How Drugs Affect Your Skin
Your skin is the largest organ in your body, and it can suffer due to ongoing drug abuse. Thats especially true if you use a needle to inject drugs. But some forms of skin damage dont require a needle at all.
People who inject drugs can develop these issues:
- Track marks These are caused by repeated needle punctures to deliver drugs.
- Collapsed veins Inject too often, and veins can deflate. Youll see them as darkened stripes under your skin.
- Ulcers If your needle pushes germs beneath your skin, you can develop open sores.
Some types of drugs, including methamphetamine, can compel you to pick at your skin. You can pull open sores on your skin very quickly, and you may not even notice its happening. Researchers say that long-term drinkers can develop yellow skin, brown skin, or spider veins. They may also have flushed skin and an enhanced risk of diseases like psoriasis.
Your skin heals very quickly, and with the help of an expert, you could get relief from some of these problems. Infections, for example, can be treated with antibiotics, but you may be left with scars because of the damage done.
What Are The Signs Of Meth Use
Methamphetamine is notorious for its adverse effects. The illegal and highly addictive drug can devastate a persons health. Most people have seen frightening before-and-after pictures of meth addicts, but in many cases, the signs that someone is on meth or uses meth regularly may not be obvious.
If you suspect that someone you know, perhaps even a family member, has a problem with meth, its important to know all the signs so that you can stage an intervention and help them find treatment. If you need answers about treatment for meth abuse, please contact a dedicated recovery provider today.
Common Skin Problems Caused By Cocaine Use
Cocaine use can lead to a number of skin disorders depending on how the drug is administered. Intravenous cocaine use, for example, can lead to necrotic tissue. Smoking crack can cause a condition called crack hands, where the tissue on fingers and palm can blacken because of exposure to extreme heat.
Cocaine use can also lead to the following conditions:
- Vasculitis and Retiform Purpura
- Raynauds phenomenon
- Churg-Strauss and a P-ANCA positive Wegener granulomatosis-like syndrome.
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What Is The Treatment For Meth Sores And Addiction
Depending on how severe meth sores are, they will need medical attention especially if theyre infected. Most of the time, this is the case as those under the influence of addiction tend to neglect personal hygiene.
Picking and scratching at the skin due to continued meth use can also make the sores worse and lead to infection. Short-term treatment for meth sores may include a round of antibiotics to clear up the infection. At the same time, some sores may need to be drained and manually treated with thorough wound care either at a doctors office or at the hospital.
However, this is only a short-term solution. To clear up meth sores completely, the root of the problem must be addressed. And that is the meth addiction.
As mentioned, those who experience meth sores regularly most likely have a long-term meth addiction. The solution to overcoming this is a medical detox and inpatient rehabilitation program.
While this road is not an easy one to walk, those with a long-term addiction need all the support they can get. This is what an inpatient rehab center with experience in meth addiction and recovery can offer.
Early Signs Of Methamphetamine Addiction
Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant, with over 5% of Americans aged 12 and older using the drug at least once in their lifetimes. Methamphetamine is one of the most dangerous, illicit drug addictions because its components are so caustic, and its effects on the user are incredibly harsh. The drug will affect numerous bodily systems, including the skin, teeth, cardiovascular system, and kidneys. Methamphetamine addiction is also difficult to hide because the drug will eat away at the users teeth and cause open skin sores, which can create their own unique set of health consequences.
Meth is a highly addictive substance and creates an intense, short-lived high. Because methamphetamine interacts with powerful brain chemicals, serotonin, and dopamine, it gives the user a euphoric and robust rush, and users will continue to use the drug to keep from coming down from the euphoria. Unlike other drugs like cocaine and heroin, methamphetamine cravings are much more intense. Users will sometimes go on whats called a run, where they continually ingest the drug for long periods of time until they run out of supplies, or worse, overdose.
Below are the following early signs and symptoms of methamphetamine addiction:
- Users will not sleep for long periods of time
- Will appear unusually active
- Rapid weight loss or gaunt appearance
- Sweating despite the temperature or lack of physical exertion
- Nervous or anxious behavior
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How And Why Does Meth Mouth Happen
Because of the harshness of methamphetamines chemical makeup, when users ingest the drug, these harsh agents eat away at soft and hard tissues. The acid in the drug will wear down the users tooth enamel, leading to rapid decay. Also, the gums will bleed and pull away from the bottom of the tooth, in effect loosening it. Many survivors of meth addiction experience tooth loss directly related to past drug use.
