Diabetes mellitus (DM) in Indonesia has rapidly increased during recent years.
World Health Organization (WHO) predicted that in 2030, Indonesia would
be ranked fourth for the largest DM patients in the world. As the disease
progresses, uncontrolled type 2 DM (T2DM) results in dry skin as the most
prevalent skin disorder. Despite the prevalence and morbidities that lead to
infection, ulcer, gangrene that can lead to amputation when insufficiently
treated, dry skin in T2DM has limited therapeutic options. Currently, available
therapies for dry skin in T2DM have not considered factors of hyperglycemia
and hyperinsulinemia, which disturb skin homeostasis. Nonetheless, in T2DM,
there are neuropathy and biostructural changes of the skin which induce
dry skin. Alternative herbal medicine, Centella asiatica is getting well-known
nowadays because of its vast amount of benefits. Centella asiatica has been
studied for its antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-inflammation, antiglycation, and
neuroprotective activities. Furtherly, these properties may display benefits
when introduced to T2DM dry skin therapy. The previous clinical study had
shown that topical C. asiatica improved dry skin. This clinical study was also
supported by in vitro studies. Currently, pharmacological profile studies of C. asiatica
 including dosage, toxicity, and safety have been available. This article
aimed to review the current literature on the potential of C. asiatica as an alternative to treat dry skin in T2DM.

Centella asiatica; dry skin; therapy; type 2 diabetes mellitus; wound healing

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