Evaluation of Skin Surface Hydration in Diabetic Patients Using a Hydrometer and Corneometer / 대한피부과학회지

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Diabetes mellitus is a common condition, and the majority of patients have one or more cutaneous complications. Among them, xerosis is well known to be closely related to diabetics. The xerosis is inversely reflected upon skin surface hydration, the state of which can be exactly assessed with various investigating instruments, such as a hydrometer and corneometer. OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to compare the hydration state of diabetics with normal persons by the use of a corneometer and hydrometer. METHODS: A total of 267 diabetics were asked whether they felt xerosis or pruritus. In a subgroup of 31 patients, the water content was evaluated and compared by the parameters of diabetic severity. Forty-one non-diabetics were selected for the normal control.