Personal Hygiene in Addiction

Addiction does highly affect your personal hygiene. And I've done a but of research on it my going to other website to learn more so I could explain it better. Most of us like to stay clean and to present a nice look when we go out into the public eye. Depending on who you are, I'm sure you will bathe several times a week to atleast once a day. There are some days, where I'll skip a shower before bed, but I will take one first thing in the morning when I wake up. And I definitely can't go more than 2 days without a bath or a shower or I just personally feel scuzzy.

I understand also, that some people may have a difficult time to find a source to get to a shower or a facility to get cleaned up. Perhaps if you're homeless or if your water is turned off, etc. Hey I've been there, and there was a time in my life where my water had gotten shut off a few times, but it usually wasn't for very long and I would find a different source to get cleaned up.

But in this blog we are talking about addicts and why they seem to be a bit on the dirtier side. I have known quite a few close people in my life who used to be absolutely clean freaks, until they got addicted to drugs. I witnesses their appearance to go downhill and not even their appearance, but their cleanliness of their home, yards, etc. I have also known a few addicts in my life who didn't let their appearance depreciate at all. I guess you can say, "in my opinion" it's what kind of drugs they are addicted to, how they are doing the drugs, how long they've been addicted to them and maybe who they are hanging around with. 

If you've read through my March Blogs, then you know that I'm in recovery from alcohol. I never let it affect my personal hygiene though. Maybe I would go three days at the longest without showering, But for me that's a lot on in between time not showering. When you come across a full-blown addict whether they are addicted to alcohol or to drugs, you will know the extreme of their addiction by their cleanliness. 

Addiction is often defined as an inability to stop using drugs or alcohol, even despite harmful consequences, and that it is caused by chemical changes to the brain. If you know someone who has recently stopped caring about their appearance, along with other concerning behavioral or physical symptoms, it may be time to reach out for help at this link for them........RESOURCES FOR RECOVERY.

If you wonder why some addicts are affected in a way that they stop caring about their appearance and personal hygiene it's because many just stop caring, their addiction takes first priority, and is often their only priority. They spend most of their time too high to take care of themselves and the rest of the time they spend trying to get more drugs and resupplying their stash. Some addicts barely even notice that they haven’t showered or brushed their teeth for days, or that the clothes they are wearing smell of vomit, or they simply haven't changed their clothes in who knows how long. Some might even tell you that they are afraid that getting in the shower will ruin their high, so they avoid doing it for days on end.

Here are some noticable signs that someone might be putting their addiction over their personal hygiene. Neglect, poor hygiene, poor nutrition, and dehydration are all associated with substance abuse and can have negative impacts on the skin. Common symptoms of substance-related skin issues include:

• Dry or Flaky Skin
• Chapped Lips
• Red Patches or Blotchy Skin
• Dark Spots or Excessive Bruising
• Scaring
• Abscesses
• Rotting Flesh
• Scaly Looking Flesh
• Acne
• Infected Burns, Scratches, or Sores
• Unexplained Wrinkling or the Appearance of Premature Aging
• Sagging
• Loss of Elasticity
• Pale Complexion

These common effects to the skin are why many addicts, or those in early recovery from addiction can appear to be much older than they actually are.

Oral Hygiene effects are as follows: Toxic chemicals from drug use, and poor nutrition is the tooth loss that many addicts experience. Although how heavily impacted your smile may be can differ greatly, depending on the drug of choice, all of these substances have a chance to steal it.

• Alcohol- Irritates the mouth's soft tissues and reduces saliva production, which is essential for good oral health.
• Marijuana- Young adults and teenagers who regularly use marijuana have on average a 60% higher chance of developing early-onset gum disease by the age of 32.
• Opioids- Reduce saliva production, compulsive teeth grinding, and craving for sugary foods.
• Cocaine- Dry mouth, compulsive teeth grinding, and when cocaine mixes with saliva, it becomes so acidic that it damages enamel.
• Ecstasy- Nearly 99% of users report extreme dry mouth, compulsive grinding, and vomiting, which corrodes the teeth faster
• Methamphetamine- Dry mouth, jaw clenching, teeth grinding, cravings for sugary foods. Crystal meth addiction creates a massive toxicity to gums, teeth, and tongue.

If you have a loved one or a friend, or if you're reading this and need help, please reach out to a number on my Resources for Recovery page where a professional can get in touch with you.

Until Tomororw!

xoxoxo, Michelle Neal