The End of Diabetes: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Diabetes

Diabetic dermopathy is a frustrating but seldom-discussed minor complication of life with diabetes. If you’ve got a few weird dry or colored patches on your skin, particularly on your shins, you may be experiencing it yourself.

These lesions are fairly harmless on their own, but may be a warning sign worth heeding.

What is Diabetic Dermopathy?

Diabetic dermopathy is the official diagnosis for minor lesions often seen in patients with diabetes. These lesions most commonly appear on the shins, and are sometimes called “shin spots.” They can be found less commonly elsewhere on the body, such as the sides of the feet or forearms.

Dermopathy lesions may be redder or darker than surrounding skin color. They may also have a scaly or scar-like surface. They are often round or oval and symmetrical.

Thankfully, lesions usually do not itch, burn, or sting.

Photos of Dermopathic Lesions

We know that skin conditions can be uncomfortable to look at. Fair warning!

Here are two photos of patients with characteristic diabetic dermopathy, one with darker skin than the other:

Source: Annals of Medical Research (Ayhan, 2019)

Source: Indian Journal of Dermatology (Timshina, 2012)

What Causes Diabetic Dermopathy?

Diabetic dermopathy is ultimately caused by the high blood sugars that are characteristic of all types of diabetes and that are associated with all diabetic complications.

The exact cause of diabetic dermopathy is unknown. The lesions may or may not initially be caused by external trauma (scratches or bumps) or temperature changes; either way, their development is related to the same dysfunction that causes lower body wounds to heal more slowly in patients with diabetes.

Diabetic dermopathy tends to occur in patients who have had longstanding diabetes, another indication that the condition is related to chronic hyperglycemia. Patients with higher blood sugars, especially as measured by A1c, are more likely to develop dermopathic lesions.

Treating Diabetic Dermopathy

At the moment, there is no cure recommended for diabetic dermopathy. The American Diabetes Association simply states that “Dermopathy is harmless and doesn’t need to be treated.”

If the look or feel of your skin is still bothering you, you could experiment with makeup, moisturizers, or other topical over-the-counter skin treatments.

Lesions usually fade after a year or two, but are often replaced by new lesions in other areas, especially if the underlying hyperglycemia is still present. The best way to prevent the appearance of new lesions is to achieve tighter glucose control, which will reduce your overall risk of diabetic complications.

One Reason to Take Diabetic Dermopathy Seriously

Although diabetic dermopathy is not itself very harmful, it can be an early warning sign of other dangerous complications. The blood sugar dysfunction that creates the conditions for diabetic dermopathy is also linked to far more serious outcomes: retinopathy, neuropathy, and kidney disease. Writers in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology called it “a subtle sign with grave implications.”

The majority of patients with diabetic dermopathy also exhibit at least one other microvascular complication, and it is often the skin issues that show up first. If you have diabetic dermopathy, it’s probably a good idea to see an endocrinologist and check for warning signs of more dangerous conditions.

Conclusions

Many people with diabetes experience diabetic dermopathy lesions. These little patches of dark and sometimes scaly skin are mostly harmless, and there is no recommended treatment. Nevertheless, it would be wise to take their appearance seriously, as they may indicate a measure of chronic hyperglycemia that can quickly lead to more serious problems.

Diabetes Daily

The End of Diabetes: The Eat to Live Plan to Prevent and Reverse Diabetes