In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, a slickline for use in well drilling and hydrocarbon recovery operations includes a cable and an intermediate layer disposed around the cable. The slickline also includes a doped polymeric coating layered around the intermediate layer. The doped polymeric coating is a different material from the intermediate layer, and the doped polymeric coating includes a polymeric material doped with an element that is detectable within the doped polymeric coating via a detection machine for purposes of determining wear or other aspects about the conditions of the slickline.