Nose Damage from Cocaine Use: Symptoms & Concerns

Question
Hello. I'm a 37 year old, phyically fit, attractive female. I was wondering if there is a way to tell if you're developing a "hole" in your nose from sniffing cocaine? I do sniff cocaine every now and then, but I always take care of my nose. I clean it out when I'm done and use Neosporin, and/or Vaseline in my nose. I also apply it through out the time I use the cocaine. But I have noticed a dent like figure on my septum that is a little red in the dent. Is this the start of a hole on my nose? I've had something similar to this before, and it always heals up and seems to go away. And if it is a hole or whatever, how can I stop it, and make it heal?

Thanks so much,
Knight Girl

Answer
Cocaine causes a hole in the septum from necrosis of the tissue.  Cocaine is such a potent constrictor of the blood vessels that it literally starves that portion of the nose from blood.  The tissue dies, and doesn't grow back.

The way to stop or prevent further problems is to stop using cocaine.  There's no other solution that I can come up with to fix the issue.  The best is prevention.