Cutaneous and Mucosal Conditions Associated With Cocaine Use

Part II: Skin signs of human trafficking and intervention by dermatologists

Human trafficking is a pervasive global health and human rights issue. The skin often bears the early and most visible signs of abuse and exploitation. Despite the visible nature of their trauma, affected patients frequently go unrecognized within health care settings due to a lack of standardized guidelines for identifying the dermatologic manifestations of trafficking. Herein, we address these challenges by equipping dermatologists and health care teams with the necessary tools to recognize, treat, and report the skin signs of human trafficking. In doing so, we hope to emphasize the importance of early identification and intervention, as well as bring awareness to critical signs, including dermatologic evidence of abuse, infectious diseases, sexually transmitted infections, substance use, and branding. In understanding this, we can bring awareness to dermatologists' critical role in caring for this patient population and their associated cutaneous manifestations. By advancing knowledge in this area, we hope to enhance the capacity of dermatologists to support trafficked individuals.

Cocaine-Induced Plasma Cell Orificial "Dermatomucositis": A More Accurate Descriptive Term for a Clearly Dermatological Entity

ABSTRACT

Although the involvement of the nasal passages and nasal septum in cocaine users has been known for decades, a new presentation affecting the nostrils and upper lip with an inflamed appearance has recently been documented. The authors who identified this presentation termed it "cocaine-related plasma cell mucositis" due to the abundance of plasma cells in the infiltrate. In this article, we present a second case and emphasize the dermal involvement of the lip, leading us to consider the condition as a genuine dermatomucositis.

Mucocutaneous Manifestations of Recreational Drug Use

Recreational drug use is increasingly common in the dermatology patient population and is often associated with both general and specific mucocutaneous manifestations. Signs of substance use disorder may include changes to general appearance, skin, and mucosal findings associated with particular routes of drug administration (injection, insufflation, or inhalation) or findings specific to a particular drug. In this review article, we provide an overview of the mucocutaneous manifestations of illicit drug use including cocaine, methamphetamine, heroin, hallucinogens, marijuana, and common adulterants to facilitate the identification and improved care of these patients with the goal being to connect this patient population with appropriate resources for treatment.