Cocaine Nose

One of the few medical uses for cocaine is to treat nosebleeds. This is because cocaine restricts blood supply to the lining of the nose. When used repeatedly, however, cocaine can increase the risk of nosebleeds. This occurs because a prolonged lack of blood supply to the lining of the nose makes it more susceptible to damage.

When objects are inserted into the nose while the lining is prone to damage from decreased blood supply, it can damage the lining and start nosebleeds. These nosebleeds are often more difficult to control than normal nosebleeds, as the tissue in the nose is less able to heal.

When nosebleeds from cocaine use occur, they often eventually stop by forming scabs. These scabs can block the nose, creating discomfort and making it more difficult to breathe through the nose. However, these scabs are what stop bleeding in the nose. Removing them will often make the bleeding resume and also affect the lining of the nose around the scab, making the bleeding even worse.

Nasal perforation, also called septal perforation, is a more serious nose-related complication of cocaine use. When nasal perforation is present, it means that more than just the lining of the nose is affected.

As blood supply is restricted to the nose, it can affect more than just the lining. One area that can be affected is the septum, the piece of cartilage that separates the two nostrils. With the severe restrictions in circulation that cocaine can cause, a hole can develop in the septum as its tissue dies and rots.

While often considered less severe than a perforated septum, a deviated septum is caused by the same thing. Instead of the lack of circulation leading to a hole in the septum, however, the tissue of the septum is typically less damaged. It does still result in some damage that makes the septum unable to keep its normal shape. With this condition, the septum falls to one side, blocking or restricting airflow through one nostril and causing the nose to become misshapen.

The term “saddle nose” refers to a condition in which the bridge of the nose collapses, causing it to take on the shape of a saddle. This deformity occurs because the tissue inside the bridge of the nose slowly dies from lack of blood supply, and it rots until the nose is no longer able to keep its normal shape.

The hard palate is the bony area in the roof of your mouth that separates your mouth from your nasal cavity. In severe cases of cocaine abuse, blood supply to the hard palate can become restricted, leading to hard palate damage.

Most people only notice the side of the hard palate that is located in the mouth. However, the side of the hard palate that is most affected by cocaine is located in the nose. As a result, many people do not realize that hard palace damage is occurring until a hole develops between the nasal cavity and the oral cavity. This can cause food and liquid in the mouth to come out of the nose, affect the voice and lead to other complications.

One potential complication of cocaine use is sinus infections. Decreased blood flow makes the immune system less able to respond. In addition, snorting and the regular insertion of foreign objects into the nose can expose the nose and sinuses to potentially infectious materials.

Sinus infections caused by cocaine will not heal well due to limited blood supply. These infections can lead to a severe complication called sepsis, which occurs when bacteria enter the bloodstream. This can ultimately lead to death if not quickly treated.