Methamphetamines have many negative side effects, especially when used by a habitual drug user. Amphetamines are stimulants, and methamphetamine is the more common street term for illegally made drugs. It goes by other names such as meth, crystal meth, speed, ice and crank. Abuse of methamphetamines causes poor circulation preventing proper amounts of oxygen from reaching the skin, destroying tissues and blood vessels and preventing the body from being able to heal itself. This often results in visible decay of the body, and one of the most common side effects of methamphetamine users is the deterioration of the skin.
Premature Aging
Methamphetamine users' skin eventually loses its luster and elasticity. Skin cell regeneration dramatically slows down, which leads to premature aging of the skin. The skin will start to sag and wrinkle, and dramatic changes can be seen over just a couple of years. The skin will lose proper coloring becoming grayish in tone and develop a leathery texture.
Acne and Acne Scars
Because of the loss of overall health of the skin, acne appears on the face and other areas of the skin as a result of meth use. Acne tends to spread quickly due to the body's struggle to heal itself from bacterial infection. If the acne is picked at, it can cause dramatic scarring due to the longer length of time to heal. It is not uncommon to see a methamphetamine user suffering from numerous acne scars.
Dermatillomania
Dermatillomania is a condition that causes pathological skin picking to the point of creating open sores that may bleed and leave scarring. Methamphetamine users often develop this neurosis, picking at freckles, moles and other skin defects. It is especially bad for those who develop the disorder in conjunction with acne. The neurosis becomes so bad picking is done with almost any instrument such as teeth, tweezers, blades or pins to satisfy the compulsion.
Formication
Formication is a hallucinatory disorder that causes the methamphetamine user to believe there are bugs crawling beneath or on her skin. The user will obsessively scratch his skin to get rid of the bugs. Compounded with paranoia, another side effect of methamphetamine, users can cause serious scarring to their skin through excessive scratching.
Acute Generalised Exanthematous Pustulosis (AGEP)
AGEP is a rapid spread of red skin studded with small blisters filled with pus. DermNet NZ reports that 90% of AGEP cases are the adverse reaction to medications. Some methamphetamine users have been reported to suffer from AGEP as a result of their drug use.
