Skin changes can be an early sign of diabetes: Eight symptoms not to ignore

The skin can sometimes offer one of the first visible clues that diabetes or insulin resistance is affecting the body, dermatologists say.

Chronic high blood glucose can affect small blood vessels, circulation, nerves and the immune system. These systems help maintain healthy skin and allow wounds to heal. High blood sugar may also contribute to inflammation, blood-vessel damage, dehydration and changes in the skin’s protective barrier.

One possible sign is acanthosis nigricans, which appears as darker, thicker skin with a velvety texture. It commonly develops on the neck, in the armpits or around the groin, and may be an early visible sign of prediabetes or diabetes in some people. Multiple small, soft growths known as skin tags can also be associated with insulin resistance, although they are common and usually harmless.

Other changes include dry, itchy skin, which may result from dehydration, poor circulation or a weakened skin barrier, and diabetic dermopathy. The latter produces light-brown or brown patches, usually on the lower legs. The patches may initially be scaly and later leave small depressions in the skin.

These symptoms can have many causes and do not automatically indicate diabetes. Simple blood tests can check whether blood-sugar regulation is a problem, while a doctor can assess whether a skin change relates to diabetes or another condition.

“

Blood sugar levels can have a significant impact on the health and function of the skin. Since the skin is a visible organ, it can sometimes indicate that metabolic changes are occurring elsewhere in the body.