Shocking: The Effects Of Drug Addiction On The Face
Oh my goodness, Im so blessed that Ive never taken drugs, especially meth, heroin or cocaine. When I was very young, my mother told me drugs would kill me, and I believed her. I still do. These pictures truly break my heart, but I think this is important to write about. If a teenager going through some peer pressure sees these pictures, it might be all thats needed to convince him or her not to get caught up in that craziness.
These are actual mug shots of drug addicts taken in Oregon. You can see the effects of the drugs on their faces, and if you look at the dates, sometimes it is in a shockingly short period of time. If not taking drugs because of the health effects isnt enough motivation, perhaps seeing what it does to our beautiful bodies will be enough to convince some people not to do it, or at least that is what Deputy Bret King and the sheriffs department who created this anti-drug campaign is hoping.
The photographs are part of a 48-minute documentary called From Drugs to Mugs. You can purchase the DVD if youd like to show it as part of an anti-drug campaign to a school or group of young people. Heck, Im going to show it to my son. There is no such thing as going overboard when educating people about the dangers of drug abuse.
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Meth Bugs Meth Mites & Crank Bugs
- Meth can make a person itchy, anxious and paranoid. After several days without sleep, people who use meth may begin thinking that the itching is caused by something inside the skin.
- People who use meth may have unhealthy skin because of an unhealthy diet, poor hygiene or the effects of toxins inside of meth. When theyre high on meth, these people may compulsively rub their already unhealthy skin, causing scratches or irritations. They end up hallucinating and believing bugs are causing their skin problems.
- Meth mites and crank bugs are well-known terms. Most people who use meth have heard of the hallucination. Sleep deprivation and the side effects of meth use may make the memory of a story turn into a real hallucination.
Meth Sores: What Are They
So, you may have heard about meth sores or even seen pictures of them in an educational class on drugs before. Either way, meth sores are a common part of meth addiction.
They are open wounds that form almost anywhere on the body, but most commonly in the mouth area, on the chest, hands, and arms. These sores are one of the most noticeable signs of regular meth use and meth addiction.
If you use meth once, twice, or occasionally, youre not likely to develop meth sores. However, meth sores are a result of consistent meth use.
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Methamphetamine Aka Meth Is A Highly Addictive Stimulant That Is Known By Several Slang Names Including Crank Chalk Ice And Bump
It can have serious long-term side effects and change a persons physical health, mental well-being, behavior, and physical appearance. Because methamphetamine can be so damaging, it is important to get someone help sooner rather than later. Our drug rehab center in Philadelphia can help people quit these addictions before it is too late.While sometimes spotting a drug addiction in your loved one can be problematic, methamphetamine addicts are often easy to spot. While many drugs lead to some changes in overall physical appearance, methamphetamine often leads to some of the most alarming transformations. Before and after photos of meth users faces are usually drastically different, leading to the term meth face.
How To Keep Skin Healthy
The best way to prevent the harmful effects of drugs on our largest organ, the skin, is to avoid substance abuse. It is especially important to stay away from drugs that have been adulterated with compounds or fillers. To take even better care of your skin, remember to always wear sunscreen, practice good hygiene, and moisturize.
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What Drugs Cause Skin Picking
This may be a sign that theyre struggling with a substance abuse problem, particularly if other unusual or uncharacteristic behaviours accompany it. Scabs or skin lesions linked to drug abuse may be caused by various factors, depending on the drugs used. Various medications may cause these skin patches, sores, or scabs. Lets take a look at the most common medications that cause skin problems in addicts.
Ready To Make A Change
Vertava Health provides addiction recovery that is covered by most insurances in Ohio.
Continuous meth use has many negative physical side effects. Potential effects include meth mouth, a decaying of teeth and gums, and meth sores, irritating bumps that can become infected.
Meth treatment is available and can help you or someone you know live a healthier, better life. At Vertava Health Ohio, we want to help you see and live that better future through effective, individualized addiction treatment.
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Rapid And Sudden Weight Loss
Heroin can cause a dramatic decrease in appetite and weight. The change will be noticeably sudden. As the users appetite is suppressed, they simply wont eat. They become so thin that its a health risk. Heroin addicts would rather spend all their money and time seeking out heroin. This is a true testament to how addictive the drug is. Part of the reason for weight loss is that they literally forget to eat.
Meth Sores Caused By Meth Mites
As mentioned, meth is a strong stimulant that can sometimes result in hallucinations. For long-time users of meth, they may experience hallucinations that bugs, also known as meth mites, live under their skin.
There is actually a formal term for this type of hallucination known as formication. It involves two senses both sight and touch, which can make the hallucination seem very real.
