Recent Insights On Diabetic Dermopathy

All published articles of this journal are available on ScienceDirect.

REVIEW ARTICLE

Recent Insights On Diabetic Dermopathy

The Open Dermatology Journal 28 Feb 2019 REVIEW ARTICLE DOI: 10.2174/1874372201913010008

Abstract

Background:

Diabetic dermopathy consists of small, round, brown atrophic skin lesions that occur on the shins of patients with diabetes. Its proper diagnosis is essential for proper management.

Objective:

The present study has been undertaken to study the complications, signs, symptoms, prevention and cure of dermopathy caused by diabetes.

Material and Methods:

Dermopathy was studied in brief with the help of literature available in the form of articles, various databases, medical news, etc.

Result:

Proper diagnosis and cure are necessary at early stages to prevent future complications associated with it.

Conclusion:

Diabetic dermopathy requires no treatment, but may be a surrogate for more serious complications of diabetes, which require investigation and management.

Keywords: Diabetes, Dermopathy, Lesions, Skin, Pretibial patches, Polygenic disorder.

1. INTRODUCTION

Diabetic dermopathy is the commonest skin condition that happens in patients with Diabetes Mellitus. It is also known as pigmented pretibial patches, spotted leg syndrome or diabetic dermangiopathy or shin spots. It is found in up to five-hundredths of diabetics and is the most typical connective tissue finding in patients with Diabetes Mellitus. The condition was initially rumored in 1964 by Melin, circumscribed, brown symptoms, skin lesions occurring on the lower extremities [1]. Within the literature, there is restricted knowledge relating to early-stage skin disorders in Diabetic Mellitus patients, particularly specializing in non-injured skin. Higher understanding of the burden of skin disorders in polygenic disorder patients could raise awareness on hindrance and its management [2]. Regarding connective tissue infections, fungus etiology seems to be foremost common in people with micro-organism origin area [3-5]. Diabetic dermopathy presents brown or pink well-demarcated macules or topped papules on the bilateral pretibial areas of patients with Diabetes Mellitus. Typically, the lesions area are unit spherical or oval and are 1cm in diameter, however larger patches area unit are often seen. The surface is usually slightly depressed with a pointy drop off from traditional adjacent skin. The arrangement of lesions is usually sorted and sometimes linear. No pain or itching is associated [6, 7]. The signs and complications of Diabetic dermopathy need to be correctly monitored for its proper hindrance and cure. This critique focuses on the varied aspects of Diabetic dermopathy. Diabetic dermopathy is the most prevailing skin presentation together with hyperpigmented and symptom macules or papules with no sharp border and frequently occurring on the front leg in polygenic disorder patients. The designation of Diabetic dermopathy is clinical and is formed by description and physical examination. The prevalence of scars and hyperpigmented, symptom spots with sharp borders is observed Diabetic dermopathy has reported 9%-55% rife and is probably going to be additional rife within the patients over fifty years and with longer length of polygenic disorders. Meanwhile, it happens sometimes before diabetic retinopathy and kidney diseases [8]. The present review article deals with the complications, signs & symptoms, prevention and treatment of Diabetic dermopathy.

