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Type 2 Thin skin on legs...how can I protect them?

T

tibbles

Member
Messages
9
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Insulin
Hi
I suffer this condition and it's getting worse, the slightest thing will scrape the skin and then the problem of how to heal it. I was just wondering if anyone else suffers this and has found a way/something to stop it happening? I have intermittent claudication, neuropathy in my feet and vascular problems so must not have compression garments. Should I shoot myself now or is there any hope to prevent future scrapes and all that comes with them. Many thanks in advance for your advice/comments.
 
My mother had this side effect of diabetes. She took aspirin, which made the bleeding problem worse. Her doctor in America recommended Tonic water, with quinnine, and she found it resolved the leg cramps very rapidly.
How high are your BGs? Perhaps you could get them down, which would help the neuropathy a lot.
 
tibbles said:
Hi
I suffer this condition and it's getting worse, the slightest thing will scrape the skin and then the problem of how to heal it. I was just wondering if anyone else suffers this and has found a way/something to stop it happening? I have intermittent claudication, neuropathy in my feet and vascular problems so must not have compression garments. Should I shoot myself now or is there any hope to prevent future scrapes and all that comes with them. Many thanks in advance for your advice/comments.
Click to expand...

yes it is a problem, but is usually getting worse by aging, it is important to avoid sun on the areas and actually to eat the adequate amount of proteins so the body has enough to repair as much as it can repair.. like at least 0.8 grams of protein per kg bodyweight
http://thedermblog.com/2009/03/18/thin-skin-tears-easily/
https://healdove.com/disease-illness/Easy-Bruising-and-Thin-Skin-the-causes-and-some-self-help-ideas
 
By the way, my mother lived to be 85, ignored her diabetes, and never had any other problems with her legs. Don't shoot yourself yet Tibbles.
 
Hello again


Thank you "spender cat & freema" for commenting, much appreciated your input. However all I need to know is how to protect my legs physically to stop skin being scraped, wonder if there is anything I can wear or put on my legs to stop the scrapes. They can happen when putting socks or trousers on or my legs touching furniture without feeling it or anywhere just slightly touched on the legs. I have vascular problems therefore cannot have any type of compression to keep things on my legs.

My diabetes is well controlled, my Endo was extremely pleased with my last results and actually commented I was his star patient (hmm lol). I am tending to the latest scrapes using Mepilex Ag, Mepore and trying to get them healed best I can. What I need to do after that is put something on them 24/7 (if possible) to prevent (hopefully) further scrapes.

Thanks in advance to anyone who may have experience of this problem and can advise what I may be able to do for protection.
 
I wonder if it would help you to cover your legs with doubled TubiFast, but making sure it's a bit looser than normally fitted? It's much less elasticated than Tubigrip and much more breathable fabric. It comes on a roll, of varous lengths, so you can just cut of what you need. Depending on your build, there are several sizes to select from. If you measure the circumference of your leg(s) where you would like to have the protection, or the larger circumference ie calf, then select the relevant size. It does stretch, of course, but is very gentle. Having said that, if your socks/trousers cause your skin to shear, this may not be a solution.

Tubifast - http://www.molnlycke.co.uk/wound-care-dressings/fixation-retention/tubifast/ You can buy it at one of the well-named internet shops, of course, and cheaper than town stores.

Just a thought but, as I've said, not sure it would be your solution
 
Vitamin e oil helps mine heal faster. I get that on my wrists and forearms. I get little purple spots that show up out of nowhere too. It's always a mystery
 
Vitamin E oil can be used from vitamin capsuel where you stick a needle into the capsuel and after taking it
out squeeze the oil out, a new capsuel every day
 
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Energize said:
I wonder if it would help you to cover your legs with doubled TubiFast, but making sure it's a bit looser than normally fitted? It's much less elasticated than Tubigrip and much more breathable fabric. It comes on a roll, of varous lengths, so you can just cut of what you need. Depending on your build, there are several sizes to select from. If you measure the circumference of your leg(s) where you would like to have the protection, or the larger circumference ie calf, then select the relevant size. It does stretch, of course, but is very gentle. Having said that, if your socks/trousers cause your skin to shear, this may not be a solution.

Tubifast - http://www.molnlycke.co.uk/wound-care-dressings/fixation-retention/tubifast/ You can buy it at one of the well-named internet shops, of course, and cheaper than town stores.

Just a thought but, as I've said, not sure it would be your solution
Click to expand...

Thank you for that, I will look into it especially to see if it's suitable and not a compression type bandage as obviously I can't have that. Thanks for your help.
 
Freema said:
Vitamin E oil can be used from vitamin capsuel where you stick a needle into the capsuel and after taking i
out squeeze the oil out a new capsuel every day
Click to expand...

Thank you, I will have a look at it, I do moisturize my legs when I don't have the scrapes on them so I know I should use creams etc. If Vit E in fact beneficial to thin skin I will give it a go.
 
tibbles said:
Thank you John, I'm rather reticent to use something that will stay on the skin like that but will consider after reading up on it.
Click to expand...
I have rather a similar prob on my arms and hands as over the years preds have thinned my skin and weakened blood vessels so I get large areas of bruising when if knocked even slightly they bleed and become quite painful so I might try out the newskin spray my self if it helps will let you know.
 
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