‘Cocaine Face’ and Other Side Effects of the Drug
Cocaine has been used in medicine for almost as long as humans first discovered it. While it is not widely used today in the medical field, it is now more commonly used as a recreational drug. Cocaine gained more popularity in the 1970s and ‘80s and then eventually took a turn toward being synthesized as its other form, crack, became easier to get and cheaper to buy. But the same side effects have stayed the same, and the drug is still just as addictive as ever. It doesn’t matter if you used it once or are addicted to it; cocaine still has short and long-term side effects, including the so-called phenomenon of “cocaine face.” Still, it’s important to know that help is available, including cocaine detox and drug addiction treatment.
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Understanding Cocaine and Its Effects
Cocaine is a highly addictive stimulant drug that is made from the leaves of the coca plant, which is native to South America. Since cocaine is a stimulant, it gives the brain a dopamine signal that is reinforced by the reward system, the same signal we get from food, sex, and other drugs. Drug use, like cocaine, amplifies this signal of dopamine and causes a euphoria that is commonly experienced immediately after taking the drug.
Typically cocaine is used orally, but when altered with other common chemical components, it can be made into a salt, which then, in turn, can be used to be injected or snorted. When cocaine is turned into this salt-like substance, it is normally referred to as crack or crack cocaine because of the crackling sound it makes when heated up. Crack can also be used to sprinkle or lace on marijuana or tobacco before smoking it. Other names for cocaine are crack, coke, blow, and snow.
What is ‘Cocaine Face’?
One of the more physical symptoms of cocaine use is “cocaine face,” or “coke bloat” — when your face, mostly your cheeks, looks aged and bloated. But “cocaine face” isn’t the only symptom to watch out for here. Other physical symptoms of cocaine use are a white powdery substance around the nose, which is called “sugar spots,” as well as bloodshot eyes, dilated pupils, and frequent sore throat. There is also irreversible internal nose damage, such as loss of blood supply to the septum, which can eventually cause the bridge of the nose to collapse. There are strong ties between snorting cocaine and nosebleeds as well. Other physiological impacts of cocaine use are increased heart rate, rapid breathing, shaking hands, and fevers.
Cocaine also has many dermatological impacts beyond “cocaine face,” such as an increase in skin infections, such as cellulitis, abscesses, and even life-threatening necrotizing soft tissue infections. Those who use cocaine are also more prone to developing skin conditions such as eczema, dermatitis, and contact allergies. Constant cocaine use will also weaken your body’s immune system making it harder to fight off any infection or blood-borne diseases that may occur when sharing needles.
Immediate Side Effects of Cocaine Use
Short-term physical effects of cocaine use normally result in the user feeling euphoric, with energy bursts that make them energetic, mentally alert, and talkative. While this may be normal behavior for some people, it can be completely abnormal for others. Other short-term effects might make some hypersensitive to sight and sound, and often users will wear sunglasses even if the sun is not out. Another effect is the decreased need for food or sleep, making the person stay up for a day or two before succumbing to sleep. There are also symptoms of a cocaine comedown that can affect those who use this drug.
Other short-term physical effects of cocaine are:
- Dilated pupils.
- Increased heart rate.
- Headaches.
- Feeling euphoric.
- Increased body temperature or fevers.
- Restlessness.
Long-Term Side Effects of Cocaine Use
Long-term cocaine use can lead to some very serious physical health issues. The most common is cardiovascular problems since cocaine gives its user an increased heart rate and increased blood pressure, prolonging the use of the drug, which will damage the heart and make oxygen that much harder. When considering how cocaine affects the heart, eventually, the heart will have an imbalance of pumping blood and oxygen to the rest of the body, causing the user to either have a heart attack or stroke. Cocaine is normally described by medical professionals as the “perfect heart attack drug.” Smoking cocaine, or crack, can lead users to develop “crack lung,” with users having the same symptoms as pneumonia as well as fatal symptoms like severe chest pain, high body temperature, and breathing issues.
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Social and Behavioral Impacts of Cocaine Use
Like other drugs, cocaine has severe social and behavioral impacts on the addict’s life. Hiding a drug abuse from friends and family can lead to a series of little lies that will eventually turn into a twisted ball that will be harder and harder to unravel. With this, trust is normally the first thing that is broken with friends and family. Other effects cocaine can have on your life are excessive anxiety in most social settings as well as the potential to become increasingly aggressive toward others.