2. COMPLICATIONS

The incidence of Diabetic dermopathy will increase with age. It is generally seen in patients aged older than fifty. Men show associate inflated incidences as compared to ladies. Though situated bilaterally, their distribution is uneven. Lesions don't itch or cause pain. Management of glucose levels doesn't have an effect on the result of the lesions. There is no correlation between diabetic dermopathy and fat or high blood pressure.The designation of diabetic dermopathy is very important owing to its association with diabetic microangiopathic complications together with retinopathy, neuropathy, and kidney diseases. The presence of diabetic dermopathy could also be an associated indicator of alternative additional serious pathology and its prevalence has been related to each microvascular complications and enormous vessel malady [9]. In Melin’s original study of sixty nine patients with skin lesions had retinopathy; solely twenty fifth of the cluster while not skin lesions had retinopathy [10]. These patches could also be oval or circular. Some individuals mistake them for age spots. This disorder most frequently happens on the front of eachleg. However, the legs might not be affected to a similar degree [11]. The patches don't hurt, open upor itch. Hyperpigmented macules on the shins, alleged diabetic dermopathy has been termed the foremost common cutaneous finding in polygenic disorder. It is sometimes noted as an irregular basis spherical or oval, circumscribed, shallow lesions varied in range from few to several, that are sometimes bilateral however not symmetrically distributed [12, 13]. The presence of many hyperpigmented symptom macules on the shins is alleged to be a comparatively common finding in patients with polygenic disorder. Skin lesions in patients with polygenic disorder, notably on their feet are common and complex in nature [14, 15]. Diabetic dermopathy can usually appear as circular, scaly, brown patches. It is most typically seen on the anterior side of the bilateral lower extremities [16, 17].Skin atrophy occurs from microangiopathy.Decreased blood ensures macroangiopathy. Sensory and involuntary pathology, leading to abnormal blood distribution that will cause bone demineralization and Charcot's joint [18]. Although skin blood flow at basal vital sign isn't completely different from that in nondiabetic subjects, there's a four-hundredth to five hundredth reduction of heat-stimulated flow in diabetic patients compared with the nondiabetic management population [19]. Heat stimulation elicits supreme dilation of the body covering microvasculature, so the reduced flow values in polygenic disorder indicate a loss of skin blood flow reserve. This impairment of blood flow reserve affects patients with one and two polygenic disorder and presumptively reflects a diabetic body covering microangiopathy [20, 21].

3. SIGNS & SYMPTOMS OF DIABETIC DERMOPATHY

Diabetic dermopathy seems as tiny, circumscribed, brown symptom skin lesions but one cm in diameter though some is also elongated and up to 5 cm. Lesions begin as non-blanching, scaly, red or purple, spherical or oval macules or papules. There is also sclerosis with a central depression or organic process. These lesions afterward change to the characteristic scar-like lesions of diabetic dermopathy. The intensity of pigmentation corresponds to the degree of atrophy with the darkest lesions additionally being the foremost symptom. Lesions last for on average eighteen to twenty-four months before attenuation to minimal symptom macules or clearing utterly. In some cases, the brown color disappears and is replaced by a small coloration. As older lesions are clear, new lesions seem to appear. The patches are slightly scaly and are typically spherical or oval. The lesions don't unremarkably burn or sting even if they seem as if they could feel painful. Diabetic dermopathy in all probability represents post-traumatic atrophy and post inflammatory physiological state in poorly vascularized skin. Recent reports showed that the majority of patients have a rise in glycosylated hemoprotein and an extended history of the polygenic disorder. It is double as common in men as in girls. These patches are found in traditional old individuals. Diabetic dermopathy happens on the shins in an exceedingly bilateral asymmetrical distribution. It is common in patients over the age of fifty. The patches are slightly scaly and are typically spherical or oval. Long-standing patches might become faintly indented.

Locations of diabetic dermopathy are:

  • Shins (the pretibial area)
  • Thighs
  • Sides of feet
  • Forearms [22, 23]

Skin alterations because of diabetic complications:

  • Diabetic foot
  • Cutaneous infections related to polygenic disease
  • furunculosis
  • Erythrasma
  • Xanthomatosis
  • Xanthelasma
  • Pycomycetes
  • Malignant inflammation media [24-27]
  • Spots or lesions on the shins of an individual with Diabetes Mellitus.
  • The lesions as shown in Fig. (1), or spots can even be found on the front a part of the thighs, scalp, sides of the feet, trunk, and forearm.
    Fig. (1). Macro photographs of diabetic dermopathy lesions
  • The spots are bilateral, found on each shins at constant time.
  • Over time, the patch sounds like associate degree age spot [28-30].

