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Best Moisturizing Lotion?

SaskiaKC

SaskiaKC

Expert
Do you find that a moisturizing lotion marketed as "hydration for diabetes," or "diabetics' dry skin relief" works better than regular skin lotions? I've tried Gold Bond Diabetics' Dry Skin Relief Lotion, but it didn't seem to work any better than any other lotion, and IIRC it was thicker than some other lotions and not so easy to apply.

I'm just wondering whether to spend more money to try others designated for diabetics, or just look at usually lower-priced regular ones.
 
Is diabetic skin different from regular skin?
And is this difference dependent on blood glucose/hba1c or do you just get a completely different skin the day you develop diabetes?
 
@SaskiaKC I mainly buy petroleum jelly for dry skin (generic brand of Vaseline), it does not cause me any skin irritation that other so clled moisturisers do.

I had a discussion with the Blue Care nurse that come around to dress the chronic wound in my leg, who want me use a cream called Epaderm which is a great product but it it brings me up in dermatitis.

She does not believe me and want to try it on my legs, I gave her my Nurse Navigator's phone number and she was told when she phoned do not use on me in no circumstances.
 
I’ve never heard of diabetic creams for skin, that seems a little over the top. I have a variety of creams, Nivea, Dove, Sanctuary and a gorgeous one from Crabtree and Evelyn.
 
I just use body shop moisturiser and my skins soft. Tried the diabetic one for my feet - it dried them out and my feet were itchy and burning. Shame as its a big bottle and would be a shame to dispose of.
 
Riva_Roxaban said:
@SaskiaKC I mainly buy petroleum jelly for dry skin (generic brand of Vaseline), it does not cause me any skin irritation that other so clled moisturisers do.

I had a discussion with the Blue Care nurse that come around to dress the chronic wound in my leg, who want me use a cream called Epaderm which is a great product but it it brings me up in dermatitis.

She does not believe me and want to try it on my legs, I gave her my Nurse Navigator's phone number and she was told when she phoned do not use on me in no circumstances.
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Epaderm caused my eczema to flare up, that had not reared its ugly head for years :shifty:
 
Be had my leg amputated below the knee so it’s important to keep my stump moisturised to stop cracking , I personally don’t use cream, all I use is baby oil in the bath every night, my stump is smooth and totally crack free o much so my specialist reckons it’s the best she’s seen
 
Antje77 said:
Is diabetic skin different from regular skin?
And is this difference dependent on blood glucose/hba1c or do you just get a completely different skin the day you develop diabetes?
Click to expand...

Evidently so, from the research I've done so far. Poor circulation from diabetes may contribute to dryer skin. There seem to be two schools (at least) of thought about this, one being that "diabetic skin care" may be a marketing ploy to sell a pricier product. After all, ordinary aging can contribute to dryer skin too.
 
Sarah69 said:
I’ve never heard of diabetic creams for skin, that seems a little over the top. I have a variety of creams, Nivea, Dove, Sanctuary and a gorgeous one from Crabtree and Evelyn.
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Thanks, yeah, that's what I've wondered about. I don't know Sanctuary; I do know, and like, Crabtree & Evelyn. Not Nivea however. But Jergens and Vaseline lotions are nice IMO. And, like @Riva_Roxaban , I have used pure petroleum jelly by itself.
 
SaskiaKC said:
Evidently so, from the research I've done so far. Poor circulation from diabetes may contribute to dryer skin.
Click to expand...
So not the diabetes but the poorer circulation being the issue.

Nothing to do with you, and very little with this thread, just something which annoys me to no end.
They told me the slower wound healing and developing complications are because of high BG.
So I work my backside off to keep my BG's in the normal range.

And still, every so often a doctor, dentist, nurse as a casual aside drops something like, "yes, of course you'll heal a bit slower/have a higher risk of infection because of your diabetes".
I usually reply with : "Oh, I thought it was high BG's causing this, not diabetes as such. Why do you think I heal slower?"

Selling stuff for diabetics in general, or advising all diabetics to not use a hot bath/electric blanket/sandals because some diabetics have circulation or sensory problems is like saying no diabetic can drive because some diabetics have vision loss.

Aiming marketing to diabetics in general subconsciously teaches people that all diabetics have those issues, even HCP's who are aware of my numbers.
We've had multiple newly diagnosed members worrying about needing diabetic socks, when there was absolutely nothing wrong with their feet.

And back on topic: I think if someone invented a cream or lotion which works much better on skin with issues from diabetes than other lotions, that same lotion would probably work better on non-diabetics too.
So they'd sell the same stuff to a larger market, possibly in a different and cheaper package.
There are only so many ingredients you can use in a lotion, and they won't keep the magic ingredients exclusively aimed at diabetics.

So I'd just try out some different lotions and see which one you like best!
 
carty said:
I use coconut oil
Carol
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I love the fragrance of coconut oil. Unfortunately it's hard to find here. Twice I have ordered "coconut oil lotion" from Amazon and twice they have sent cocoa butter lotion. :( Not the same thing at all of course, and cocoa butter dries out my skin.
Guess I will go back to the search for coconut oil, which I only see in shampoos or suntan lotion.
 
I just use E45, which I had already for mild eczema. Slather it on at night and put on loose socks to keep it off my sheet.
 
For years I used a moisturising cream that our local chemist made on the premises, reasonably priced, plain white tub with their label on and it suited me, but when the pandemic started they couldn't get the ingredients. This thread's reminded me to ring them again, and see if they've managed to source any now.
 
I have dry skin and also psoriasis- I love to use the Sanctuary sea salt body scrub in the shower - it’s a bit expensive at (I think) £15 a jar but it lasts a long time - keeps all my skin very soft and moisturised and where I have psoriasis it really helps keep it from drying and flaking and I find I don’t itch very much. I don’t use moisturiser as I can’t stand the claggy feel on my skin, I find the body scrub enough and the smell is lush. I buy it in boots sometimes you get the 3 for 2 deals.

I like Body Shop peppermint range for my feet, it actually cleared up a bit if psoriasis I had on the top of my foot so now I’m using on my elbows daily and my psoriasis is lessening - may be a happy coincidence but it’s working for me
 
SaskiaKC said:
I love the fragrance of coconut oil. Unfortunately it's hard to find here. Twice I have ordered "coconut oil lotion" from Amazon and twice they have sent cocoa butter lotion. :( Not the same thing at all of course, and cocoa butter dries out my skin.
Guess I will go back to the search for coconut oil, which I only see in shampoos or suntan lotion.
Click to expand...
If you’re in the UK Superdrug has coconut oil for hair & body £7.99 for a 500g tub
 
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