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Diabetic Dermopathy

Aka: Diabetic Dermopathy, Skin Spots

Epidemiology
1. Most common skin finding in Diabetes Mellitus
  1. More common if comorbid Diabetic Neuropathy
2. More common in men
Pathophysiology
1. Skin Hyperpigmentation due to hemosiderin deposition
2. May be associated with trauma
Symptoms
1. None
Signs
1. Round hyperpigmented areas
  1. Initial: flat-topped, red and scaly Papules
  2. Later: Depressed below skin level
2. Distribution
  1. Bilateral shins (most common)
  2. Forearms
  3. Anterior thighs
  4. Lateral feet
Course
1. Heal spontaneously
2. May leave preciously involved skin with altered pigment
References
1. Habif (1996) Dermatology, p. 624
2. Marx (2002) Rosen's Emergency Medicine, 1759-60

Family Practice Notebook

Patients should address specific medical concerns with their physicians.

Although access to this page is not restricted, the information found here is intended for use by medical providers.

This page was written by Scott Moses, MD, last revised on 10/21/2007 and last published on 5/10/2012.

This is one of 5737 pages in the Family Practice Notebook