When a person has rosacea, their skin—especially on the face— will appear red and create visible blood vessels in the face. The physical impact of rhinophyma can be a point of self-consciousness for many individuals. After all, nobody really wants to stand out for something like a skin condition they can’t control. One way to help people seek the treatment they need and help them live out healthier and better futures is to provide people with the whole story and clear information. Alcohol misuse and addiction can contribute to changes in a person’s appearance.
The material is not a substitute for qualified medical diagnoses, treatment, or advice. It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals. Alcohol might contribute to rosacea and rhinophyma, but the substance doesn’t seem to cause the conditions in the first place. People who have noses that are inflamed, bulbous, and red often have rhinophyma, which might be a form of a condition known as rosacea. W.C. Fields was a popular U.S. comedian who appeared on stage and in several movies in the first half of the twentieth century.
Furthermore, you deserve the time and commitment you will invest in your future self. When you call our team, you will speak to a Recovery Advocate who will answer any questions and perform a pre-assessment to determine your eligibility for treatment. If eligible, we will create a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs. If The Recovery Village is not the right fit for you or your loved one, we will help refer you to a facility that is. Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp. Surgery, including laser treatment or dermabrasion, may be necessary to remove large bumps on the nose from rhinophyma if they interfere with breathing.
Alcoholic Nose (Rhinophyma): The Real Cause, and How to Treat It
It is incredibly important to remember that alcohol does not cause this disorder. It is like having an allergic reaction to peanuts and eating a spoonful of peanut butter. You already have an allergic reaction to the peanuts, but by adding more peanuts, you are adding a bigger reaction and agitating the reaction more, making it worse. Rhinophyma develops over many years, making the nose appear tuberous or bulbous with red discoloration. The vessels on the nose enlarge, cysts and pustules may erupt, making the skin extra oily, and the tissues on the end of the nose appear as if they expand. The helpline at AddictionResource.net is available 24/7 to discuss the treatment needs of yourself or a loved one.
The Link Between Alcohol and Rosacea
Because alcohol dilates blood vessels and damages the vascular system, it can aggravate rhinophyma and other types of rosacea. 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. Topical retinoids might also be recommended for anyone who catches the condition in its early stages.
What Is Alcoholic Nose or Rhinophyma—Is That More Than a Myth?
We believe in you and encourage and support you during addiction treatment. Feeling so self-conscious about the appearance of a nose with rhinophyma can become a great source of anxiety for some people. Now, does this mean that alcohol is completely unrelated to rhinophyma?
- There are creams and various skincare products that can help with the appearance.
- While it’s true that alcohol use may trigger rosacea flare-ups, this does not mean that every person with rosacea will automatically develop rhinophyma.
- Systemic, medical treatment of rosacea is critical for achieving control over the condition and to keep it from worsening.
Rosacea can be treated in its early stages with antibiotics, including topical creams. Unfortunately, doctors are not yet clear on the direct cause of rhinophyma. It shows up more frequently in men than women and is common among those with fair skin and European ancestry. Each individual is sensitive to alcohol in different ways, so everyone who has rosacea may not see a flare-up after drinking. If caught in the early stages, however, symptoms can often be managed with medication and lifestyle changes. Ria Health offers several FDA-approved medications for alcohol use disorder.
However, it’s always important to keep in mind that rhinophyma ultimately manifests itself as a side effect of rosacea. People can experience rhinophyma Is It Safe to Mix Alcohol With Lipitor without drinking alcohol or very occasionally drinking it. The Mayo Clinic reports that over a long period of time, rosacea can thicken the skin of the nose. This thickening of the nose causes it to become more bulbous, which is the condition you now know as rhinophyma.
In the early stages, rhinophyma shares symptoms with rosacea, such as facial flushing or redness. “Alcoholic nose” is a term given to the medical condition rhinophyma when it’s thought to be caused by alcohol use. Only surgery can fix the deformity after rhinophyma has progressed to a certain level.
“Rhinophyma–diagnosis and treatment.” Polish Journal of Otolaryngology, 2004. Enter your phone number below to receive a free and confidential call from a treatment provider. Drinking alcohol enlarges the blood vessels, which makes them more susceptible to bursting. There is no cure for rhinophyma, and it typically does not go away without surgery.