Rhinophyma: Causes, Risk Factors, and Symptoms

You set your own personal goal, and we help you achieve it with coaching, medication, and other tools and resources. While drinking may not cause “alcoholic nose,” getting help to quit drinking can make the condition much easier to manage. We offer compassionate care and effective alcoholic nose treatment that restores a natural appearance and improves quality of life for our patients. Rhinophyma is essentially severe rosacea in the nose area. Rosacea affects the nose more in men and the cheeks more in women, which makes men much more likely to get rhinophyma than women.

Medical Professionals

Using alcohol heavily, especially over a long period of time, can have a devastating effect on your health. If you’re concerned about the effects of alcohol on your nose, you may want to consider cutting back on your consumption. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to many other health problems, both short and long-term. These include liver damage, heart disease, cancer, mental health issues, and organ damage. By looking at it from this perspective, someone with agitated rosacea or rhinophyma will have a visible agitation of their skin.

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Although there are no direct stem causes of alcoholism and rosacea that meet at one point, there is a connection between them. If caught in the early stages, however, symptoms can often be managed with medication and lifestyle changes. There is no cure for rhinophyma, and it typically does not go away without surgery. Alcohol intolerance occurs when your body doesn’t have the proper enzymes to break down (metabolize) the toxins in alcohol. This is caused by inherited (genetic) traits most often found in Asians.

The Stigma of Addiction and Alcoholic Nose

It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals. 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. He was known for his large, bulbous nose and his connection with alcohol. If you think you may have rhinophyma, it’s important to see a doctor or dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcoholism, getting help as soon as possible is essential.

Why Do Alcoholics Get Red Noses?

The condition will only come back if the rosacea is not controlled. New forms of laser used by dermatologists (called “Erbium YAG” laser) are giving the best results. Once the nose has significantly enlarged, there are a few ways to normalise the appearance. Excess skin can be removed with surgical excision, electrocautery (electrically heated needle), or laser.

• Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that causes a red rash on the face.
• Create a support group of your friends and family so that they can help you through this challenge.
• There is no cure for rhinophyma, and it typically does not go away without surgery.
• Your doctor will treat early rhinophyma with oral medications, such as antibiotics or isotretinoin.
• This condition is significantly more common in men, especially between the ages of 50 to 70 years.

What does “alcoholic nose” or rhinophyma look like?

• When severe rosacea spreads to the nose, it’s called rhinophyma.
• When cirrhosis progresses to end-stage liver disease, a liver transplant may be needed.
• Men are also more likely to develop rhinophyma than women.
• Alcoholic liver disease also can affect your brain and nervous system.
• Rhinophyma, also termed ‘end-stage rosacea’, is the most frequent phymatous manifestation of the disease.