Heroin addiction rehab in Tampa is a major resource for local residents affected by this life-altering condition. Does someone you know need access to this resource? You can help answer this question by paying close attention to their physical appearance. That includes the condition of their skin. Why? If your loved one injects heroin, certain kinds of skin problems may develop over time. If you notice signs of these heroin scars, it may be time to encourage them to enroll in a rehab program.
Need a nearby provider of treatment for heroin problems? Sophros Recovery Tampa is here for you. We feature both inpatient and outpatient rehab for anyone affected by heroin addiction. You can also count on us for comprehensive treatment of all other opioid-related substance problems. To learn more, call us today at 813.686.6306.
Heroin Scars and Sores
Heroin injection will typically leave needle marks on your friend or family member’s skin. Over time, there’s also a good chance that their skill will scar. There are three common sources of this scarring:
- The physical impact of heroin itself on skin tissue
- Skin-damaging contaminants added to heroin by its makers or those who sell it
- Bacterial infection caused by injecting heroin
Not all heroin scars look the same. In some cases, you may notice scars that form straight lines on the affected skin. However, you may also notice scars that resemble circles or crater marks.
Skin sores often appear in areas that will later develop scarring. Heroin sores sometimes take the form of abscesses. An abscess occurs when the tissues at an injection site become infected. It starts as a small bump that gradually gets bigger over time. The affected tissue may eventually start to die off. Left untreated, an abscess can also have severe, body-wide effects.
Where Do Heroin Sores and Scars Occur?
What are the potential sites of heroin-related sores and scars on your loved one’s skin? The classic site for the intravenous (IV) injection of heroin is the crook of the arm inside the elbow. However, other locations are also possible, including veins in the:
- Neck
- Armpits
- Thighs
- Feet
Not everyone who injects heroin targets a vein. Instead, some people inject the drug in other areas of their skin or in a muscle. For this reason, you may notice heroin scars in almost any part of the body.
Is There Such a Thing as Heroin Addict Face?
Are there facial signs of heroin addiction? In some cases, you may notice some facial changes in affected people. The most typical change is an unusual narrowing of the pupils. Your loved one’s pupils may also fail to respond to light exposure as affected. What’s more, you may notice facial signs of heroin-related sleepiness or fatigue.
In addition, you may notice some secondary facial signs of heroin addiction. For example, an abscess in the neck may lead to abnormal redness or other skin changes in the face. However, generally speaking, there is no such thing as a heroin addict face. Instead, any facial changes you notice should be factored in with other signs of heroin addiction.
Contact Sophros Recovery for Heroin Addiction Treatment
Worried that a friend or family member may be addicted to heroin? If they’re injecting the drug, you may notice signs in the form of scars or sores on their skin. Skin damage may appear almost anywhere. However, IV injection most often affects the skin in the crook of the elbow.
There are also many other potential physical signs of heroin use. Want to know more about them? Talk to the addiction professionals at Sophros Recovery Tampa. We’ll alert you to the full range of effects associated with this highly addictive drug. You can also rely on us for customized addiction recovery. Just call us today at 813.686.6306 or complete our online contact form.
