High blood sugar can dry your skin

 

Pamper yourself with a good moisturizing routine to keep your skin healthy and supple.

There are two reasons your skin gets dry. “High blood sugar causes your body to lose fluid, and if you have nerve damage you may sweat less,” says Jack Lenhart, M.D., Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network family practice doctor. Dry skin is “particularly troublesome for people who have diabetes,” he says. “It tends to crack and provide an entry for germs, which could lead to infection.”

Here are some strategies for keeping your skin healthy from Lenhart and esthetician Laura Transue, licensed cosmetologist, both of Lehigh Valley Hospital and Health Network.

• Moisturize 2-3 times a day. Dry skin means your body is producing less of its natural oils. By using moisturizers, you can add some of that moisture back to your skin.
• Use an ointment, cream or lotion. The key to easing the itch is keeping your body’s oils trapped in your skin. Ointments are most effective at doing this because they have a higher moisture content, followed by creams, then lotions. The downside is that ointments and creams have a greasier feel than lotions. Choose which you feel most comfortable using.
• Sleep away your dry skin. Put an ointment such as Vaseline on your feet, then cover with white, cotton socks before going to sleep. This way you get the benefit of the moisture-rich ointment without making a mess of your bed sheets.
• Bathe less frequently. As you get older, you lose more of your natural oils. Try bathing just 2-3 times a week to keep your skin from drying out. Other bath tips: Use lukewarm not hot water. Avoid using bubble bath which dries out the skin. Take baths (instead of showers) with Aveeno oatmeal added to the water.
• Take a 10-minute daily walk. Exercise increases blood flow to your skin which will keep it from drying out. Plus, it’s good for your overall health.

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