Diabetics face a variety of potential skin problems. Those with diabetes are at an increased risk for bacterial or fungal skin infection. Infection with the bacteria Staphylococcus, commonly known as staph infection, causes styes, boils, folliculitis, and even deep infection (cellulitis), and this type of infection is even more serious in those with poor control of their diabetes (such as in those not following a proper diabetic diet). Fungal infections may affect the nails, body folds, genital regions, and feet. The darkening and thickening of body folds due to insulin resistance, called acanthosis nigricans, may be early symptoms of diabetes. Diabetic dermopathy, damage to small blood vessels of the skin, may cause small, brown spots on the legs. Granuloma annulare are red, circular or arc-shaped lesions due to changes in the collagen of the skin.
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