Xerosis is one of the symptoms associated with diabetes. In addition to xerosis, the diabetic foot can present vascularization disorders, sensitivity problems and other skin manifestations such as calluses, fissures and ulcers.
It is manifested by cutaneous dryness and various sensations of discomfort, such as tightness and itching. Xerosis is the earliest and most common manifestation of diabetes, mainly affecting the shins and feet1,2. Untreated, it contributes to the appearance of areas of thickened skin and cracks. These complications of skin dryness can encourage the development of infections.
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Overall, the foot is a less well-moisturized area. The skin changes frequently encountered in diabetic patients are the result of altered skin barrier function linked, among other things, to chronic hyperglycemia3, 2. Indeed, patients with increased blood glucose levels have 1.5 times more skin disorders than those with normal blood glucose levels4.
Xerosis of the foot, whether or not associated with cracks or fissures, is found in 82% of diabetic patients5.
1 - Pavlovic MD, Milenkovic T, Dinic M, Misovic M, Dakovic D, Todorovic S, et al. The prevalence of cutaneous manifestations in young patients with type 1 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2007;30:1964-7
2 - Kirsner RS, Yosipovitch G, Hu S, Andriessen A, Hanft JR, Kim PJ, Lavery L, Meneghini L, Ruotsi LC. Diabetic Skin Changes Can Benefit from Moisturizer and Cleanser Use: A Review. J Drugs Dermatol. 2019 Dec 1;18(12):1211-1217. PMID: 31860208
3 - Martini J., Huertas C., Turlier V., Saint-Martory C., Delarue A. Efficacy of an emollient cream in the treatment of xerosis in diabetic foot: a double-blind, randomized, vehicle controlled clinical trial. J Eur Acad Dermatol Venereol 2017. DOI: 10.1111/jdv.14095
4 - Campos de Macedo, G. M. C., Nunes, S., & Barreto, T. (2016). Skin disorders in diabetes mellitus: an epidemiology and pathophysiology review. Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome, 8(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-016-0176-y
5 -. Bristow I (2013) Emollients in the care of the diabetic foot. The Diabetic Foot Journal 16: 63-6
