Alcoholic Nose Rhinophyma: The Real Cause, and How to Treat It
By Gustavo Brito in Sober living on 9 de novembro de 2020
Due to this, the idea that alcoholism could cause rhinophyma held up for many years. Despite these facts, the known cause of rhinophyma remains a mystery today. “Rhinophyma” is the medical term for “drinker’s nose”, which is a side effect of the skin condition rosacea. Contrary to popular belief, a “drinker’s nose” is not necessarily caused by alcohol addiction or abuse.
- If you think your drinking habits are causing your alcoholic nose flare-ups, know that the best way to stop them is to quit drinking.
- For starters, communicate with close friends and family about your situation.
- If a person suffering from rosacea also has rhinophyma, the flushing in the face due to alcohol can increase the visibility of their rosacea and rhinophyma symptoms.
- Heavy consumption of alcohol was considered to be the cause of rhinophyma for many years.
In many cases, doctors are not able to definitively find the cause of rhinophyma. Take our short alcohol quiz to learn where you fall on the drinking spectrum and if you might benefit from quitting or cutting back on alcohol. There is no cure for rhinophyma, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ and it typically does not go away without surgery. Take the first step toward addiction treatment by contacting us today. Explore our guide to dating someone in recovery, offering insights, tips, and support for a healthy and fulfilling partnership.
Medical Professionals
Some people benefit from oral antibiotics, as well, or a drug for acne. An alcoholic nose, also known as a drinker’s nose, is characterized by a red, bumpy, and swollen nose. If there are other underlying issues or complications, the redness may not go away if you stop drinking, and you may wish to see a doctor. The physical impact of rhinophyma can be a point of self-consciousness for many individuals.
That said, exceedingly few people with Rosacea develop an alcoholic nose. Rhinophyma is a skin condition marked by a large red, bumpy, bulbous nose. It can ensue as part of “phymatous rosacea.” The reason for rhinophyma is not known, but it’s thought of as a subtype of intense rosacea. It causes alcoholic nose varying redness or flushing of your face, especially in the cheeks and nostril regions. Small, red bumps and blemishes with pus, called abscesses, may occur on the face due to this infection. According to the National Rosacea Society (NRS), over 16 million Americans are impacted by rosacea.
Does Alcohol Abuse Cause Rhinophyma?
Many speculations have been made that alcohol could result in a large red nose for some people, specifically that such a trait indicates an addiction. Not all people with an alcoholic nose or rhinophyma have alcoholism, and not all people with alcoholism will develop an alcoholic nose. While several of these terms are related to drinking alcohol, the reality is that alcohol abuse is not considered a cause of rhinophyma. Rather, drinker’s nose is actually a condition stemming from rosacea, a chronic skin disorder that causes visibly red or swollen skin and sometimes bumps or acne-like conditions. Therefore, when severe rosacea spreads to the nose, it is termed rhinophyma (literally meaning “nose swelling”).
Although alcohol use does not cause rhinophyma or rosacea, it can aggravate the condition. As many as two out of three patients with rosacea experience flare-ups when they consume alcohol. Alcohol aggravates symptoms of rosacea because drinking enlarges the body’s blood vessels. For those already suffering from redness due to rosacea, alcohol can worsen this symptom. So-called “drinker’s nose” is a common way to describe what is known as rhinophyma. Rosacea is a skin condition that is characterized by red cheeks or red patches on the face along with visible blood vessels.
Other Names for Alcoholic Nose
Rhinophyma typically afflicts white males between the age of 40 and 60 years, and is more common in men with English or Irish descent. First accurately described by Virchow in 1846, it can result in significant facial disfigurement, emotional suffering, and even serious ocular complications. 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?
Alcoholic nose is a slang term used to describe the red, swollen nose that is thought by some to accompany chronic alcohol use. While this stereotype has some element of truth to it, there is some debate on how much alcohol actually affects the appearance of your nose. Case severity will depend on the individual and certain variables that exist in one’s life that have the potential to aggravate rhinophyma. Severe cases of rhinophyma can see an individual develop an extremely bulbous nose, so much that it appears to be quite disfigured. Since rhinophyma is a form of rosacea, the treatment for rhinophyma is similar.
A team is needed to overcome alcoholic nose and underlying addiction. But in a worst-case scenario, rhinophyma alcohol developments can affect mood, job, and social opportunities. Plus, alcohol rhinophyma can disrupt sleep and other crucial functions. Both forms of residential treatment for the signs of alcoholic nose also help create a long-term care plan to maintain sobriety. Outpatient offers medical services and monitoring on a scheduled basis. The rest of the time, individuals are free to maintain their day-to-day lives.
