Are scabs around the nose a sign of coke abuse?

[retrored]

I'm pretty certain that my DH is addicted to cocaine. He, of course, denies this.

His nose is constantly covered in scabs especially around the nostrils. Is this a sign of abuse (there are other symptoms too)? Or could it be totally unrelated?

Thanks for any insight.

no idea but if you have got to the point of thinking he is lying, is there enough trust left to make the relationship work?

I'm trying to get my head round the facts right now before any decision is made. I've been advised by a rehab support group that addicts will lie about usage. There are other symptoms - sleeping, weight loss, lack of energy, bloodshot eyes,..... but I wasn't sure if the scabs could be a direct result of coke sniffing.

Could just be a nose picker

It’s a hint of solvent abuse

He was diagnosed with impetigo several years ago & given the necessary creams to clear it up. Someone suggested that it could be due to him rubbing the coke on his nose after use.

Hadn't thought of solvent abuse.

No, that could be a sign, but more likely look out for signs like not being tired, up until early hours, talking a lot, snotty / tired next day.

Scabs around the nose is not a general sign of coke abuse x

Saw your update. It's likely impetigo

TuTru is right. It isn't a sign of coke abuse and much more likely to be something harsh on the skin around the nose such as solvents. Coke doesn't do that, it goes straight up the nostrils.

I did wonder whether the impetigo didn't completely clear up. I'm pretty certain he is still taking coke secretly too though.

He might just be poorly! Poor fucker

I doubt he is poorly tbh. I think his body is run down from the cocaine. I wish he would admit he needs help but he won't.

People can get nasal coldsores apparently...

Follow the money, as Al Capone's pursuers said. If he's experiencing noticeable "symptoms" of suspected cocaine abuse, it will be costing him A LOT.

Money doesn't seem to be an issue for him. He isn't verbally aggressive anymore so I can only assume he is taking a lot less. Paranoia has decreased too. I was hoping that he has kicked the habit but think it's too addictive to do it on his own.

On its own it means little. In someone with a history of cocaine abuse who's acting a bit more like he's on cocaine than usual, I'd be suspicious. Doesn't prove anything though.

People can get nasal coldsores apparently...

I get nasal coldsores. They are a bloody mess but I only get them about once a year or so. They clear up within a couple of weeks at most.

Money doesn't seem to be an issue for him.

Do you not know what he earns or where it goes?

He may be taking less, but that is also classic addictive behaviour, cutting down but never giving up. He is convinced that as he takes less he isnt an addict because if he was then wouldnt have been able to cut down, "But I only drink/take/gamble......" is a common justification to keep servicing the addiction.

Scabs around the nose can also be a symptom of hay fever, or having a cold.

But as PPs have said. If you don't trust him that's not good.

Thanks for everyone's input. I've just read on an addiction website that skin picking is a sign of withdrawal. DH does pick his scabs which in turn makes them worse.

I was married to a coke addict, turned into a crack addiction, I'd say the biggest giveaways when it's serious is disappearing acts - a 10 min walk to shop takes an hour, always late from work, spending a LOT of time in the bathroom. And eventually hiding alcohol, apparently the bottle of vodka I found was for when he couldn't get cocaine to bring him down faster. He seemed to drink a lot more to lower the cravings.

Irritability, shifty behaviour, restless sleep, lack of appetite, memory problems, and of course, a financial black hole.

It's an awful thing trying to support an addict. I don't envy you, and make sure to take care of yourself if you aren't in a position to leave

Carrotgirl, I'm intrigued that you say your DH spent a LOT of time in the bathroom. Snap here. He goes into the bathroom, locks the door & sits in the bath for hours. Yesterday, he was in there for about about 5 hours. If I ask him what he is up to then he says he has a bad tummy & needs to be near the toilet & bath to clean himself.

Yes you can get scabs from sniffing drugs.... used regularly your nose will start to run often, and wiping your nose repeatedly can cause sores PSA from my teenaged self

Yep. Hours at a time. I had known about a... 'minor' cocaine addiction that we were getting 'help' for, however what I didn't know until afterwards , was that he was smoking crack cocaine out of the bathroom window with a makeshift pipe, and the steam from the hot tap got rid of the smell etc. I removed the lock off the door in the end and suddenly he didn't need hours in there any more.

I wish I hadn't bothered and just left to be honest but I was being driven crazy with his reasoning for weird behaviour I ended up thinking I was imagining things. Only afterwards it all came to light that my instincts were usually spot on with him.

It's so true - I have normalised so much of his odd behaviour now. For example, lying in bed or on the sofa all day, accepting that he is constantly 'ill', OTT behaviour if we go out, his need to befriend everyone when we go out & engage in bizarre conversations, .....

no I have never heard of a scabby face showing cocaine abuse.

however, I have heard of it/seen it in relation to heroin. You see it kind of numbs your skin, and gives you a kind of itch. So you can scratch and scratch and not be aware that you are actually picking your skin off.

One day you'll have enough of it and want to leave. Took me a couple years, a lot of heartache and a really bad incident to see what was in front of me.

Best thing I ever did.

It's been over 4 years now and I THINK he's looking at a long prison sentence for burglary/harassment etc.

It's sad, we had a nice home, big mortgage, nice cars, two good careers, and he lost it all. There comes a point where you gotta look after number 1 and realise they can't change until they want to no matter WHAT you do. You'll just turn into
The enemy in their eyes.