All posts in Skin Care

Why does diabetes cause dry skin?

People who suffer from diabetes are prone to skin conditions. Often, diabetes can cause dry skin because the body loses fluid as a result of high blood glucose. The skin becomes hydrated because the body uses most of its water supplies to make urine to remove excess glucose from the body. Skin on the legs, feet and elbows is commonly affected by dryness and dehydration. When the skin is very dry, it can start to crack and this can increase the risk of an infection, as bacteria can enter through the cracks. Infections can become worse if blood glucose levels are elevated.

What are the best solutions for dry skin?

The most effective way of preventing dry skin is to keep on top of your blood glucose levels. Follow the advice of your doctor and keep an eye on your diet. If you are advised to measure your blood glucose levels on a regular basis, make sure you do this. There are various tips for preventing dry skin available on medical blogs but the most effective solutions are outlined below.

Other solutions for dry skin include:

• Avoid touching or itching patches of cracked or dry skin; this will make the skin more irritated and can also increase the risk of an infection, as bacteria can enter the body through cracks in the skin.
• Use a good moisturiser: even healthy skin requires regular moisturising, so moisturisation is particularly important for dry skin. Try to avoid using creams that are heavily scented and perfumed, as these can irritate the skin. Ask your GP for advice about moisturising creams; you may be advised to use a special type of lotion.
• Keep clean: wash your body on a regular basis.
• Use foot lotion: diabetics are prone to suffering from dry feet and other foot problems, which can potentially be very serious. Make sure you take care of your feet; use foot scrubs and lotions to soothe and moisturise your feet; you can also buy special socks to protect your feet and boost circulation.
• Use talcum powder to prevent chafing and soreness; this is particularly beneficial for the armpits and groin area.
• Wear gloves if you are doing activities that may wear the skin on your hands, such as gardening.
• Keep an eye on your skin and see your doctor if you notice changes or the development of anything abnormal or painful.

Laser surgery is used in a number of ways, the most common of which is laser eye surgery. In recent years, however, the laser has been put to use during surgery for a number of other procedures, from cosmetic surgeries, such as wrinkle removal, to more medical related surgeries such as varicose veins treatment and even for the treatment of snoring.

Common enquiries patients ask concern how painful the procedure will be. There isn’t a general answer to this, as, due to the range of uses laser surgery can be put to, the pain threshold both during and following the treatment, can change dramatically.

To help guide patients through any potential pain caused by the laser surgery they are planning, there follows an account of the treatment for a number of different laser surgeries and the sensations often accompanying them. Continue reading →