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

Although recognised by Greek and Arabian physicians as early as 2000 bce,2 it may have easily been confused with tuberous conditions of the nose such as leprosy, syphilis, and tuberculosis. First accurately described by Virchow in 1846, it can result in significant facial disfigurement, emotional suffering, and even serious ocular alcoholic nose complications. These symptoms are likely to occur on the bridge of the nose and the cheeks. In many cases, doctors are not able to definitively find the cause of rhinophyma. While it primarily affects the nasal area of Caucasian men between the ages of 50 and 70, people of all ages and skin tones can have the condition.

• Keep reading to learn more about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of rhinophyma.
• Alcohol abuse can cause red flushness in the face similar to the symptoms of rhinophyma, leading to confusion between the two.
• The condition tends to affect fair-skinned, middle-aged women more often, but anyone of any age or skin tone can develop the condition.
• Out of these options, carbon dioxide laser surgery is considered the preferred option because it allows for the most precise removal of excess tissue.

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Therefore, a common cause of rhinophyma is having long-term rosacea. For people who develop rhinophyma, their face skin thickens, especially around the nose. The MELD score is typically used to prioritize who gets a liver transplant but can also be useful in determining survival in people with alcoholic hepatitis. The symptoms of alcoholic hepatitis are similar to other forms of hepatitis, including fatigue, nausea, upper-right abdominal pain, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and eyes).

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This is because a lot of blood rushes into the area and swells as different bumps begin to grow. An alcoholic nose is not a true diagnosis of alcoholism or even a sign of it in many cases. As stated earlier, the medical definition of an alcoholic nose is rhinophyma. While there are no treatments that can completely reverse rhinophyma, medications and surgery can lessen the condition if caught in time. The longer rhinophyma goes without treatment, the more likely the condition will become permanent.

Treatment For Alcohol Nose

The study surveyed a range of people with the skin condition and revealed that rhinophyma is found in just as many individuals who do not drink as in those who do drink. This is a very common skin condition that tends to emerge for weeks or months at a time. Though the causes of rhinophyma are unknown, it’s thought to be a severe form of a skin disease called rosacea. The longer tissue overgrowth remains on the skin, the more likely it is to become permanent. If you are suffering from rhinophyma, talk to your doctor or dermatologist to develop a plan for treatment. Several surgical techniques have been described in the management of rhinophyma.

• Those with a family history of rosacea also increases the likelihood of developing rhinophyma (alcoholic nose).
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• Rosacea is a separate disease and disorder from alcoholism and has no connecting cause.
• Evidence shows that rhinophyma begins as “pre-rosacea,” and the only symptom at this stage is facial flushing.
• A medically supervised detox allows them to fully quit drinking in a safe, encouraging environment.

The condition often known as a drinker‘s nose is not caused by alcohol. It is a combination of those with a family history of rosacea and those who struggle with skin conditions or certain skin disorders. Many doctors advise people with rosacea to avoid drinking and cooking with alcohol. But it is still linked to chronic skin inflammation because it can aggravate flare-ups.

This is especially if treatment for the skin condition is ineffective. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol abuse and addiction, The Recovery Village at Palmer Lake can help. Located on a 15-acre campus in the beautiful mountains of Colorado, our state-of-the-art facility can provide you with the ongoing support needed for lifelong addiction recovery. Contact us today to learn more about treatment programs that can help you begin the journey to a healthier, alcohol-free future.

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That being said, someone who already has rhinophyma may find their condition is worsened by drinking alcohol. Since everyone has different levels of sensitivity to alcohol, those suffering from rosacea will have to test and build their own boundaries to avoid severe flare-ups of alcoholic nose. A recent survey of rosacea patients found that 90 percent of responders found that limiting their alcohol consumption helps significantly to reduce sudden outbreaks. Given its name—alcoholic nose—it’s not hard to figure out that there was once thought to be a connection between alcohol abuse and a large, red, and bulbous nose.

While alcohol consumption does not cause rosacea, rosacea is an inflammatory skin disease that is affected by alcohol use, causing facial redness, flushing, and visible blood vessels. It is considered to be a progressive and chronic skin condition, meaning that a person’s skin changes and worsens gradually over time. Alcoholic nose or rhinophyma is a rare condition that typically affects Caucasian men between 50 and 70. While misusing alcohol over a prolonged period of time may not be likely to cause an alcoholic nose, there are many other ways alcohol can affect your body. Alcohol can cause liver disease and kidney problems as well as increase your risk of cancer, heart attack and stroke.