Amy Winehouse's friends fear her drinking and drug taking is spiraling out of control

Amy Winehouse's friends fear the worst for the troubled star after she paid a visit her husband in prison with her face covered in scabs and spots.

The singer's rep has insisted the singer is suffering from the bacterial skin infection impetigo -- which is highly contagious and can develop by repetitive scratching of a sore.

He said the 'Rehab' star has been put on a course of antibiotics to clear it up.

But Amy's friends fear the ever-apparent scabs on her face are a sign that her drinking and drug taking is once again spiraling out of control.

Amy's diet of junk food has not helped the condition of her skin, with fish and chips and a Lucozade amongst her favorites.

A source said: "Her friends are worried these sores have been caused by an excessive use of crack cocaine, which can cause these kind of blemishes.

"Pete Doherty used to have similar sores under his nose.

"Her skin also suffers because Amy takes in barely any nutrients. Fruit and vegetables never pass her lips."

The singer's husband, Blake Fielder-Civil, is currently locked up in London's Pentonville prison awaiting trial on charges of GBH and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

Another source told Britain's Daily Mail newspaper: "When Blake was in solitary confinement recently they both started self harming again.

"It is like some kind of pact to show how much they love each other."

Sally Penford, of the International Dermal Institute, said: "This is very much what impetigo looks like. However your skin mirrors what is going on inside your body.

"If you are taking medication, or you are not getting any nutrients and toxins are not being flushed out of the body, it will show on the skin."