First symptoms of 'coke nose' explained as people issued severe warning
Experts have warned of the horrific nose issues long-term cocaine users can suffer from, along with the early, innocuous signs the drug is wreaking havoc on your nostrils.
One woman previously told how she suffered from nosebleeds 'every single day' due to her reliance on cocaine, while another was left with a 'gaping hole' in her face after her nose collapsed.
A third former user revealed that a 'large chunk of her nose came out' and even TV star Kerry Katona has made a candid admission about the permanent damage her substance abuse caused to her hooter.
Michael Jackson's daughter Paris also shared a video which showed the hole that has opened up inside her nose after years of abusing drugs, while adding that it now makes a 'really loud whistle' with every breath she takes.
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Most recently, a UK man who was spending up to £400 a week to fuel his drug habit spoke out about how his nose has been 'destroyed' by cocaine, leaving 'lumps of flesh' falling out of it.
Ian Higginson's graphic account of the impact that the Class A substance had on him left a lot of people wondering how quickly this kind of situation can escalate.
In Ian's case, he had been snorting about eight grams of cocaine every week for around 25 years, so obviously his nose had been absolutely battered after a quarter of a century of snorting the powder.
But as experts point out, even small amounts of the drug - which is usually cut with a host of seriously nasty stuff - can inflict severe damage upon your nasal cavity.
Consequences include:
- a deviated septum - when the bone and cartilage in the middle of your nose is off-centre
- constant nosebleeds
- a hole forming in your nasal septum, which can cause dryness and crusting in your nose and cause a whistling noise when you breathe
- a saddle nose deformity - when the collapse of the bridge of your nose causes it to look sunken in like a saddle on a horse
- recurring sinus infections, which can cause pain or swelling around your forehead, cheeks and eyes
- palatal perforation - a hole forming in the roof of your mouth, which can affect your speech
That last one really is just as bad as you think (warning: graphic image incoming).
A 2024 study published in the British Dental Journal detailed the experiences of a patient in their 30s who had a decade-long cocaine habit and complained of fluids from the mouth flowing into the nose.
Not only was there 'a marked flattening of the bridge of the nose', but also a sizeable hole from the roof of their mouth into the nasal cavity.
Why does cocaine mess up your nose?
According to specialists at the US organisation Addiction Center, snorting cocaine 'directly affects the nose, sinuses, and soft palate', as well as causing harm to the bone and cartilage in your face.
This can get to the point where it 'disfigures' a person and 'interferes with their breathing and sleep' - and people use the term 'coke nose' to refer to these sort of issues.
Explaining why cocaine causes these horrible side effects, the Addiction Center states: "Injuries to the nose occur both as a result of cocaine’s effect on blood vessels and surrounding tissues and frequent contact with contaminants or bacteria mixed into the cocaine sample.
"Among its other effects, cocaine causes blood vessels to shrink in diameter, which is responsible for a number of the adverse impacts on a person’s nose with chronic use.
"Sometimes, the vessels can shrink so much that that tissue no longer has adequate blood supply, causing the tissue to die and leading to holes in the nasal septum and oral palate.
"Even if the blood flow does not slow enough to kill the tissue, it may not be enough to adequately fight off bacteria, heal wounds, or resolve inflammation. In addition to the conditions listed, a person may experience loss of smell from nasal tissue damage. These same effects can occur throughout the body and damage the GI tract, cardiovascular system, brain, and other systems."
It also warns that users noses can 'eventually collapse' due to years of destroying their nasal septum.
Symptoms of 'coke nose'
There are a string of signs that can suggest you are suffering from 'coke nose' that you should be extremely wary of and it's important to seek medical advice as quickly as you can if you're experiencing these.
According to the Addiction Center, these include:
- Frequent nosebleeds
- Frequent runny nose
- Recurrent sinus infections
- Difficulty breathing
- Sleep apnea
- Noisy breathing
- Nose deformity
Seeking help for your substance abuse problem as soon as possible will give you the best chance of remedying these issues. Many are 'reversible or at least treatable', although some may require surgical intervention.
Ex-Eastenders star Danniella Westbrook revealed last year that she had another reconstructive surgery on her nose after she was 'literally suffocating' because of breathing issues caused by cocaine abuse.
Kicking your habit for good is the only way to truly get yourself back on track - as otherwise, you're just cutting off your nose to spite your face.
If you want friendly, confidential advice about drugs, you can talk to FRANK. You can call 0300 123 6600, text 82111 or contact through their website 24/7, or livechat from 2pm-6pm any day of the week.
Olivia Burke