Winners of dermatology vouchers

A third of diabetics will develop disease-related skin conditions, which are often the first sign a person has the disease.

Dr Sonia Kapoor, Consultant Dermatologist at the Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital, discussed the effects of diabetes on the skin in a presentation to the Lions Club of Tropical Gardens on 2 July.

In her presentation entitled “Skin Manifestation of Diabetes”, Dr Kapoor told the Lions that diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin.

Insulin, she said is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

She went on to identify the three different types of diabetes, Type 1, Type 2 and Gestational and explained that there was no “magic” cure for this condition.

Instead she implored persons with diabetes to have goals. The immediate goal, she said, is to stabilise the body’s blood sugar with careful monitoring and thus eliminate the symptoms associated with high blood-sugar.

The long-term goal should be to prolong life, relieve symptoms and prevent long-term complications such as heart disease and kidney failure.

Dr Kapoor said research has shown that as many as a third of persons with diabetes will have a skin condition related to their disease at some time in their lives.

In fact, she said, such problems are often the first sign that an individual has the condition.

Fortunately, most skin conditions can be prevented and successfully treated if caught early.

However, if not cared for properly, a minor skin condition can turn into a serious problem with potentially serious consequences.

She told the Lions that high levels of glucose in the blood provide an excellent breeding ground for bacteria and fungus and can reduce the body’s ability to heal itself.

She said some of the skin manifestations of diabetes include itching, dry skin, scleroderma diabeticorum (a rare condition which causes a thickening of the skin on the back of the neck and upper back and can affect people with type 2 diabetes) and vitiligo (a condition that affects skin coloration as the special cells that make pigment are destroyed, resulting in patches of discolored skin.)

Dr Kapoor said some skin manifestations are related to problems related to resistance to insulin – “Acanthosis nigricans”. This is a condition that results in the darkening and thickening of certain areas of the skin especially in the skin folds. The skin becomes tan or brown and is sometimes slightly raised and described as velvety.

Also, problems associated with reduced blood supply to the skin can result in digital sclerosis; diabetic dermopathy; and eruptive xanthomatosis (this condition may occur when blood glucose levels are not well controlled and when triglycerides rise to extremely high levels.)

Dr. Kapoor ended the presentation by highlighting several things individuals can do to avoid skin problems:

• Keep your blood glucose levels in as healthy a range as you can. When your blood glucose levels are high you are more prone to have dry skin and you are less able to fend off harmful bacteria. This can increase your risk of infection
  
• Keep your skin clean and dry. Use talcum powder or anti-chaffing cream in areas where skin touches skin, such as armpits and groin
  
• Protect your skin. For example, wear gloves when using cleaners, solvents and other household detergents
  
• Avoid very hot baths and showers. If your skin is dry don’t use bubble baths. Moisturising soaps may help. Afterward, use a light moisturising skin cream. But don’t put lotions between your toes. Extra moisture there can encourage fungus to grow.
  
• Where possible prevent dry skin. If you scratch dry or itchy skin it can open up and infection can set in. Moisturise your skin to keep it supple and prevent chapping especially in cold or windy weather
  
• See a dermatologist about skin problems if you or your doctors are concerned.

The presentation was followed by a question and answer session.

Five lucky people also received vouchers giving them fifty percent off a dermatology consultation at the Chrissie Tomlinson Memorial Hospital.

The Lions Club of Tropical Gardens meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Lions Community Centre.