Diabetes can make eczema harder to live with because it raises the risk of dry, itchy skin, and because scratched skin is more likely to become infected when healing is slower. Eczema is the term for a group of inflammatory skin conditions that cause dry skin, itchiness, rash, scaly patches and related symptoms, and it can begin at any age.
More than 10% of people in the US have some form of eczema (1), and skin complications of various kinds are reported in a large proportion of adults with diabetes, as many as 80% in some estimates (2). Below I describe five types of eczema, the skin conditions most often seen with diabetes, why diabetes increases eczema risk, and what kind of skin care dermatologists recommend.
What are the different types of eczema?
The National Eczema Association describes several types (3). Among them:
- Dyshidrotic eczema: small, intensely itchy blisters, usually on the hands and feet, which can burn and leave the skin dry and cracked.
- Atopic dermatitis: the most common type, especially in young children, causing inflammation, dryness and itchy skin.
- Neurodermatitis: one or a few thick, scaly patches of skin that become intensely itchy, often driven by a cycle of itching and scratching.
- Contact dermatitis: caused by environmental triggers, either irritants or allergens (allergic contact dermatitis).
- Nummular eczema: also called discoid eczema, it creates round, coin-shaped patches anywhere on the body, but especially on the arms and legs.
It is not uncommon for adults to have more than one type of eczema at a time. Notably, the skin of people with eczema often carries higher levels of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria than normal, which can promote inflammation in eczema-affected skin that does not look infected (4). Since diabetes can increase infection risk, and infections can lead to non-healing skin ulcers, managing eczema is especially important for people with diabetes.
Which skin conditions are most common with diabetes?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists the following among the skin conditions most commonly found in people with diabetes (5):
Acanthosis nigricans
Dark patches or bands of velvety-looking skin, especially in body creases such as the neck or armpits. It is a sign of insulin resistance.
Diabetic dermopathy
Also called diabetic shin spots, these appear as red or brown patches or lines in the skin. They are linked to diabetes-related changes in blood vessels that reduce blood supply to the skin.
Bullosis diabeticorum (diabetic blisters)
These look like burn blisters and most often develop on the lower legs and feet. They are typically painless and are more common in people who often have periods of high blood sugar.
For an overview of these and other conditions, see common diabetic skin conditions.
Why does diabetes increase the risk of eczema?
Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes increase the risk of eczema and of itchy skin, and persistently high blood sugar can affect the skin further. The result for many people with diabetes is persistently dry, itchy skin. Because diabetes also raises the risk of infection in small cuts and scratches, scratching itchy skin is more likely to lead to infection. In this way, diabetes increases the overall risk of eczema and other skin problems. More on the itch itself is in why people with diabetes get itchy skin, and on breaking the scratch cycle in eczema flare-ups and the itch-scratch cycle.
What skin care do dermatologists recommend for people with diabetes?
Daily use of moisturizers and gentle cleansers is recommended for people with diabetes, according to a review in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology (6). This may reduce the likelihood of skin abrasions that raise the risk of skin ulcers. The American Academy of Dermatology Association recommends that people living with diabetes use a cream or ointment rather than a lotion, and that it be fragrance-free (7).
How Lavior's Diabetic Skin Barrier Cream fits in
Lavior's skin care products were developed with diabetic skin in mind and are also suitable for people without diabetes. Diabetic Skin Barrier Cream is a fragrance-free, steroid-free, plant-based cream formulated for sensitive skin, in line with the dermatology guidance above. Like every Lavior formula, it is built around Inula AGS-RIED, Lavior's proprietary extract of the Mediterranean plant Inula viscosa. Lavior™ Diabetic Skin Barrier Cream is a fragrance-free, plant-based formula designed to support the skin's natural barrier and provide long-lasting hydration of dry, intact skin, without steroids. It is intended for intact skin, not open or bleeding fissures. It is not a treatment for eczema; persistent or worsening eczema should be assessed by a dermatologist.
References
- National Eczema Association. Eczema Stats. nationaleczema.org/research/eczema-facts
- David P, Singh S, Ankar R. A Comprehensive Overview of Skin Complications in Diabetes and Their Prevention. Cureus. 2023;15(5):e38961. PMC10259731
- National Eczema Association. Types of Eczema. nationaleczema.org/eczema/types-of-eczema
- George SM, Karanovic S, Harrison DA, et al. Interventions to reduce Staphylococcus aureus in the management of eczema. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2019;(10):CD003871. PMC6818407
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Diabetes and Your Skin. cdc.gov
- Kirsner RS, Yosipovitch G, Hu S, et al. Diabetic Skin Changes Can Benefit from Moisturizer and Cleanser Use: A Review. Journal of Drugs in Dermatology. 2019;18(12):1211-1217. PubMed 31860208
- American Academy of Dermatology Association (AAD). Dermatologist-Recommended Skin Care for People with Diabetes. aad.org
