4 Best Lotions for Dry Diabetic Skin of 2024
Fighting a battle with aging skin can feel neverending, especially if you have diabetes. Diabetes adds an extra layer of difficulty to taking care of your skin as you’re more likely to develop skin disorders. Shifting blood sugar levels can lead to rough, dry, and itchy skin. Long-term high blood sugar can also cause poor circulation and nerve damage, which can result in loss of feeling so you can’t tell if you have a cut, crack, or ulcer (open sore). Without proper care, this can lead to infection and further complications.
Luckily, with good skincare management, the common skin issues seen in diabetic patients are treatable and preventable. Below are our top recommendations for the best creams and lotions for diabetic skin based on research and reviews from real people with diabetes who have found what works for them. We've included both diabetes-focused products (those made specifically for diabetic skin) and other moisturizers that effectively target many of the skin issues people with diabetes face.
Caregiver Tip
Like a lot of other products, there isn't a "one size fits all" for lotions and creams. It may take trying a few different products out to find out what works best for you or your loved one.
1. Gold Bond Diabetics Dry Skin Relief
If you've been researching the perfect lotion or cream to relieve your dry diabetic skin, you've likely stumbled upon Gold Bond Diabetics Dry Skin Relief. This lotion is considered the gold standard when it comes to diabetic-focused skincare. It has been developed specifically for diabetic skin with soothing aloe, vitamins B, C, & E, and a blend of moisturizing and hydrating ingredients. One dermatological study found that 90% of diabetic users of Gold Bond Diabetics Dry Skin Relief saw noticeable skin improvement within one hour of use.
Top Reviews
★★★★★
"Love it! The cracks in my fingers which constantly give me trouble healed in two days and my skin is now amazingly much much better! It's more supple and smooth, "normal" — not dry! I am so grateful and truly relieved!" - Victoria B.
Hear it from a caregiver
If there was a 10 star review, I would give it that. I have suffered with scaly dry legs for years. My legs have been so bad at times they hurt and would bleed from all the scratching. I have tried EVERYTHING! Yes really everything. I applied this lotion after a bath at night and scales and itchiness is now gone and it has been over a week. My legs are no longer scaly, they don't itch and my skin looks great now! Only one application and it has lasted over a week. I thought I would have to reapply it every night after my bath (and I take really hot baths) but I haven't had to. This product is AMAZING and I will be ordering it for my diabetic father and aunt for sure!
- Junie M.
Price: $9.97
2. Diabetic Defense Daily Therapy Foot Moisturizer
Diabetic Defense Daily Therapy Foot Moisturizer is great for rough, cracked skin on the feet because it can penetrate thick calluses and extra dry skin. This is a good moisturizer for those who want to pay particular attention to their feet, especially if they are prone to calluses. Diabetic Defense Daily Therapy Foot Moisturizer contains soothing shea butter as well as vitamins A, E, and D to protect skin and relieve irritation.
Top Reviews
★★★★★
"Great for Feet Care for Years! I have been using the Pedix Foot Therapy for over 20 years and I attribute it to keeping my feet healthy and problem free." - Joseph R.
★★★★★
"Therapy foot cream Just the right consistency and texture. No bad odor. Works great on keeping my feet from drying out." - Robert O.
3. TriDerma MD Diabetic Dry Skin Defense Healing Cream
This silky soft moisturizer is a highly concentrated cream that contains AP4 Genuine Virgin Organic Aloe, which is a combination of moisturizing ingredients and botanicals that not only moisturize and protect skin but also help reduce swelling and fight bacteria. This healing cream also contains oats, allantoin, dimethicone, urea, and vitamins B & E.
Top Reviews
★★★★★
"I received a sample of the dry skin healing cream and I used it on areas that had been dry cracked and very irritated and I noticed relief right away and it seems to have heal the area quicker than before with any other product." - Robin
★★★★★
"I was given this product for my boyfriend's problem with his cracking fingertips. He faithfully uses it now because it is the only thing he has found to heal those sore cracked fingertips. It heals quite fast and we both love it." - Sarah
4. Medline Remedy Phytoplex Nourishing Skin Cream Moisturizer
Medline Remedy Phytoplex Nourishing Skin Cream Moisturizer helps restore the natural moisture balance and barrier of skin without feeling heavy. This nourishing cream is made for the most sensitive, at-risk skin types, like diabetic skin, and allows skin to breathe because it is not formulated with heavy oils or chemicals. It is made with a blend of botanical ingredients which include soy, blue-green algae, green tea, clove extra, and safflower oleosomes, and is naturally vanilla-scented.
Top Reviews
★★★★★
"I was hospitalized in January for 4 days and found comfort for my skin, especially my hands, from applying this product. The scent it leaves is very pleasant!" - Sandra D.
★★★★★
"I can't say enough good things. I wash my hands repeatedly at work and use hand sanitizer. This, combined with very cold windy weather, do a lot of damage. I have terrible red, dry, and cracking skin. Skin under nails cracking a bleeding, not healing. I felt the difference after first use. You can feel the moisture. I enjoy the slight vanilla smell, non perfume smell. It's wonderful. I will purchase the large pump version next. Great price, fast shipping." - K.C.
Price: $12.64 - $305.99
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Sophie Bebeau is a writer, graphic designer, poet, and multidisciplinary artist living in Green Bay, Wisconsin. When she’s not writing or making things for the internet, she can be found cross-stitching, writing poetry, and snuggling on the couch with a cup of tea and her husband, son, and dog, Buttercup.
Sophie Bebeau is a writer, graphic designer, poet, and multidisciplinary artist living in Green Bay, Wisconsin. When she’s not writing or making things for the internet, she can be found cross-stitching, writing poetry, and snuggling on the couch with a cup of tea and her husband, son, and dog, Buttercup.