Rhinophyma, commonly referred to as alcoholic nose, is a condition in which the nose takes on a red coloration and becomes enlarged in a bulbous shape. Rosacea often happens in flare-ups that can last weeks or months before your skin calms down and the symptoms disappear. Rosacea is frequently misdiagnosed as acne or other similar skin conditions. It can affect anyone but is most common among middle-aged women with lighter complexions.
Please read on to learn all you need about alcoholic nose and the connection between alcohol addiction and skin conditions. Another common reason why this skin condition has been called alcoholic nose is that if a person has this condition, drinking alcohol can cause flare-ups. There is a misconception that being an alcoholic will cause you to form a bulbous and red nose. That nose, sometimes called “drinker’s nose” or “alcohol nose” is actually known as rhinophyma, a side effect of rosacea. Patients are recommended to seek medical advice early if symptoms of rhinophyma appear, as timely treatment can improve outcomes and prevent the condition from worsening.
How Rhinophyma Affects Your Nose
Drinking alcohol has been debunked by research as a direct link to this condition. But we do know that drinking can cause more flushing in people with rosacea. Basal cell carcinoma is a slow-growing type of skin cancer that is not typically fatal. However, if severe cases are left untreated, it can cause disfigurement. Treatment for basal cell carcinoma usually involves surgery to remove the affected tissue.
Nonsurgical treatments
An alcoholic nose or a “whiskey nose” is a slang term used to describe a red nose or bumpy nose considered to be caused by excessive alcohol consumption. If you are suffering from an alcoholic nose and are an alcoholic, you can get help. For help with rhinophyma, you can get in touch with your dermatologist or your general practitioner.
Alcohol Addiction and Abuse
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. If you’re seeking addiction treatment for yourself or a loved one, The Recovery Village Cherry Hill at Cooper is here to help.
Many doctors advise patients with rosacea to avoid drinking and cooking with alcohol, especially red wine for women, to avoid aggravating the skin condition. 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.
- Rosacea is a separate disease and disorder from alcoholism and has no connecting cause.
- Get professional help from an online addiction and mental health counselor from BetterHelp.
- If you live in Brooksville, Florida and need professional addiction treatment to help you stop drinking alcohol, Springbrook Behavioral Hospital can help.
One option is topical metronidazole (Metrocream), a drug that reduces skin inflammation by inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen species. Because alcohol dilates blood vessels and damages the vascular system, it can aggravate rhinophyma and other types of rosacea. Surgical therapy, along with topical treatments, are incredibly effective for helping return the nose enabling behavior definition to its original shape without harming the bone and cartilage structures.
They can help prescribe a lotion or medication that you can take to reduce the inflammation and lower the visible symptoms of your rosacea. 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. That means someone drinking heavily may show flushed cheeks and an enlarged nose with a red or purple tint if they have rosacea. If you already have rosacea or rhinophyma, drinking can make them worse and affect the appearance of the nose.
Understanding these non-alcoholic causes is vital for accurate diagnosis and effective treatment. This may include medication or surgery to manage symptoms and improve the nose’s appearance. Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that affects the blood vessels in the face, leading to a flushed appearance of the facial skin.
For these reasons, alcohol can aggravate symptoms of rosacea to a much more noticeable extent. Moreover, certain types of alcohol, like red wine, are more likely to trigger rosacea than others. If caught in the early stages, however, symptoms can often be managed with medication and lifestyle changes. Additionally, a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology noted that alcohol consumption increases the risk of rosacea in women. Similar research is needed on the link between alcohol consumption and rosacea in men.