Rhinophyma: when Red Nose Day is no laughing matter PMC

Contact one of our expert alcohol treatment specialists at Recovering Champions now. Learn about the best rehab and detox programs that will create lasting change. For those suffering from rosacea, it’s normal to feel self-conscious when experiencing pimples or redness of the alcoholic nose nose. For many who have rosacea, oral antibiotics can be prescribed by your doctor. If you struggle with alcohol use and need professional help, contact us today to learn about our treatment options. For more severe cases of rhinophyma, one may need to undergo surgery.

Attention must be given towards systemic treatment of rosacea and avoiding trigger factors to achieve symptoms control. To find a treatment program, browse the top-rated addiction treatment facilities in each state by visiting our homepage, or by viewing the SAMHSA Treatment Services Locator. If you or a loved one are looking for substance abuse treatment, help is available. Contact our team at AddictionResource.net today for more information. Until recently, doctors believed that rosacea and rhinophyma could be caused by alcoholism.

History of Alcohol Abuse

After treatment, we will work with you to ensure a smooth transition to less intensive, supplementary levels of care. Longer exposure to certain workplace irritants — such as chemicals, dust, or environmental elements — may aggravate rosacea symptoms. Persistent issues with skin inflammation, particularly in the nasal area, can contribute to the thickening and enlargement of the tissues. With your treatment program will come a support system of caring people who understand your challenges and will work with you while you strive to become free of addiction. Of course, stopping the consumption of all alcoholic beverages would be best. But if alcohol is going to continue to be consumed, doctors recommend drinking a tall glass of water between alcohol beverages.

Similar research is needed on the link between alcohol consumption and rosacea in men. Because alcohol dilates blood vessels and damages the vascular system, it can aggravate rhinophyma and other types of rosacea. Rhinophyma is commonly linked to chronic alcohol use, colloquially being misnamed ‘whisky nose’ or ‘rum blossom’.

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Interestingly, red wine is shown to cause the worst flare-ups, likely due to a chemical found in the alcoholic beverage. It wasn’t until 2015 that the University of South Florida Morsani College conducted a study that disproved this long-standing theory. Many of the participants of the study who suffered from alcoholic nose didn’t even drink, thus officially putting an end to the connection. These enlarged blood vessels can give your skin a spidery, bloodshot appearance, and increase flushing around the face and chest. Widened blood vessels mean that more blood can travel just below the skin’s surface, which causes flushing or a reddened appearance.

• Basal cell carcinoma occurs in 3–10% of people with rhinophyma, although the condition is benign at the beginning.
• Surgical treatment for rhinophyma is usually successful and a relatively quick solution to the problem.
• Antibiotics, such as tetracycline or doxycycline, may be prescribed to manage inflammation and control the progression of the condition.
• Many doctors advise patients with rosacea to avoid drinking and cooking with alcohol, especially red wine for women, to avoid aggravating the skin condition.
• As the condition progresses, swollen blood vessels appear, then acne-like pimples.

Not everyone with rosacea who develops thickened skin will go on to develop rhinophyma. But for people who do, having chronic infections is common, since fluids in the skin ultimately trap bacteria. Additionally, a study published in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology noted that alcohol consumption increases the risk of rosacea in women.

Treatment For Alcohol Use Disorder

Unfortunately, doctors are not yet clear on the direct cause of rhinophyma. It shows up more frequently in men than women and is common among those with fair skin and European ancestry. Drinking alcohol enlarges the blood vessels, which makes them more susceptible to bursting.

• Current research indicates that people with rhinophyma often have a genetic predisposition to or family history of rosacea, especially if treatments for their rosacea prove ineffective.
• The condition causes the person to develop a bulbous nose which can appear swollen and lumpy.
• Rhinophyma is another type of skin condition known as rosacea, which has been known to cause chronic inflammation of your skin.