Another stressor that occurs with a cocaine addiction is financial hardships and legal consequences. Since cocaine is an illegal substance, you could be charged with a felony in some states and serve prison time. This also ties in with financial hardships; the average gram of cocaine is anywhere from $60-$200, which leads users to find the money needed to support their addiction by either stealing from others or switching to more synthetic drugs like crack.
Recognizing the Signs of Cocaine Addiction
There are many signs that someone you know and love might be addicted to cocaine, and not all are as readily apparent to outsiders as “cocaine face.” Here are some symptoms of cocaine use:
- Mood swings.
- Violent or aggressive behavior, especially when they are not typically like that.
- Paranoia.
- Hallucinations.
- Panic attacks.
- Excessive fidgeting.
- Delusions.
- Irritability.
Signs of cocaine addiction can also include physical and health changes such as dilated pupils, an increased heart rate, an increase in bloody noses, and sensitivity to light. Recognizing the signs of drug abuse — not just “cocaine face” — might just save someone’s life, as can knowing the cocaine relapse warning signs. Please call Resurgence Behavioral Health at 855-458-0050 or contact us online today. We’re here to help you and your loved ones get on the road to recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
What drugs affect the face?
Cocaine dramatically affects the face in several ways. It restricts blood flow to skin and tissues, accelerating aging, thinning the skin, and causing a gaunt or hollow appearance. Chronic cocaine use is often visible in the face long before other signs appear.
What are 5 signs that someone is using drugs?
Five signs commonly associated with drug use in the face include sunken cheeks, pallid or ashen skin, dilated pupils, rapid weight loss leading to a gaunt appearance, and sores or lesions around the nose and mouth from snorting or picking. In cocaine use specifically, nasal damage and chronic nosebleeds are telltale physical signs.
Which signs indicate cocaine intoxication?
Signs of cocaine intoxication in the face include dilated pupils, runny or bleeding nose, sniffling, jaw clenching or teeth grinding, increased sweating, and a flushed or pale complexion. Elevated energy and talkativeness are common behavioral signs that accompany these physical changes.
What drugs cause puffy face?
Cocaine constricts blood vessels, including those that supply the skin. Over time this leads to premature aging, reduced collagen production, fine lines, a pale or blotchy complexion, and puffiness around the eyes from poor sleep and malnutrition.
What drugs can you smell on people?
Cocaine can cause permanent damage to the nasal septum, leading to a collapsed or misshapen nose. Chronic constriction of blood vessels can cause skin discoloration, scarring, and accelerated aging that does not fully reverse even after stopping cocaine use.
What are the top 3 worst addictions?
Cocaine significantly impairs the immune system, making skin infections harder to fight. It also disrupts sleep and nutrition, both of which are essential for skin repair. This combination accelerates visible aging and leaves skin looking dull, sallow, and older than a person's actual age.
How does someone look when they are on drugs?
Some physical signs of cocaine use in the face can improve with sobriety, proper nutrition, and rest. However, structural damage to the nose or chronic skin changes from long-term use may require medical treatment to address.
Can you smell drugs on someone's breath?
Yes, some people develop a compulsive habit of picking at the skin during cocaine intoxication, a phenomenon related to the drug's effects on dopamine. This can cause significant facial lesions, scarring, and infections.
How to tell if someone is high or on drugs?
Beyond physical appearance, cocaine causes significant cognitive impairment, cardiovascular damage, and emotional dysregulation. It can trigger anxiety, paranoia, and psychosis. Addiction develops rapidly, often trapping people in a cycle of use before they realize the extent of the harm.
What is the 3 3 3 rule for addiction?
Yes, cocaine use disorder is treatable. Recovery is possible with the right support. Resurgence Behavioral Health offers evidence-based treatment for cocaine addiction in Jurupa Valley, California, including medically supervised detox, residential treatment, and outpatient programs tailored to each person. If you or someone you care about is struggling, call Resurgence Behavioral Health at (855) 458-0050 to speak with our compassionate admissions team today.