4. SKIN CHANGES IN DIABETIC GANGRENE

It is a condition that occurs when body tissue dies as shown in Fig (2). It is caused by a loss of blood supply due to an underlying illness, injury, and/or infection. Fingers, toes, and limbs are most often affected, but gangrene can also occur inside the body, damaging organs and muscles. Blood transports oxygen and nutrients throughout the body to feed cells, it delivers disease-fighting antibodies that protects the body from infection. When blood cannot travel freely throughout the body, cells cannot survive, infection can develop and tissue can die from gangrene [31, 32].

5. SKIN CHANGES IN DIABETIC SCLERODERMA

While rare, this skin problem affects people with type 2 diabetes, causing a thickening of the skin on the back of the neck and upper back. The treatment is to bring blood sugar level under monitoring. Lotions and moisturizers may help to soften skin. Scleroderma-like skin changes as a part of “diabetic hand limited joint mobility syndrome” is a clinical entity reported in 10-50% of adolescents and adults with diabetes mellitus. The skin changes may occur early in the disease. The assumption is that vessel and connective tissue alterations, as well as the impairment of the immune system and other associated metabolic changes caused by diabetes, play an important role [33, 34].

Fig. (2). Diabetic gangrene

6. SKIN CHANGES IN NECROBIOSIS LIPOIDICA

Necrobiosis lipoidica is a necrotizing skin condition that usually occurs in patients with diabetes mellitus. In the former case it may be called Necrobiosis Lipoidica Diabeticorum (NLD).NLD occurs in approximately 0.3% of the diabetic population, with the majority of sufferers being women approximately 3:1 females to males affected. The severity or control of diabetes in an individual does not affect who will or will not get NLD [35-37].

7. PREVENTION

Since diabetic dermopathy is rife and customarily takes place before retinopathy and uropathy, early diagnosing of dermopathy might facilitate to predict the incidences of retinopathy and uropathy, delay their incidence and adverse and dangerous consequences or prevent their progression by managing polygenic disease and alternative factors additional expeditiously if the association between dermopathy and incidence of retinopathy and uropathy is confirmed within the patients with sort two polygenic disease. Monitoring of blood glucose level regularly is essential. Prevention of any sorts of injury or infection can be done by keeping skin moisturized. Changes on skin should be discussed with doctor. Proper healthy, sugar free diet at regular intervals is essential [38-40]. If the doctor prescribes medication, staying with it facilitates the integrity of skin. There are lots of ways to manage it. To prevent complications, blood glucose level should be managed by maintaining a healthy diet, exercise often and the medications prescribed by doctor [41-43].

8. TREATMENT

Diabetic dermopathy typically improves as time passes by. Skin should be kept healthy and moisturized. We should avoid any varieties of injury to the legs therefore on forestall the lesions or spots from more progression. There is very no need for medical intervention once it involves lesions, spots, or patches secondary to polygenic disease. However, it's necessary to regulate blood glucose level as a result of it's the amount one triggering issue for dermopathy [44-46]. Treatment for diabetic dermopathy is all regarding taking excellent care of blood glucose level [46-48]. Once blood glucose level is controlled, it's not solely the diabetic dermopathy that may be prevented however still different complications of polygenic disease. Home remedies for diabetic dermopathy are all regarding ingestion of a healthy diet, healthy and safe exercise routines. Another necessary issue is to stay skin healthy, particularly within the areas wherever spots or patches presumably to occur [49-58]. No treatment is usually recommended or has been shown to be effective forthe lesions of diabetic dermopathy. Cosmetic camouflage is used to disguise the looks of the skin lesions if needed [59-68].

CONCLUSION

From the above observations it is clear that skin is concerned in diabetics very often. Diabetic dermopathy lesions or shin spots are harmless. They typically don't need any treatment and have a tendency to travel away once a number of years, significantly following improved glucose management. Whereas if any corpulent patient present with multiple shin spots having fast glucose levels towards the upper facet of traditional in conjunction with the a positive case history of diabetes, more investigation should be conducted to rule out the likelihood of early sickness. Ingestion of a healthy diet, healthy and safe exercise routines and medicines prescribed by the physician are all meant to be done in diabetic dermopathy.

