NPB Recovery
8 min read

Identifying Heroin Track Marks

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Injecting Heroin

Have you or a loved one been exposed to the drug, heroin? Heroin is an opioid that comes from morphine, something we often only see used in hospitals, and is a highly addictive substance. This drug can be taken multiple ways which increases its usage. Heroin can be smoked, snorted, or injected and is a very popular drug in the United States. Heroin is a “feel-good” drug, which means when it is used, dopamine is released and it stimulates the brain and body, however this drug is often cut with other drugs or substances like sugar or starch that make it even worse. There are two types of heroin, heroin and black tar heroin, both of which can be injected. Black tar heroin is a dark, sticky substance whereas heroin is usually a fine white or light brown color powder. Black tar heroin can be more dangerous to use as it contains more impurities than heroin, although heroin is usually cut with other substances as mentioned above. In this article, we will focus on injecting heroin and how that can affect someone’s life, what heroin track marks look like, the dangers of injecting heroin, and how to start the path to recovery. 

What are Track Marks and What Do They Look Like?

What do heroin track marks look like? Some signs aren’t completely obvious, but have you ever wondered if a loved one or friend may be using heroin? Heroin track marks are left behind from injection. Track marks come from using needles to inject drugs. Track marks are small holes in the skin, made by a needle, that may look different depending on what stage of healing the holes are in. These are areas where the skin is discolored or there’s scarring usually near veins and can be quite noticeable if the drug is often used. Heroin track marks can vary in appearance and color from red, pink to white and some may look like bruises. Heroin track marks can form anywhere where injection was. The most common place you may see heroin track marks are the forearms, legs, feet and even the hands. All places where you can typically see veins and try to inject into them to feel the high, the fastest way. 

Can You Get Rid of Track Marks?

There is really no sure fire way to “get rid” of track marks. After all, track marks are little holes that need to heal just like any other puncture wound. Some heroin track marks may scar and would be harder to remove in the long-run. The best thing you can do to get rid of track marks is let them heal. By keeping the area clean, applying antibiotic ointment, and bandaging up the wound, you can help leave less noticeable scars. Some people have stated that sunscreen and silicone gel pads can help improve the appearance and some even went as far as lasering their scars to lighten them or help them fully get rid of them. Many people also reported getting tattooed as a way to cover their scars from their past which may be an alternate route if the scarring is hard to get rid of or if one is not a fan of lasering. It truly depends on how bad the scarring is and what stage the wounds are in. If that area is used often as an injection site, it may be harder to see results when actively trying to get rid of heroin track marks. 

Dangerous of Injecting Heroin

Injecting heroin is a risky, unsafe way to get high. Injecting or smoking heroin are the quickest routes to feel the drug’s intense effects, however, it is important to remember that heroin is highly addictive no matter how it is administered making it a very dangerous illegal Schedule 1 substance. Since this drug is extremely addictive, users will build a tolerance making them use more to achieve the same high. It is common for users of heroin to inject in the same place until they physically cannot anymore and must choose another spot to continue their high which may be why many people actively try to get rid of any signs that they used heroin to begin with. Injecting the same spot too many times can be very hazardous as the wound can become easily infected. Injecting heroin can go wrong in so many ways. What could be a quick escape to euphoria can turn volatile within seconds. This can happen if a user gets dirty heroin or if the injection itself goes awry. Injection heroin can also lead to several health problems. Below, read the various infections that can occur from injecting heroin and be not only dangerous, but also life-threatening.

