Diabetic dermopathy is a skin condition that causes scaly, indented patches on the thighs and shins. Eruptive xanthoma is a more serious form that presents as yellow raised pustules. Both are caused by diabetes and can improve with better blood sugar control. There is no effective treatment, but some medications and supplements can help reduce their appearance.
Diabetic dermopathy is a skin condition characterized by scaly, indented patches of skin that occur on the thighs and shins and typically have a rounded or oval shape. The condition is also sometimes called shin splints. One of the more serious forms is called eruptive xanthoma and usually presents as yellow raised pustules that can cover the legs, arms and other parts of the body. Like the standard stitches, these can be uncomfortable, but are usually not medically problematic. At least in this sense, they are one of the more benign side effects of diabetes, but diabetics who notice any type of skin lesion should usually receive prompt treatment, particularly if the lesions grow or multiply rapidly as this can be a sign of complications or problems elsewhere.
Side effects of diabetes in general
Diabetes, or diabetes mellitus as it’s more formally known, is a disease that affects the way people process sugar. There are usually three main types. Type one diabetes is a genetic problem that people are usually born with; their pancreases can’t turn sugar into insulin like they should. Type XNUMX diabetes usually occurs later in life, typically due to lifestyle choices and diets that are very high in processed sugars. In these cases, the pancreas more or less shuts down due to overwork. Gestational diabetes affects pregnant women and causes them temporary problems processing sugar, although in almost all cases, pancreatic function returns to normal after delivery.
Side effects of all three types are quite numerous, and in most cases the more involved the condition, the more severe the side effects become. Diabetes that is controlled, usually with medication and regular professional evaluations, is usually fairly stable. Problems are more common when the condition is allowed to run its course and blood sugar rises out of control for extended periods of time. Kidney, eye and foot problems are some of the more serious problems; more generalized fatigue and skin discoloration and injuries usually fall on the “mild” side of the spectrum in comparison. Dermopathy is the most common of all diabetic skin conditions.
Distinguish the condition
This particular condition is characterized by skin lesions that tend to be flat and round or oval in shape. In some people, they look similar to age spots. The lesions usually cover a large area because they can be quite numerous. They usually don’t itch, sting, or burn, or they don’t hurt or become open sores.
Diabetic dermopathy can sometimes be seen in people who don’t have diabetes, although this is very rare. The presence of more than three skin lesions is almost always limited to people who have received a formal diagnosis of diabetes, and is more common in advanced stages; in general, people are more likely to develop these lesions if they are over the age of 40 or have had diabetes for at least 20 years. Up to 30 percent of diabetics will develop the disease at some point. It is also more common in men than in women.
What causes discoloration?
The lesions are caused by a type of angiitis, or vascular inflammation, which affects the small blood vessels in the skin. It is thought to be closely related to an increase in glycosylated hemoglobin, which may indicate poor control of blood glucose levels. Dermopathy usually occurs when the skin breaks down. The shins are a vulnerable area for the condition because they don’t have a great deal of fat to absorb direct trauma.
Eruptive xanthoma
One form of diabetic dermopathy is called eruptive xanthoma. It comes from uncontrolled diabetes. This disorder creates a sudden rash on the skin of small yellow-orange to reddish-brown bumps. These papules can appear on the hands, arms, feet, legs, and buttocks and develop due to high plasma triglyceride concentrations. Xanthomas usually go away as soon as the diabetes is under control.
Treatment options
There is no truly effective treatment for diabetic dermopathy. The appearance of skin lesions can sometimes improve with better blood sugar control, however, and some medications and supplements can also help reduce their appearance. For example, using 15-25 milligrams of chelated zinc daily for several weeks has helped some individuals. The spots and papules tend to disappear on their own after a few years, but usually leave behind scars. As with most medical problems, the disorder can be more easily controlled if it is caught in its early stages.
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