, it could mean that you are pre-diabetes or have undiagnosed diabetes. For those already diagnosed with diabetes, significant change in your skin and hair could mean that your treatment needs to be adjusted. In this article, we will discuss the most common hair and skin concerns among Blacks with diabetes, and provide effective care tips that you can implement in your daily life.
Why Your Hair and Skin Need More Care if You Are Diabetic
Diabetes impairs the ability of your body to use insulin effectively, resulting in your blood glucose being consistently high. This constant state of high blood sugar levels causes damage to your small blood vessels and nerves. It further results in decreased circulation and a weakened immune system, with these impacts being seen on your skin and hair. For Blacks, it means you will have additional issues to deal with on top of skin and hair that is naturally prone to dryness, inflammation, and hyperpigmentation.
Diabetes Skin and Hair Concerns
About 80% of people with diabetes develop a skin condition related to their disease. This is just an indication of how much priority you should give to your hair and skin as a diabetic. Since the changes are associated with the disease, caring for your hair and skin involves addressing the specific symptoms. Let’s have a look at some of the most common skin issues related to diabetes:
- Acanthosis nigricans (AN): Dark patches of velvety skin in body creases such as your armpits, neck, or groin
- Diabetic dermopathy (shin spots): Harmless spots that look like red or brown round patches or lines in the skin
- Necrobiosis lipoidica: Yellow, reddish, or brown patches on your skin
- Eruptive xanthomatosis: Small, reddish-yellow bumps on the back of your hands, arms, feet, legs, and buttocks
- Dry, itchy skin: Too much sugar in the blood causes the body to pull fluid from its cells, making the skin dry
- Fungal infections: Fungal infections such as jock itch, athlete’s foot, ringworm, and vaginal infections create itchy rashes surrounded by tiny red blisters and scales
- Bacterial infections: Bacterial infections cause tissue to become inflamed, hot, swollen, red, and painful
Skin Care and Hair Care Tips for Blacks with Diabetes
Your skin could be suffering from both the impacts of the diabetes and a lack of attention. You could be so occupied monitoring your glucose level, finding time to exercise, sticking to a meal plan, or managing stress that you overlook giving your skin the tender love and care it needs. With the following tips, you will have an effective plan that can help prevent serious skin conditions like infection, open sores, or even non-healing wounds.
1. Moisturize your skin every day.
Moisturizing your skin helps to make it flexible and prevents the formation of cracks that can cause infection. For best outcomes:
- Use a cream or an ointment instead of a lotion.
- Choose a fragrance-free cream or ointment that contains ceramides.
- Apply your cream or ointment after bathing, swimming, and whenever the skin feels dry or itchy.
- Carry your moisturizer with you at all times so you can apply it to your hands whenever they feel dry or after washing.
2. Bathe and shower with warm water.
To protect your hair and skin, make sure the water you use to bathe or shower is warm and not hot. Hot water can strip your skin of moisture, leaving it feeling dry, tight, and uncomfortable.
3. Use a gentle cleanser when bathing.
Avoid deodorant soaps and strong body washes as they will irritate your already sensitive skin. Instead, opt for a gentle cleanser or specially formulated cleaner for people with diabetes to help soothe your skin and prevent complications.
4. Dry the folds of your skin carefully.
After taking a shower, bathing, or swimming, be gentle on drying your skin. Take particular care as you gently dry the skin between your toes, armpits, and other places where skin touches skin. Make sure these areas are complete. If water stays in these areas, it can lead to a skin infection.
5. Check your feet every day.
The feet are one of the areas you want to check every day for discolored skin, scratches, swelling, sores, blisters, and cuts. If you notice even a minor wound, get immediate medical care to prevent further infections.
6. Treat dry, cracked heels.
If you have dry or cracked heels, treat them to prevent any serious infections. Consider doing the following before you get into bed:
- Apply a cream that contains 10% to 25% urea to your heels.
- Apply a thick layer of ointment like petroleum jelly on top of the urea cream.
- Put on white cotton socks to lock in the moisture.
- Repeat this process every day until your skin heals.
7. Keep your toenails short.
Keeping long, rough toenails can irritate your skin. The toenails lift up as they grow longer, increasing the risk of infections beneath them. By keeping the toenails properly trimmed, you prevent cuts and a possible foot infection.
8. Seek medical care for any skin or nail infection.
You are more likely to develop an infection because of diabetes than someone with a healthy endocrine system. If you notice these symptoms, seek immediate medical care: skin that looks swollen and discolored, a wound that is leaking pus or other fluid, tenderness or pain, a thickening or discolored nail, honey-colored crusts, and a build-up beneath a fingernail or toenail.
9. Treat all cuts, scratches, and wounds immediately.
Wash the area with the wound using soap and water, and apply antibiotic ointment if recommended by the doctor. Make sure to always cover the wound with an adhesive bandage.
Hair Care Strategies for Diabetes
In addition to the skin, diabetes can also have a significant impact on your hair. It can affect both the hair growth cycle and strength. The most common hair issues associated with diabetes within the Black community include:
- Hair loss and thinning (Alopecia): The poor circulation caused by diabetes deprives hair follicles of the oxygen and nutrients needed for a healthy cycle, which results in thinning or shedding. If you notice a significant decrease in your hair volume, adopt a hair routine that minimizes tension while promoting hair growth. Also, avoid tight braids, weaves, and extensions as they can make hair loss worsen
- Scalp health and dryness: Dehydration and inflammatory responses due to fluctuating blood sugar can lead to scalp dryness and flaking. To address this issue, use gentle, sulfate-free shampoos and deep-conditioners that help in maintaining moisture. Gently massaging your scalp with light nourishing oils like argan and jojoba will further help in moisturizing and boosting hair growth
Keep Your Skin and Hair Healthy
Although it might not have been a priority, caring for your skin and hair is an essential preventative health measure for people with diabetes. Not only does it help in maintaining a good appearance, but consistently caring for your hair and skin can help in preventing small issues from becoming problematic health complications. Your approach should always be simple: focus on gentleness and effective blood sugar control.
Additional Resources
Diabetes Rash & Other Skin Conditions. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/12176-diabetes-skin-conditions
How Does Diabetes Affect Your Skin? https://www.cetaphil.com/us/skincare-tips/how-does-diabetes-affect-your-skin.html
Skin Manifestations of Diabetes Mellitus. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK481900/
Skin problems associated with diabetes mellitus. https://dermnetnz.org/topics/skin-problems-associated-with-diabetes-mellitus
Hairfall Due To Diabetes? Follow These Tips To Reduce Hair Loss. https://www.ndtv.com/health/hairfall-due-to-diabetes-follow-these-tips-to-reduce-hair-loss-4120195 Can Diabetes Make Your Hair Fall Out? Understanding the Link and Management Strategies. https://www.drmalaymehta.com/blog/can-diabetes-make-your-hair-fall-out/
