Clinico-Epidemiological Aspects of Cutaneous Lesions in Injecting Drug Users Visiting an Oral Substitution Therapy Centre: A Cross-Sectional Study

The study examined 100 injecting drug users (IDUs), with a mean age of 30.08 years, primarily males (98%) and laborers (33%). All participants abused heroin, with some also using cocaine (8%) and cannabis (3%). The mean duration of drug abuse was 8.34 years. The majority (76%) had taken their last dose of the abused drug less than a month ago. Most (99%) were being managed with buprenorphine and naloxone combination sublingual tablets. The study found that 80% were positive for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, 10% had HIV infection, and 9% had both HCV and HIV. Skin conditions were common, with 84% having black-colored spots and scars, 34% reporting chronic itching, and 6% having ulcers. Scabies was the most common skin disease, affecting 23 patients. Hair examination revealed trichomycosis in 2 patients, generalized sparsity in 2 subjects, and androgenetic alopecia in 1. The study also found that skin conditions had a moderate effect on quality of life in 54% of patients, with varying levels of depression, anxiety, and stress observed.