One of the most unpleasant visual indications of crystal meth use is what is known as “meth sores.” These unsightly abscesses result from the constant skin-picking and scratching meth users engage in.
What Is Crystal Meth?
Methamphetamine, popularly known as crystal meth or “meth,” is a powerful central nervous system stimulant. Physically, it resembles white powder or chunky white crystals, thus the term “crystal meth.”
Crystal meth is a popular recreational drug because it provides users with intense exhilaration and energy. These characteristics also make the medication exceedingly addictive.
Because of its high addiction potential, methamphetamine is designated as a Schedule II drug by the DEA. After marijuana, it is the most widely used illegal drug in the world.
Is Crystal Meth Addictive?
Crystal meth is supremely addictive. The massive dopamine rush it provides makes it very hard to quit. Over time, the brain becomes less able to produce dopamine naturally, leading to a cycle of dependency as users need the drug to feel any sense of reward or pleasure. This addiction can develop quickly, even after just a few uses, due to the intense and rapid effects of the drug.
What Are Crystal Meth Sores?
Over time, crystal meth users begin to experience a range of strange and unpleasant symptoms. One of these is an intense itching – but this goes beyond the sort of thing you’d expect from an itchy rash. Instead, it’s more like the feeling of bugs crawling on – or even below – your skin.
This disturbing feeling is known as “formication.” It leads people to scratch or pick at their skin excessively. This picking can create open sores known as “meth sores.” These nasty abscesses not only look unsightly, but they can open the door to infection as well.
Why Do Crystal Meth Sores Happen?
Crystal meth sores result from a combination of psychological, physical, and behavioral effects that come with meth abuse.
Excoriation Disorder
Also known as “skin picking disorder,” crystal meth use can trigger formication, the sensation of bugs crawling under the skin. This leads to compulsive scratching and picking, which can result in open wounds known as meth sores, which can worsen with continuous picking. Sores can emerge all over the body, especially on the face, arms, and legs.
Poor Hygiene
Long-term meth use can lead to self-neglect. Meth users often go without sleep, food, or regular hygiene routines, increasing the risk of infections in even minor skin lesions. These infections can exacerbate sores, making them larger and harder to heal.
Compromised Immune System
Meth weakens the immune system, impairing the body’s ability to fight off infections. As a result, sores that form are more likely to become infected, and healing is slowed. This also makes the user more susceptible to secondary infections.
Toxicity of Meth
Methamphetamine is highly toxic, especially when smoked or injected. The chemicals in meth can disrupt blood flow to the skin, damaging tissue and creating wounds that don’t heal easily. Chronic exposure to these toxins dehydrates the skin and damages underlying tissues, contributing to the development and persistence of sores.
It’s also neurotoxic, meaning it harms the brain. Methamphetamine can damage dopamine and serotonin neurons, which are crucial for regulating mood, reward, and motor function. This neurotoxicity leads to long-term changes in brain structure and function, potentially resulting in cognitive deficits, emotional disturbances, and increased risk of psychiatric disorders.
Some studies even suggest that meth can heat up the brain, a condition known as brain hyperthermia, leading to a fatal overdose.
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Call 866-881-1184Where Do Crystal Methamphetamine Sores Occur?
Meth sores often develop around the cheeks, skin, and forehead. These are common areas users scratch or pick at due to sensations associated with formication.
Sores can also appear on the extremities, namely the hands and legs. Due to decreased blood flow, especially in the hands, these sores can take longer to heal. For those who inject meth, meth sores can develop around injection sites, leading to abscesses or ulcers. This is particularly dangerous as it can introduce bacteria into the bloodstream.
These sores can become a source of major embarrassment, contributing to stigma for the user and possibly spurring them to use meth even more. They’re also an infection risk.
Healing Crystal Meth Sores
It may not be possible to make meth sores completely go away. However, the first step is to stop making it worse, which means to immediately stop using crystal meth. Continuing to use the drug will exacerbate the problem, as it leads to ongoing skin picking and prevents healing.
Other things you can do to help heal your body include:
- Hydrate the Skin – Use gentle moisturizers to keep the skin hydrated and promote healing. Look for products that are fragrance-free and formulated for sensitive skin.
- Improve Your Nutrition – Eating a nutritious diet rich in vitamins and minerals can enhance healing. Focus on foods high in vitamin C (like citrus fruits and leafy greens) and zinc (like nuts and legumes), both of which support skin health and immune function.
- Avoid Environmental Irritants – Avoid using harsh soaps, lotions, or other products on the affected areas that could irritate the skin. Stick to gentle, hypoallergenic products.
By taking these steps, individuals can promote the healing of crystal meth sores and work toward recovery from addiction. It’s important to recognize that healing—both physically and psychologically—takes time and may require professional help and support.
Looking for quality substance abuse treatment that’s also affordable? South Coast accepts most major insurance providers. Get a free insurance benefits check now.
Check Your CoverageCrystal Meth Treatment Near Me
If you or a loved one are seeking treatment for crystal meth addiction, South Coast Behavioral Health is here to help. The first step in treating addiction is a medical detox. This means using drugs to manage withdrawal symptoms.
Our medical detox program in California is staffed by caring and compassionate professionals who can provide you with medications to manage your withdrawal symptoms.
At South Coast, we take pride in offering care that is closely tailored to specific issues. To that end, we offer gender-specific detox programs, with medical detox for men in Irvine, CA, and medical detox for women in Huntington Beach, CA.
After detoxing, proper treatment can begin.
Treatment for substance abuse takes place along an entire spectrum of care. Along that entire spectrum are various behavioral therapies, support groups, and the use of medically-assisted treatment (MAT).
These levels of treatment are, in order, as follows:
Residential Treatment in California
After successfully completing medical detox, you’ll receive inpatient treatment in Orange County, California. There, you’ll receive medically-assisted treatment and dual diagnosis treatment to deal with any cravings or co-occurring mental health issues you may be battling.
We also offer residential treatment facilities in Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Huntington Beach for those who desire gender-specific treatment. There, patients get round-the-clock medical attention and monitoring while living at the institution full-time.
In addition to individual and group counseling and medication management, you’ll also have access to leisure activities and family support services.
Partial Hospitalization in California
Most clients start substance abuse treatment with South Coast in our residential treatment program. After completing that, many desire something that still provides structure and support but with extra space and time to oneself. For that, we offer Partial Hospitalization in Newport Beach.
A step down from inpatient care but with more structure than conventional outpatient programs, partial hospitalization offers a good balance for those looking to ease back into normal life. Clients can receive care five to seven days a week for a number of hours each day, returning back to their homes in the evening.
This way, they can recover without putting their daily lives completely on hold, receiving intense therapeutic interventions like group and individual therapy, skill development, and medication management as necessary.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment in California
For those leaving inpatient residential treatment or partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient programs (IOP) are yet another gradual step forward on the road to recovery.
With a focus on group therapy, individual counseling, and education, clients undergoing Intensive Outpatient Treatment in Newport Beach can meet three to five days a week. Each session lasts three hours.
This level of care requires the least amount of attendance at a facility.
Get Started Today
If you or a loved one are struggling with addiction but wonder how long addiction treatment takes or have other questions, call us at 866-881-1184 or contact us here. Our highly qualified staff will be happy to help give you an idea of what to expect from your addiction recovery timeline, help verify your insurance, and assist with any other questions you may have.
