This may not be the appropriate venue for such a question, but I'm
hoping there may be a doctor in the house ... or someone factually
familiar with the fallout from methamphetamine use.The springboard for the question came when I was watching a documentary about the widespread use of methamphetamines in the United States. Mug shots of users in the early stages of use were set side-by-side with mug shots of the same person after prolonged use. Besides the pronounced aging that was visible, it also seemed that many users had healing, blotchy sores on their faces and looked a bit like the Black Death.
Looking it up, I found that the physical effects of methamphetamine use can include dry, itchy skin and I wondered, but didn't know, if the ravaged faces had to do with scratching the itches. Any factual info appreciated.
.
The most likely reasoning I have received:
ReplyDeleteVisible Signs
- Meth abuse causes the destruction of tissues and blood vessels, inhibiting the body's ability to repair itself.
- Acne appears, sores take longer to heal, and the skin loses its luster and elasticity, making the user appear years, even decades older.
- Poor diet, tooth grinding and oral hygiene results in tooth decay and loss.
One of the most striking effects of meth is the change in the physical appearance of meth users. Because meth causes the blood vessels to constrict, it cuts off the steady flow of blood to all parts of the body. Heavy usage can weaken and destroy these vessels, causing tissues to become prone to damage and inhibiting the body's ability to repair itself. Acne appears, sores take longer to heal, and the skin loses its luster and elasticity. Some users are covered in small sores, the result of obsessive skin-picking brought on by the hallucination of having bugs crawling beneath the skin, a disorder known as formication.