We frequently discuss the detrimental effects that drug and alcohol misuse may have on our physical and emotional health. Severe health conditions, including various malignancies, heart and lung issues, anxiety, and depressive disorders, are known to have been caused by drug and alcohol abuse. What about the skin-related impact of addiction?
We don’t frequently recognise how drug abuse affects our skin. Among all of our organs, the skin is the biggest. Just like our kidneys and liver, it is not impervious to the effects of medications. Abusing drugs can lead to body, mind, and problems at a different level of the psyche.
Addiction may have profound effects on the skin, and they happen quickly. Drug misuse deprives the body of necessary nutrients and makes it difficult to maintain personal cleanliness. The person who is addicted to drugs may seem older than the actual age and will need to undergo addiction treatment.
How drugs negatively affect your skin
Substance abuse can cause myriad physical and mental health problems, from skin and hair issues to dental complications and weakened bones. These issues can impact one’s personal and professional life.
However, there are successful treatment options for addiction recovery. A recovery center offers comprehensive care to individuals looking to overcome their substance abuse challenges and support long-term sobriety.
Misuse of drugs leads to skin problems in several ways.
- Dehydration can result in dry, flaky skin
- Skin picking can induce infections and scars
- Acne outbreaks and inflammation
- Alterations in color or hyperpigmentation.
- Concerns with the mouth, such as swollen, irritated, dry, or cracked gums.
- Tooth deterioration and potential loss in more severe situations and over time.
- Rashes, itching, redness, and irritation.
Your skin issues might differ depending on the substance, the amount and frequency of misuse, and your medical history, among other unique circumstances. Hence, at recovery centers, treatment varies because the condition might range from minor to severe. Here are some ways drug addiction affects the skin:
Effect of drugs on lips and gums
Users of methamphetamine frequently have oral issues like dry, chapped lips and gums, as well as tooth rot. Meth mouth is a common name for these side effects.
Of the 571 Meth addicts who were examined, 96% had cavities, 58% had untreated dental rot, and 31% were missing six or more teeth. There are various effects of Meth addiction. These oral health issues are mainly caused by psychological and physical changes that result in dry mouth and bad oral hygiene.
The acidity of methamphetamine can harm teeth. Additionally, it causes sugar cravings, teeth grinding, and periods of semi-consciousness or unconsciousness. Your dental hygiene practice and each of these adverse effects might get worse.
Acne from drug misuse
Alcohol or drug abuse may exacerbate acne if you already have a tendency toward it. But it can also cause severe outbreaks of acne in those who have never had it before. The leading cause of this is that using drugs frequently increases your propensity to touch your face repeatedly.
As the day goes on, our hands accumulate dirt, oils, germs, and other unwelcome substances. Acne outbreaks, in general, can be avoided by thoroughly cleaning our hands before touching our faces. However, you are far less likely to go that next step if you are on drugs.
You’ll need to stop using those medications to stop such a destructive epidemic. Consider going to a recovery center for therapeutic and supportive measures toward staying away from drugs.
Sores and scars
Drug users frequently have hallucinations, including anything from insects crawling beneath the skin to real wounds and scars. They can itch or pick at the skin on their face or body in an effort to feel make the uneasy sensation go away.
It results in the development of scars or the enlargement of open sores. “Needle marks” refers to the persistent scarring that frequently emerges on heroin injectors’ arms.
Infections of the skin and soft tissues
Drug usage weakens the immune system, reducing the body’s ability to fend against disease. Any developing skin infections can be challenging to treat and may worsen over time. When using a needle to inject drugs, many users get infections at the entrance point, which get worse with time.
Infections at the injection site are frequent, picking, scratching, or clawing. Your skin may also get a disease as a result. And although skin picking is more frequently linked to meth use, it can also occur in those who use cocaine, heroin, and prescription stimulants.
Drug impact on hair
Substance use problems can harm and obstruct normal hair development, in addition to how drugs affect your face. Even the chemical and physical makeup of the hair shaft can be altered by some medicines, which results in brittle or damaged hair. Due to the reason that residual components of illicit drugs can accumulate and remain in the hair for a long time, hair samples are sometimes used in drug testing.
Those who battle with drug use often experience hair loss due to stress. In reality, the drugs themselves can also have an effect on how hair grows. The body can experience shock through hallucinations and high levels of psychological stress, both of which can shock the hair follicle. The medical word for a sudden hair loss problem brought on by the use of specific drugs is telogen effluvium. It should be noted that the hair loss only lasts while still on drugs.
If you are addicted to such drugs going to a recovery center could help with treatment recovery and supportive measures during your recovery process.
Colour
The more medications you consume, the more the effects are visible on your skin. Hyperpigmentation may begin to develop wherever the skin darkens, particularly at the injection site. The skin on the face might seem grey, pallid, or washed out after extensive drug usage.
Bottom line
There are numerous different ways that drugs may impact your skin. Once you quit misusing drugs, some of these negative symptoms will go away spontaneously. You can use recovery centres in Ohio if you are fighting with addiction to help alleviate your condition and achieve successful recovery.
When you have successfully recovered, a healthy and regular skincare regimen can then aid in enhancing your skin’s look further. A regular exercise schedule, nutritious diet, moisturisers, and enough hydration can all help your skin look better and delay specific indications of aging.
In conclusion, it is abundantly clear that drug consumption can have a significant negative impact on the skin. The aftermath of drug misuse can extend beyond the drug’s immediate physiological effects and produce long-term consequences. It is important to be aware of these potential skin effects and undertake preventive steps to mitigate any potential damage.
Ellen Diamond, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.
