Abstract
“Skin popping” is a method of injecting illicit drugs into the skin. There are numerous acute and chronic complications associated with skin popping. We present a case of a 48-year-old, African-American female patient with 40 - 60 hyperpigmented, fibrotic, depressed, round papules and plaques on the extremities, which were incidentally noticed during a clinic visit for her acne vulgaris. Skin popping scars are important clues for possible drug abuse. Healthcare practitioners should be aware of and recognize the lesions associated with this practice so further testing can be performed if clinically indicated. Recognition of the lesions and thus earlier treatment of the complications could prevent the complications of skin popping in the skin and other organs.
Highlights
“Skin popping” is a method of injecting illicit drugs into the skin
There are numerous acute and chronic complications associated with skin popping
We present a case of a 48-year-old, African-American female patient with 40 - 60 hyperpigmented, fibrotic, depressed, round papules and plaques on the extremities, which were incidentally noticed during a clinic visit for her acne vulgaris
Summary
The most common acute cutaneous complications of skin popping are bacterial infections, including abscesses and cellulitis [2,3]. Chronic complications include scar formation (as seen in our patient), hyperpigmentation, cutaneous granulomas from contaminants (such as talc), and even necrosis of the digits if vasoconstrictive substances (such as cocaine) are incidentally injected into small arteries (Lopez-Pineiro M, et al.: Skin popping scars: A chronic complication of illicit drug use (abstract-AB237) Presented at the 75th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Dermatology, Orlando, FL, March 3-7, 2017. Cases have been reported of serum amyloid A amyloidosis in patients with histories of skin popping, which can lead to renal impairment (Table 1) [9,10]. Acute Infection Cellulitis Abscess Folliculitis Necrotizing fasciitis Skin irritation
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