Cutaneous Stigmas of Heroin Addiction

Abstract

The cutaneous stigmas of heroin addiction are important clues in recognizing unreported or covert drug abuse. To emphasize these findings, a case is reported in which the sequelae to drug use were unusual and muitilating. Common signs of drug use are abscess and ulceration, "pop" scar, skin "tracks," edema of the hands, jaundice, gynecomastia, "high" pruritus, "pseudo" acanthosis nigricans, cheilitis, acne excorieé, excoriations, tourniquet pigmentation, fixed drug eruption, thermal burns, and melanosis (?).