CONSENT FOR PUBLICATION

Not applicable.

CONFLICT OF INTEREST

The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Declared none.

REFERENCES

1
George MS, Walton S. Diabetic dermopathy. Br J Diabetes Vasc Dis 2014; 4(3): 95-7.
2
Quondamatteo F. Skin and diabetes mellitus: What do we know? Cell Tissue Res 2014; 355(1): 1-21.
3
Romano G, Moretti G, Di Benedetto A, et al. Skin lesions in diabetes mellitus: Prevalence and clinical correlations. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 1998; 39(2): 101-6.
4
Sasmaz S, Buyukbese M, Cetinkaya A, Celik M, Arican O. The prevalence of skin disorders in type-2 diabetic patients. Int J Dermatol 2004; 3(1)
5
Foss NT, Polon DP, Takada MH, Foss-Freitas MC, Foss MC. Dermatoses em pacientes com diabetes mellitus. Rev Saude Publica 2005; 39(4): 677-82.
6
Sanad EM, ElFangary MM, Sorour NE, ElNemisy NM. Skin manifestations in Egyptian diabetic patients: A case series study. Egypt J Dermatol Venereol 2013; 33: 56-62.
7
Goyal A, Raina S, Kaushal SS, Mahajan V, Sharma NL. Pattern of cutaneous manifestations in diabetes mellitus. Indian J Dermatol 2010; 55(1): 39-41.
8
Diabetic dermopathy (Pigmented pretibial patches of diabetes mellitus),By David J DiCaudo Dermatology Advisor
9
Morgan AJ, Schwartz RA. Diabetic dermopathy: A subtle sign with grave implications. J Am Acad Dermatol 2008; 58(3): 447-51.
10
Houck GM, Morgan MB. A reappraisal of the histologic findings of pigmented pretibial patches of diabetes mellitus. J Cutan Pathol 2004; 31(2): 141-4.
11
Kiziltan ME, Benbir G. Clinical and nerve conduction studies in female patients with diabetic dermopathy. Acta Diabetol 2008; 45(2): 97-105.
12
Kiziltan ME, Benbir G, Akalin MA. Is diabetic dermopathy a sign for severe neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus? Nerve conduction studies and symptom analysis. Clin Neurophysiol 2006; 117(8): 1862-9.
13
Abdollahi A, Daneshpazhooh M, Amirchaghmaghi E, Sheikhi S, Eshrati B, Bastanhagh MH. Dermopathy and retinopathy in diabetes: Is there an association? Dermatology (Basel) 2007; 214(2): 133-6.
14
Romano G, Moretti G, Di Benedetto A, et al. Skin lesions in diabetes mellitus: Prevalence and clinical correlations. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 1998; 39(2): 101-6.
15
Melin H. An atrophic circumscribed skin lesion in the lower extremities of diabetics. Acta Med Scand 1964; 176(Suppl. 423): 423-, 1-75.
16
Shemer A, Bergman R, Linn S, Kantor Y, Friedman-Birnbaum R. Diabetic dermopathy and internal complications in diabetes mellitus. Int J Dermatol 1998; 37(2): 113-5.
17
Brugler A, Thompson S, Turner S, Ngo B, Rendell M. Skin blood flow abnormalities in diabetic dermopathy. J Am Acad Dermatol 2011; 65(3): 559-63.
18
Sawatkar GU, Kanwar AJ, Dogra S, Bhadada SK, Dayal D. Spectrum of cutaneous manifestations of type 1 diabetes mellitus in 500 South Asian patients. Br J Dermatol 2014; 171(6): 1402-6.
19
Chatterjee N, Chattopadhyay C, Sengupta N, Das C, Sarma N, Pal SK. An observational study of cutaneous manifestations in diabetes mellitus in a tertiary care Hospital of Eastern India. Indian J Endocrinol Metab 2014; 18(2): 217-20.
20