Injecting heroin can lead to several health conditions and issues. Some health issues that are created by heroin can be healed with time, while others can be deadly. Most of the health conditions that come from injecting heroin are bacterial infections. Missing a vein while injecting heroin can cause abscesses which are pus-filled infections and need to be cleaned and left alone to heal, messing with an abscess can make it worse. Bacteremia, which is bacteria in the blood that can happen by injecting into unclean skin, re-using needles, or mixing the drug with contaminated water. Endocarditis is an infection that can be caused by bacteria and other infectious microbes that also enter the bloodstream that happens during injection. These last two present themselves as flu-like symptoms so it may be hard to realize that it is something more serious. Another bacterial infection that can occur is tetanus, which usually happens after a scab is formed, tetanus can look like muscle spasms or lockjaw. Wound botulism has been traced back to black tar heroin and causes droopy eyelids, sore throat, blurred vision, or weakness in the neck, arms, or legs. Black tar heroin is the more popular of the two since it is less expensive than heroin, so, many problems will usually occur from black tar heroin, however, infection is still possible with heroin. This bacteria produces a toxin where a puncture wound is made. Wound botulism slows your breathing, eventually stopping it by paralyzing your muscles and can be caused by the heroin itself, as mentioned, or contamination during the preparation / administration process. These four infections can be treated, but only if detected early; otherwise they can be fatal. A few other infections that are not as treatable are necrotizing fasciitis and HIV. Necrotizing fasciitis is a bacterial infection also known as a flesh eating disease that enters through broken skin and is usually caused by transmitting blood by needle sharing and has also been traced back to black tar heroin. HIV which stands for human immunodeficiency virus is an immune system disorder that causes the body to weaken it’s response to infection and is typically spread through certain fluids, in the case of contracting HIV through injecting heroin would be sharing of needles just like necrotizing fasciitis. HIV is an incurable virus, however has become more manageable over time. Lastly, when it comes to hepatitis, there are three different kinds. Hepatitis A, B, and C. Hepatitis B and C are usually the ones that are contracted by injecting heroin and other drugs although hepatitis A is still able to be contracted by injection. Each of these viruses have similar symptoms, such as fatigue, mild fever, and muscle aches, etc. Hepatitis B and C are contracted by blood to blood contact like needle sharing whereas hepatitis A is contracted by fecal-oral contact or contaminated food, water, hands, etc. Hepatitis can be treated, it just depends on which virus you may have. Hepatitis B and C can turn into chronic diseases if not treated in a timely manner. All of these infections can be easily avoided by not using heroin or stopping the use of heroin. Making sure heroin equipment is always clean and not sharing needles will also help lower the spread of infection. These infections are all dangerous, and every time someone injects heroin, they are taking a risk to obtain one of the above or even multiple infections. Taking care of yourself and knowing the dangers of injecting heroin is exceedingly important, especially if someone chooses to use heroin in excess. 

Avoiding & Hiding Track Marks

The best way to avoid track marks is to avoid injecting heroin, however if that is your preferred method, choosing easily concealable places can be key when trying to hide track marks as well as taking care of the puncture wounds. Little holes in your skin may not seem like a big deal, however keeping the wounds clean with soap and water is important as well as using hydrogen peroxide to help kill infection. It is important to not overuse hydrogen peroxide since it also kills healthy cells too. Using an ointment or petroleum jelly will help heal the wounds and lastly, bandaging them up will help with scarring. The better you take care of the wounds, the less scarring there will be which will make hiding the track marks more convenient. 

If you have track marks scars already, you can opt to wear long sleeves or pants depending on the injection site. The feet are a popular spot to inject for this reason alone, that it is highly easier to conceal than other locations. Using makeup can also help, but the wound would have to be fully healed as using makeup on an open wound can cause infection too. Lasering or getting the scars covered with tattoos is also another option as we mentioned above. There are other ways to “get rid of” track marks, but it can be difficult if you didn’t or couldn’t take care of the puncture wound before it scarred. Again, the best way to avoid and hide track marks is to not inject heroin, let alone any other drug.

Getting Off Heroin

You or a loved one can get off heroin, even if it may not feel like it. The first step is always the hardest and often the most unimaginable. Realizing and admitting you have a problem can be the start to gaining back your life and healing your mind. At North Palm Beach Recovery, we can help you recover with our program that offers medical detoxification, behavioral therapy, support groups, and creating a plan to help you achieve long-term recovery. We care about your well-being and you deserve to live a life free from addiction starting as soon as today.

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