Healed but Vulnerable: Skin Barrier Function Key to Preventing Diabetic Foot Ulcer Recurrence
Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh, in collaboration with the NIH Diabetic Foot Consortium, have identified a major underlying risk factor for the recurrence of diabetic foot ulcers: a compromised skin barrier function. Using a non-invasive device to measure skin moisture loss (TEWL) in 418 individuals, they discovered wounds that appear healed but have high TEWL are 2.7 times more likely to reopen within 16 weeks. This finding, which was published in Diabetes Care, emphasizes how crucial it is to evaluate skin function rather than merely appearance in order to enhance patient outcomes and lower the number of amputations. Incorporating TEWL measurements into standard care could transform diabetic wound management.
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https://www.upmc.com/media/news/053025-detecting-invisible-wounds
