What Is An Alcoholic Nose Or Drinker’s Nose Rhinophyma?

What is commonly called “alcoholic nose” is actually a skin condition called rhinophyma (Greek for “nose growth”). Rhinophyma is in a category of skin conditions known as rosacea, which causes chronic inflammation of the skin. This chronic inflammation is caused by broken blood vessels and sores on or around the nose, causing it to appear red, swollen, and bumpy. “Alcoholic nose,” or drinker’s nose, is a skin condition commonly identified by a red, bumpy, or swollen appearance of the nose and cheeks.

Alcoholic Nose: Signs, Causes and Treatments

It’s a progressive condition that forms gradually over years and is thought to be the result of an untreated, less severe form of rosacea. Developing a skincare routine is especially important for those who have this condition, which may include some lifestyle changes. Be sure to use health care products that are designed for sensitive skin or are hypoallergenic. Heavy consumption of alcohol was considered to be the cause of rhinophyma for many years. Drinking alcohol can wreak havoc on the vascular system as the brain fails to regulate its functions.

What is rhinophyma caused by?

While women can be diagnosed with the condition, it is found much more commonly in men. People with fair or light skin tone, or those with a family history of rosacea, are more likely to develop rhinophyma. 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. In the early stages of rhinophyma, a person may experience excessive facial flushing. As the condition progresses, swollen blood vessels appear, then acne-like pimples.

There is no cure for rhinophyma, and it typically does not go away without surgery. Other options include topicals like metronidazole or azelaic acid. By contrast, people with more advanced cases may be prescribed topical ivermectin, oral isotretinoin, or brimonidine. BetterHelp offers affordable mental health care via phone, video, or live-chat. These symptoms are likely to occur on the bridge of the nose and the cheeks. The characteristic can you drink alcohol while taking levaquin appearance of rhinophyma often makes it easy to diagnose with a visual examination.

If you’re at risk of getting rhinophyma, it’s important to watch for mild symptoms and receive treatment early before the disorder gets worse and you need surgery. Drinking alcohol dilates blood vessels, which makes them more likely to burst. Because of this, heavy drinking can aggravate rhinophyma, causing an alcoholic nose.

Treatments for ‘Alcoholic Nose’

When left untreated, the skin condition rosacea can cause the nose to grow or become bulbous in appearance. The social stigma related to alcohol abuse and alcoholic nose highlights the social pressures and barriers that still exist for those with substance abuse issues. Many doctors advise patients with rosacea to avoid drinking and cooking with alcohol, especially red wine for women, to avoid aggravating the skin condition. In less severe cases, medication may be effective in treating rhinophyma. Topical and oral antibiotics reduce inflammation and redness, and other topical medications minimize inflammation. Some people also take oral capsules that stop skin glands from producing oil.

However, irregularities in the circulatory and vascular system could contribute to the issue. With that in mind, there are some instances where drinking alcohol frequently could lead to rhinophyma symptoms. Later, the nasal skin grows and the tip of the nose becomes larger. It is benign initially, but it may block airways and increase the risk of skin cancer. In the early stages, rhinophyma shares symptoms with rosacea, such as facial flushing or redness.

Ria Health offers a proven at-home treatment to help you limit or stop your consumption of alcohol. 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. While “alcoholic nose” is not a medical condition requiring treatment, rhinophyma can be treated. The main treatment option for rhinophyma is surgery; however, there are some medications that may provide a small degree of help.

1. You set your own personal goal, and we help you achieve it with coaching, medication, and other tools and resources.
2. Because rhinophyma often develops following a severe case of rosacea, it’s important to watch out for symptoms of this unique skin condition.
3. While drinking may not cause “alcoholic nose,” getting help to quit drinking can make the condition much easier to manage.
4. People who may benefit from alcohol treatment programs may be deterred from taking initial steps in seeking treatment.
5. For some individuals with alcohol addiction, it can be more effective to enroll in a treatment program outside of their local community.

Also, chronic infection often results because the fluid from the sebaceous glands thickens and can hold bacteria. Keep reading to learn more about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of rhinophyma. Researchers do not fully understand the cause, but they know that the precursor is acne rosacea, which involves inflammatory breakouts of pimples. 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. You, nor your loved one, are under any obligation to commit to a Legacy Healing Center treatment program when calling the helpline.

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. 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. It is an extreme side effect only experienced by a small percentage of people who suffer from rosacea. That being said, someone who already has rhinophyma may find their condition is worsened by drinking alcohol. Alcohol addiction can lead to a number of side effects, which may include affecting rosacea.

Rosacea is a chronic skin condition gallstones and alcohol that affects the blood vessels in the face, leading to a flushed appearance of the facial skin. Rosacea also causes an increased number of pimples and poorer skin quality. Of course, avoiding alcohol isn’t always easy—especially for long-term drinkers.

These procedures aim to reshape and smooth the affected areas of the nose, improving both function and appearance. Rhinophyma can be effectively treated with surgical techniques such as dermabrasion, electrocautery, and laser therapy. If you or a loved one is struggling with addiction, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way. All Addiction Resource content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible. Alcohol addiction can lead to neglect of nutrition and hygiene and may lead to weight loss. Additives in red wine may cause even more noticeable reddening of the skin.

One study found that out of 108 patients with rosacea, only 15 were noted to also have rhinophyma, almost all of whom were men. While alcohol can stay in your system and cause damage, there is thought to be very little connection between alcohol use and this skin condition. If you or a loved alcohol and shrooms one are experiencing side effects related to alcohol abuse and addiction, help is available. One option is topical metronidazole (Metrocream), a drug that reduces skin inflammation by inhibiting the generation of reactive oxygen species. Although studies vary, it’s thought that basal cell carcinoma occurs in 15-30% of people with rhinophyma. Due to the higher prevalence in males, scientists suspect that male hormones increase the risk.