The Horrific Face of (Celebrity) Drug Abuse

Amy Winehouse is among the last people in the world we'd expect to see looking the picture of health - but as of two weeks ago, the singer's body - particularly her face and her arms and forearms - has been an increasingly disturbing sight, culminating with the close-up shown in the title photo. Amy's representative has claimed that the troubled star is suffering from a skin disease named impetigo, an infection of the skin caused by a bacteria that causes a blistered rash. However, some have expressed doubts regarding the nature of Amy's skin condition and are blaming the demise of the diva's looks on her notorious drug habit.

Beneath the layers of heavy make-up, Amy's face looks disturbingly damaged. Skin disease or not, the singer's health has been on a downward spiral ever since she quit rehab after spending only two weeks allegedly addressing her drug habit. Winehouse was forced to enter rehab by her record label bosses who wanted the rebellious diva to finally address her major drug and alcohol problem and clean up her act prior to a scheduled appearance on the prestigious Grammy Awards in the United States. Winehouse was denied her US visa, and her performance was broadcast to the US live via satellite. However, the hopes of those who were thinking her rehab stint was a sign the old, drug-free Amy was back were wrong.

Only a few weeks after her apparent improvement, Winehouse is sporting a series of horrific-looking skin lesions on her face and arms, giving rise to fresh fears that she is back on drugs and harming herself. Also, before her representative ventured the impetigo theory, there was a story going round about a friend of Amy's who recounted how the drugged-out singer stubbed out a cigarette on her own cheek and hardly even flinched because she was so intoxicated. Add another prominent face lesion and smeared black eye-liner into the mix and you got yourself a frightening portrayal of drug use that could easily and effectively front a drug abuse prevention campaign. What will happen next to the talented singer is anybody's guess - we can only pray that Keith Richards' prediction doesn't come true anytime soon.