Author: John Carter

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

Even a single alcoholic drink can cause flare-ups for many people with this condition. A survey by the National Rosacea Society found that red wine was the most common culprit, followed by white wine and beer. For those who have the skin condition, it can be difficult to enter into society when flare-ups occur because of the existing stigma surrounding alcoholic nose.

You nor your loved one are under any obligation to commit to an Ark Behavioral Health treatment program when calling our helpline. This typically results in the eyes becoming swollen and red in appearance. The shoulders and chest are also susceptible to looking more flushed or red after drinking alcohol. Other factors that can contribute to a rhinophyma flare-up include intense exercise, some medications, excess stress, spicy foods, and extreme temperatures. Developing a skincare routine is especially important for those who have this condition, which may include some lifestyle changes.

1. For those suffering from rosacea, it’s normal to feel self-conscious when experiencing pimples or redness of the nose.
2. Widened blood vessels caused by heavy drinking allow more blood to travel to right beneath the skin’s surface, which gives the face a more flushed or red appearance.
3. Surgery, including laser treatment or dermabrasion, may be necessary to remove large bumps on the nose from rhinophyma if they interfere with breathing.
4. However, these treatment methods have not been effective for reducing swelling or the appearance of bumps on the nose from rhinophyma.
5. Alcohol abuse can cause red flushness in the face similar to the symptoms of rhinophyma, leading to confusion between the two.

Rhinophyma has not been shown to be connected to alcohol use, and calling rhinophyma an “alcoholic nose” is not medically correct. A combination of medication and lifestyle changes can help manage the rosacea that leads to rhinophyma. The doctor may provide a topical cream that constricts the blood vessels to reduce redness.

Several factors have been found to contribute to the development of rhinophyma, including a genetic predisposition to rosacea and ethnicity. “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. This chronic but treatable condition causes broken blood vessels on or near the nose, giving the red, bumpy appearance linked with an alcoholic nose. However, it’s important to note that excessive alcohol consumption can certainly worsen rosacea in general and rhinophyma in those individuals who have this condition. Alcohol is a vasodilator, which means it enlarges the blood vessels and causes the skin to flush.

Why Have People Associated Rhinophyma With Alcohol Abuse?

By contrast, people with more advanced cases may be prescribed topical ivermectin, oral isotretinoin, or brimonidine. If inflammation is present because of a bacterial infection, then oral antibiotics such as tetracycline may be prescribed to manage the infection. However, multiple methods might be recommended to manage the thickened skin. Alcohol is not the cause of alcoholic nose, but it does have an effect on those with rhinophyma. There are certain groups of people who have ethnic or genetic backgrounds to make them more susceptible to alcoholic nose than others. If a person has rhinophyma, that is no indication as to whether they drink or abuse alcohol.

Before drinking, people would sniff the whiskey to enjoy the aroma. Call our helpline to talk to one of our trained representatives who can help to guide you toward the right addiction treatment center for your or your loved one. If you or a loved one are in search of treatment services for alcohol use disorder, help is available. Because for so many years people have assumed a connection between alcoholism and rhinophyma, a stigma has formed around the idea of an alcoholic 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. If you or a loved one are looking for substance abuse treatment, help is available.

Does Excessive Alcohol Use Cause Rhinophyma?

This increased blood flow to the facial skin can cause this condition to flare up and worsen over time. The medical term is rhinophyma, and there is actually no known link between alcohol and rhinophyma. Though drinking alcohol may not be the cause of rhinophyma, those who suffer from rosacea and alcohol addiction may experience reddening of the skin and other symptoms.

All Addiction Resource content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible. Surgery, including laser treatment or dermabrasion, may be necessary to remove large bumps on the nose from rhinophyma if they interfere with breathing. Dermatology experts recommend anti-acne treatments, moisturizing your dry skin caused by rosacea, and using sunscreen lotions. Each individual is sensitive to alcohol in different ways, so everyone who has rosacea may not see a flare-up after drinking. Below are some of the most common physical indications that you or a loved one may have alcoholic nose. Men are much more susceptible to this condition than women as well as people with lighter skin and those who have a family history of this condition.

While the underlying causes aren’t fully understood, early treatment is considered the most effective solution. Some people might be prescribed a low dose course of isotretinoin (Accutane) to help shrink enlarged oil glands that might also be contributing to skin thickening and symptoms. Topical retinoids might also be recommended for anyone who catches the condition in its early stages. Contact our admissions team today to learn more about our alcohol detox in Tampa, Florida, and residential programs. As friends and family members to those with substance use disorders, we can learn about the warning signs of addiction, talk more openly about topics of addiction, and offer support. This is a stigma, however, that those who struggle with substance abuse regularly face.

Drinking can increase the effects of existing rosacea and may increase the risk of this condition developing. However, many people who use alcohol heavily do not develop rosacea, and rosacea does often occur in people who do not drink alcohol or only use it in moderation. Rhinophyma, the condition often referred to as alcoholic nose, has a red, swollen, lumpy appearance. The nose may also have a purple-colored appearance and could be mistaken for having warts or other skin blemishes that look like protruding lumps. “Alcoholic nose” is a term given to the medical condition rhinophyma when it’s thought to be caused by alcohol use.

What is Alcoholic Nose or Rhinophyma?

For those suffering from rosacea, it’s normal to feel self-conscious when experiencing pimples or redness of the nose. For many who have rosacea, oral antibiotics can be prescribed by your doctor. The medical term for this condition is actually known as rhinophyma, and there is no known link between alcohol and rhinophyma.

To learn about how we treat substance abuse at Ark Behavioral Health, please connect with our treatment specialists today. If you or a loved one are experiencing side effects related to alcohol abuse and addiction, help is available. 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. Using alcohol heavily, especially over a long period of time, can have a devastating effect on your health. While the idea that alcohol causes rhinophyma has been popularized in movies and illustrations, studies do not support this stigma.

Additives in red wine may cause even more noticeable reddening of the skin. Our assistance line is a complimentary service, with no charges incurred by the caller. Our primary goal is to facilitate the discovery of a Legacy Healing Center that matches your recovery aspirations. However, there has been a significant shift in the way the medical field looks at and approaches rhinophyma after recent research. Szymańska-Skrzypek, Anna; Burduk, Paweł K.; Betlejewski, Stanisław.