Demirseren DD, Emre S, Akoglu G, et al. Relationship between skin diseases and extracutaneous complications of diabetes mellitus: Clinical analysis of 750 patients. Am J Clin Dermatol 2014; 15(1): 65-70.
21
McCash S, Emanuel PO. Defining diabetic dermopathy. J Dermatol 2011; 38(10): 988-92.
22
Melin H. An atrophic circumscribed skin lesion in the lower extremities of diabetics. Acta Med Scand 1964; 176(Suppl. 423): 423-, 1-75.
23
Murphy RA. Skin lesions in diabetic patients: The “spotted-leg” syndrome. Lahey Clin Found Bull 1965; 14(1): 10-4.
24
GWGiraldo BStoughton RB Diabetic dermopathy: A clinical study. Cutis 1967; 3955-8.
25
Danowski, TXSabeh, GSarver, MEShelkrot, JFisher ER, Shin spots and diabetes mellitus. Am J Med Sci 1966; 251570-5.
26
Bauer MLevan NE Diabetic dermangiopathy: A spectrum including pretibial pigmented patches and necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum. Br J Dermatol 1970; 83528-35.
27
Huntley AC. Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus. Dermatol Clin 1989; 7(3): 531-46.
28
Jelinek JE. Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus. Int J Dermatol 1994; 33(9): 605-17.
29
Fisher ERDanowski TS Histologic, histochemical, and electron microscopic features of the shin spots of diabetes mellitus. Am J Clin Pathol 1968; 50547-54.
30
Shemer ABegman RLinn SKantor YFriedman-Birnbaum RL Diabetic dermopathy and internal complications in diabetes mellitus. Int J Dermatol 1998; 37113-5.
31
Infante JR, Rosenbloom A. Changes in frequency of limited joint mobility in children with Type 1 DM between 1976–78 and 1998. J Pediatr 2001; 138: 33-7. [PubMed].
32
Yosipovitch G, Loh KC, Hock OB. Medical pearl: Scleroderma-like skin changes in patients with diabetes mellitus. J Am Acad Dermatol 2003; 49(1): 109-11.
33
James WD, Berger TG, et al. Andrews’ Diseases of the skin: Clinical Dermatology 2006.
34
Dennis M, Bowen WT, Cho L. Necrobiosis lipoidica diabeticorum.Mechanisms of Clinical Signs 2012; 541.
35
Klaus JB. Dermatopathology 2009 Jan 15; 54.v.
36
Rendell MBergman TO’Donnell GDrobny EBorgos JBonner RF Microvascular blood flow, volume, and velocity measured by laser Doppler techniques in insulin dependent diabetes. Diabetes 1989; 38819-24.
37
Bolognia JL, Jean L, Eds. ed Dermatology 2003; 1653-8.
38
Freedberg IM, Ed. Fitzpatrick’s Dermatology in General Medicine 6th ed. 2003; 716.
39
Meurer M, Szeimies RM. Diabetes mellitus and skin diseases. Curr Probl Dermatol 1991; 20: 11-23.
40
Petrozzi JW, Warthan TL. Malignant external otitis. Arch Dermatol 1974; 110(2): 258-60.
41
Feingold KR, Siperstein MD. Diabetic vascular disease. Adv Intern Med 1986; 31: 309-40.
42
Reaven GM. Abnormal lipoprotein metabolism in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Pathogenesis and treatment. Am J Med 1987; 83(3A): 31-40.
43
Haroon TS. Diabetes and skin-a review. Scott Med J 1974; 19(6): 257-67.
44
Grunfeld C. Diabetic foot ulcers: etiology, treatment, and prevention. Adv Intern Med 1992; 37: 103-32.
45
McCash S, Emanuel PO. Defining diabetic dermopathy. J Dermatol 2011; 38(10): 988-92.
46
Ahmed K, Muhammad Z, Qayum I. Prevalence of cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2009; 21(2): 76-9.
47