The hallucination causes a crawling sensation of the skin. Or a meth user might think that they can see bugs crawling beneath their skin. The result is continuous scratching and itching, leading to irritated skin and large, open sores.
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The Prevalence Of Meth Sores & Other Side Effects
The Recovery Village surveyed 2,135 American adults who formerly or currently use methamphetamine. The majority of those who participated , experienced many health issues, many of which were severe. Heavy meth use increases a persons risk for all methamphetamine-related health issues. In particular, heavy meth users are:
- 4.4 times more likely to have meth mouth
- 3 times more likely to have broken teeth
- 2.3 times more likely to have a sore or infection
- 3.2 times more likely to damage your liver
- 2 times more likely to damage your kidneys
- 2.9 times more likely to have a stroke
- 2.6 times more likely to have a heart attack
- 2.4 times more likely to have a seizure
- 2.5 times more likely to lose your ability to feel pleasure
While These Drugs Can Cause Scabs Or Lesions On The Skin There Are Plenty Of Other Health Risks Associated With Addiction
All of these symptoms are potentially very dangerous, so it is always suggested you seek medical care in order to get the help you need. No drug is worth the permanent damage that may be caused to your body or mind from prolonged and consistent drug use. Drug abuse is the cause of a number of other, very serious health risks.
If you are wanting to get sober but are worried about the detox, then we are here to help. Here At More Than Rehab, we know just how difficult that getting sober can be, as many of us have been there before, and all we want to do is help to make that process easier.
We believe that everybody deserves the chance to have a healthy, sober, and fulfilling life, so we have many different types of treatment programs that are designed to fit your needs. We truly care about the health and well-being of both you and your family. Call us any time of day, 24/7, 365 days of the year and we will be here to answer your call. We would like nothing more than to give you the tools for recovery and put you on the right path!
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Crack Effects On Skin
Crack cocaine is notorious for leading to skin problems. This mostly occurs in similar ways to meth.
Crack is smoked using a small glass pipe. The pipe can get very hot, leading to burns, mostly in the mouth area.
Crack can also cause formication, or the feeling of bugs crawling under the skin. Just like with meth, this can lead to incessant scratching which may result in nasty scars, wounds, scabs, and sores.
Euphoria Incoherence And Ill Feelings
If the heroin addict in your life is smart enough, they will never let you see this side in them. If you do happen to notice a sequence of euphoria, followed by incoherence, this is an obvious sign of heroin use. Angry ill feelings may ensue also because they are agitated as soon as heroin leaves their system.
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What Else Meth Can Do To Your Body
Although smoking and/or injecting meth can lead to meth sores developing, there are actually much worse side effects from consuming this toxic drug. As the National Institutes of Health lay out, some of these side effects are reversible, though not all are.
First, meth has been shown to affect how the brain of someone who is addicted responds to certain situations. Because methamphetamine causes your body to release chemicals that naturally occur, such as dopamine, addiction can form because your body likes what it is feeling.
Thats because dopamine plays specific roles in how humans are motivated to do certain things and is one of the more studied chemicals when it comes to addiction. If your brain is tricked, so to speak, into producing much more dopamine in a short period of time, like when methamphetamine is used, the body may naturally begin to crave the substance/setting where the dopamine originated.
What Are Meth Mites
Meth mites are also known as meth bugs, crank bugs, or ice mites. They are imaginary bugs that meth users sometimes feel crawling over their body.
This specific type of hallucination is known as formication. Formication is a physical hallucination sometimes accompanied by visuals that make users think they are covered in insects.
This often results in itching and scratching, leading to meth sores.
The majority of meth sores are self-inflicted. Meth users itch or experience the sensation of bugs crawling on their skin . Scratching in reaction to these two side effects aggravates the problem.
In many cases, someone using meth will scratch and pick far more than they would if they were sober because the drug increases their pain threshold. By the time they realize there is a wound, it is typically severe and possibly infected.
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Drugs Cause A Number Of Problematic Skin Conditions
If you have a problem with substance abuse, or you are a recreational user, you should know about the most common skin problems caused by certain drugs . Sure, you might not be so concerned about infections and scars on your body they can be hidden but what about your beautiful face? You only get one.and it is on display for the world to see! Make no mistake about it you are not exempt from having some of the skin conditions we will talk about in this article. They can happen to anybody who abuses intoxicating substances. If you are not careful, you could do permanent damage that will leave you disfigured. Of course, this will leave you wishing you had never done these flesh-rotting drugs in the first place. But, by then, it will be too late.
