Diabetic dermopathy, also known as shin spots or pigmented pretibial patches, is a skin condition usually found on the lower legs of people with diabetes.
Diabetic dermopathy is a term used to describe the small, round, brown atrophic skin lesions that occur on the shins of the patients. The lesions are asymptomatic. It is thought to result from changes in the small blood vessels that supply the skin and from minor leakage of blood products from these vessels into the skin. Shiny round or oval lesions form on the thin skin of shins. The patches don’t hurt, and they rarely cause itching or burning.
★ What causes diabetic dermopathy?
- The exact cause of diabetic dermopathy is unknown but may be associated with diabetic neuropathic and vascular complications, as studies have shown the condition to occur more frequently in diabetic patients with retinopathy, neuropathy and nephropathy.
- Most common dermatologic condition associated with Diabetes, usually in pretibial region.
- Occur in up to 50% of Diabetic patients but can occur in person without Diabetes.
- Persons without Diabetes usually have 1-2 lesions but most patients with Diabetes have multiple (4 or more) lesion.
- Common in long standing Diabetes, associated with other microvascular complication of Diabetes.
- Usually bilateral well circumscribed atrophic brownish scars on the shins.
- No effective treatment but the lesions tend to resolve over 1-2 years.
Dr. M Saifuddin
MBBS (DMC, K-56)
FCPS (Med), MD (Endo), FRCP (Ireland)
Assistant professor (Endocrinology)
Dhaka Medical College &
Author, FAQs in Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism
Platform Academic / Ariful Islam Neloy