What Is Alcoholic Nose? Rhinophyma Causes & Symptoms

Our accredited mental health facility offers numerous therapeutic methods in an inpatient setting to address mental illness and substance abuse. We are dedicated to transforming the despair of addiction into a purposeful life of confidence, self-respect and happiness. We want to give recovering addicts the tools to return to the outside world completely substance-free and successful. More severe cases should be referred to a specialist, who may consider using topical ivermectin and brimonidine, or oral isotretinoin. In addition, we offer detox services as part of our addiction recovery program.

Rhinophyma (enlarged nose)

People who have noses that are inflamed, bulbous, and red often have rhinophyma, which might be a form of a condition known as rosacea. All too often, the stigma of alcoholism and addiction leads to discrimination, avoidance, and rejection of people struggling with this disease. Overall, doctors strongly encourage individuals with rosacea or rhinophyma to avoid alcohol altogether, and if they are not able to avoid alcohol, only drink very sparingly. Rhinophyma is not directly caused by alcoholism or regular alcohol consumption.

• Thus, somebody who is an alcoholic and rhinophyma may have a redder and more bulbous nose than their red, and bulbous nose usually is.
• Scientists haven’t fully figured out exactly how rhinophyma develops.
• Rosacea is a lifelong but treatable condition that mainly affects the cheeks and other central parts of the face.
• Alcohol aggravates symptoms of rosacea because drinking enlarges the body’s blood vessels.

Alcoholic Nose (Rhinophyma): The Real Cause, and How to Treat It

Addiction treatment is available for those who are struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction. Specially trained staff are available right now to discuss treatment options for you or your loved one. We can help find a detox or treatment program that will help get the services needed on the road to recovery. If these symptoms are present, a doctor may suggest antibiotics, or another form of treatment to try to alleviate the irritation on the skin.

Treatment for Rhinophyma

Heavy consumption of alcohol was considered to be the cause of rhinophyma for many years. Drinking alcohol can wreak havoc on the vascular system as the brain fails to regulate its functions. First accurately described by Virchow in 1846, it can result in significant facial disfigurement, emotional suffering, and even serious ocular complications.

Avoiding Triggers

• Drinking alcohol has been debunked by research as a direct link to this condition.
• Usually, we can diagnose rhinophyma with this information, without the need for further testing.
• Some people might be prescribed a low dose course of isotretinoin (Accutane) to help shrink enlarged oil glands that might also be contributing to skin thickening and symptoms.
• However, multiple methods might be recommended to manage the thickened skin.
• Similar research is needed on the link between alcohol consumption and rosacea in men.

However, there are several treatments that you can try to control symptoms and reduce visible redness. If you are curious about the options that are available to you, you should consult your primary care physician and see what kinds of treatments they recommend. This is simply a way in which a close friend or loved one may be able to notice a physical change in a person’s skin condition that could indicate alcohol abuse. You cannot and should not assume that somebody is an alcoholic simply because they have rhinophyma. You can only use rhinophyma as a starting place for someone you know well.

However, not everybody will experience a red face when drinking, and not everybody that does is an alcoholic. In the end, we have discovered that an alcohol use disorder is not necessarily responsible for rhinophyma. Similarly, this removes the stereotype that everyone who suffers from rhinophyma is an alcoholic. When rhinophyma is severe enough, an individual can have trouble breathing. This occurs when the skin of the nose has become bulbous enough to constrict the natural airways of the nose.

• You set your own personal goal, and we help you achieve it with coaching, medication, and other tools and resources.
• Surgery, including laser treatment or dermabrasion, may be necessary to remove large bumps on the nose from rhinophyma if they interfere with breathing.
• Dermatology experts recommend anti-acne treatments, moisturizing your dry skin caused by rosacea, and using sunscreen lotions.
• You might be familiar with a pervasive stereotype of alcoholics having a red face or a plump, bulbous kind of nose.
• Though drinking alcohol may not be the cause of rhinophyma, those who suffer from rosacea and alcohol addiction may experience reddening of the skin and other symptoms.

Moisturizing creams can also help, especially if the skin looks scaly and dry. Treatment for perioral dermatitis is done by first stopping the application of corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone cream. While this may seem counterproductive, hydrocortisone creams can cause the rash to worsen over time.

You can learn more about how we source our references by reading our editorial policy. Although there are no direct stem causes of alcoholism and rosacea that meet at one point, there is a connection between them. The misconception that rhinophyma equals alcoholism is an outdated stereotype that can breed negative self-esteem and social anxiety. It can also prevent those actually alcoholic nose suffering from alcoholism from getting the help they need. Contact our helpline today to learn more about our recovery programs, to receive help with understanding your health insurance, and more. Some evidence shows that a person can be genetically predisposed to rhinophyma, as it runs in families of Scandinavian, English, Scottish, and Eastern European descent.

• Some people also avoid alcohol because they believe that it contributes to flare-ups of the conditions.
• A person’s nose can turn red and other hues because of changes in the skin surface or blood vessels, such as inflammation and broken blood vessels.
• We offer 24-hour psychiatric services provided by licensed professionals in various disciplines.

Rhinophyma, Rosacea, And Alcohol Consumption

For example, on dark skin tones, rosacea may cause dark brown skin discoloration instead of redness. Other rashes may appear gray, white, or purple in people with dark skin tones instead of red. Some cases of alcohol nose can become so severe that surgery is the only option to reverse the physical damage done. Surgeries aim to shave off the tissue on the nose affected by the condition while leaving the healthy cartilage behind.