Furqan S, Kamani L, Jabbar A. Skin manifestations in diabetes mellitus. J Ayub Med Coll Abbottabad 2014; 26(1): 46-8. [PubMed].
48
Juturu V. Skin Health and Metabolic complications bioactive dietary factors and plant extracts in dermatology 2013; 39-47.
49
George SM, Walton S. Diabetic dermopathy. Br J Diabetes Vasc Dis 2014; 14(3): 95-7.
50
Shemer A, Bergman R, Linn S, Kantor Y, Friedman-Birnbaum R. Diabetic dermopathy and internal complications in diabetes mellitus. Int J Dermatol 1998; 37(2): 113-5. [PubMed].
51
Demirseren DD, Emre S, Akoglu G, et al. Relationship between skin diseases and extracutaneous complications of diabetes mellitus: Clinical analysis of 750 patients. Am J Clin Dermatol 2014; 15(1): 65-70.
52
Hosseini MS, Ehsani AH, Panah FH, Azizi F. The correlation between skin lesions, microalbuminuria and other microvascular complications in type 2 diabetic patients. Nephrourol Mon 2010; 2(4): 553-60.
53
Abdollahi A, Daneshpazhooh M, Amirchaghmaghi E, Sheikhi S, Eshrati B, Bastanhagh MH. Dermopathy and retinopathy in diabetes: Is there an association? Dermatology (Basel) 2007; 214(2): 133-6.
54
Brzezinski P, Chiriac AE, Pinteala T, Foia L, Chiriac A. Diabetic dermopathy (“shin spots”) and diabetic bullae (“bullosis diabeticorum”) at the same patient. Pak J Med Sci 2015; 31(5): 1275-6.
55
McGeorge S, Walton S. Diabetic dermopathy. Br J Diabetes 2014; 14(3): 95-7.
56
Chakrabarty A, Norman RA, Phillips TJ. Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes. Wounds 2002; 14(8): 267-74.
57
Brzezinski P, Chiriac AE, Pinteala T, Foia L, Chiriac A. Diabetic dermopathy (“shin spots”) and diabetic bullae (“bullosis diabeticorum”) at the same patient. Pak J Med Sci 2015; 31(5): 1275-6.
58
Lithner F. Cutaneous reactions of the extremities of diabetics to local thermal trauma. Acta Med Scand 1975; 198(4): 319-25.
59
Sueki H, Fugisawa R. Pigmented pretibial patches with special references to the clinical classifications and the correlation to HbAc 1 which serves as an index to the diabetic control
60
Van Hattem S, Bootsma AH, Thio HB. Skin manifestations of diabetes. Cleve Clin J Med 2008; 75(11): 772-774, 776-777.
61
Alvin C. Powers. Diabetes Mellitus.Harrison’s Principle of Internal Medicine 15th ed. 2001; 2109-37.
62
Truswell AS. Nutritional factors in disease.Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine 17th ed. 1996; 548-84.
63
Mutairi NA. Skin diseases seen in diabetes mellitus. Bull Kuwait Inst Med Special 2006; 5: 30-9.
64
Braverman IM. Cutaneous manifestations of diabetes mellitus. Med Clin North Am 1971; 55(4): 1019-29.
65
Fisher ER, Danowski TS. Histologic, histochemical, and electron microscopic features of the shin spots of diabetes mellitus. Am J Clin Pathol 1968; 50(5): 547-54.
66
Wigington G, Ngo B, Rendell M. Skin blood flow in diabetic dermopathy. Arch Dermatol 2004; 140(10): 1248-50.
67
Brugler A, Thompson S, Turner S, Ngo B, Rendell M. Skin blood flow abnormalities in diabetic dermopathy. J Am Acad Dermatol 2011; 65(3): 559-63.
68
Kiziltan ME, Benbir G, Akalin MA. Is diabetic dermopathy a sign for severe neuropathy in patients with diabetes mellitus? Nerve conduction studies and symptom analysis. Clin Neurophysiol 2006; 117(8): 1862-9.