What Are Track Marks And How To Spot Them

Track marks are wounds formed after injecting something into the skin, a common sign of intravenous drug use. They often appear down the forearms and look like small circular wounds with bruising, bleeding, and festering. With the effects of addiction and repeated injections, it often takes track marks longer to heal. Track marks can also get contaminated by unclean needles and dirt, leading to conditions like HIV, syphilis, AIDS, infections, and more. 

What Is The Medical Term for Track Marks?

Medically, track marks are known as venipuncture marks¹ since they occur after a needle is stuck into a vein. You may also hear them called needle marks, puncture marks, or injection marks. 

Substances can be injected into the veins or the top layers of skin, called skin popping. Injecting directly into the veins takes effect almost immediately, while skin popping takes effect more gradually. 

What Causes Track Marks?

Repeated injections that don’t heal cause track marks. Unclean needles, infection, and a compromised ability to heal wounds (from addictive substances) lead to track marks.

Which Drugs Are Known to Cause Track Marks?

Any injectable drug can cause track marks, but they’re most often associated with heroin. Other drugs include cocaine, meth, prescription opioids, and prescription stimulants, along with designer drugs and psychedelics. If it can be injected, it can leave track marks.

What Do Track Marks Look Like?

Characteristics of New Track Marks

Track marks look like circular wounds, ranging from a pinhead to dime-sized. They often itch and look red and irritated. Bruises and redness often accompany track marks. So, you may see purplish or yellowish discoloration, plus red scabby wounds. If infected, you’ll likely see pus and a streak of redness moving away from the wound.

Characteristics of Old Track Marks

Healed track marks look like a small, puckered white or light pink scar tissue circle. The scars can look darker, smoother, or more textured depending on skin tones and healing.

Common Places Track Marks Appear

Track marks often appear near the crook of the arm and the forearm, like where you get your blood drawn. This area is easily accessible, though more visible. Because of the visibility, and running out of space, track marks can appear on other areas of the body.

Track Marks on Arms

On arms, track marks can look like small circular wounds. The edges may look pink and scabby. Redness and bruising around the site is also common. The wounds often follow a line down the forearm (‘tracking’ a vein).

Track Marks on Feet

Track marks on the feet look similar, like red splotchy wounds with discoloration and potentially signs of infection or festering. Someone may inject drugs into their feet to hide track marks (with their shoes). Sweat and friction can make track marks on feet more likely to not heal, become infected, and hurt.

Track Marks on Legs

Leg track marks look the same, like red, irritated wounds in a cluster or line down the leg. The track marks will likely follow a line down the femur or calf. The upper thigh may be a preferred injection site since there’s more muscle, and it can be easier to hide with clothes.

Track Marks on Hands

Track marks on hands can be the easiest to spot and the hardest to heal without infection. Hands come into contact with all types of germs and move almost constantly, making healing more difficult. Track marks on hands can look more ‘angry’ and inflamed with bruising and redness around the small circular wound.