When it comes to skincare and protection, diabetics may need to be more thoughtful about the type of products they're using. Why? Diabetes can harm many parts of the body, especially the skin. Dry, cracked, and damaged skin is a common occurrence for diabetics, which means that it's important to keep your skin clean, healthy, and hydrated. One simple way you can do this? With dedicated diabetic lotion.
Why do diabetics need special lotion?
One of the most common conditions associated with diabetes is diabetic neuropathy, which can cause you to lose feeling in your hands and feet. This can be dangerous, as numbness and lack of sensation can make it difficult for a person to recognize when their skin has become damaged. Additionally, if you have diabetes, you're also much more likely to get dry skin, as diabetes can disrupt the skin's ability to hold moisture. This can lead to an increased risk of wounds and infection.
Remember, your skin is your largest organ and one of the primary sources of protection from disease. Damaged skin is an easy target for infection and other serious health conditions.
Why is there special lotion for diabetics? The difference between diabetic lotion and regular lotion
Diabetic lotion is one of the best ways you can protect your feet, hands, and the rest of your body from dangerous and damaging skin problems.
While traditional lotions often focus on soothing and smoothing skin, diabetic lotion is specially designed to tackle some of the issues diabetics face in their skincare routines. These include common problems such as poor blood circulation, peripheral neuropathy, dehydrated skin, and more. Many diabetic lotions are specifically formulated to combat these common problems. They're designed to be:
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Antibacterial
One of the main concerns with diabetic skin is that it is prone to infection. Antibacterial lotions can help minimize this risk.
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Hypoallergenic
Diabetics may not notice that they're reacting to certain ingredients until it's too late — that's why many diabetic lotions are made with hypoallergenic ingredients. The best diabetic lotions are also often fragrance- and paraben-free.
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Stimulating
Some common ingredients in the diabetic lotion are included because they help increase circulation and blood supply, thus aiding skin health and regeneration.
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Hydrating and moisturizing
Because diabetes can destroy the skin's barrier, many diabetic lotions focus on rehydration to help prevent moisture loss.
Diabetic lotion dos and don'ts
- Do keep your skin moist by using diabetic lotion or cream after you wash.
- Don't use lotions that contain lots of perfumes or fragrances, as these can irritate your skin and exacerbate skin problems.
- Don't use lotion between your toes, under your arms, or in any place water can gather. This can encourage bacterial growth.
- Do choose lotions with no alcohol or other product that may dry out your skin.
- Do stop using your lotion if you notice any skin irritation.
- Don't use too much lotion, as this can promote infection.
Just as you should regularly monitor your blood glucose levels at home, you should also regularly check your skin for damage, especially the skin on your feet and hands. Daily self-checkups and regular check-ups with your healthcare provider are some of the best ways to identify and treat some of the most common diabetic foot problems.
Protect your feet with a well-designed treatment plan
Just as moisturizing with the proper lotion should be part of your diabetic treatment plan, diabetic socks are also a must-have to protect your skin from damage. Here at Viasox, we stock a large collection of fancy non-binding diabetic socks and compression socks to help ensure that your feet are safe, comfortable, and protected.
