Content
It is essential to fully understand the patient’s concerns and consider the emotional impact of the condition on the patient. Attention must be given towards systemic treatment of rosacea and avoiding trigger factors to achieve symptoms control. It is the end-stage alcoholic nose presentation of phymatous rosacea, and may occur in patients with few or no other features of rosacea. Rosacea can stem from having fair skin or a genetic disposition. The condition is also more common in caucasian, middle-aged men than in any other group.
Most of these symptoms affect the skin and can lead to further swelling and inflammation if not treated. If you have rosacea and struggle with alcohol use, you might be putting yourself at risk of experiencing more severe side effects of rosacea. 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 Treatment
Alcoholic nose, or drinker’s nose, is an informal term that refers to an enlarged purple nose that is thought to be caused by chronic alcohol abuse. Learn more about drinker’s nose and if drinking alcohol can affect the features of the face. 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. While several of these terms are related to drinking alcohol, the reality is that alcohol abuse is not considered a cause of rhinophyma.
Rosacea is a lifelong but treatable condition that mainly affects the cheeks and other central parts of the face. Banyan Treatment Center Delaware looks at the alcoholic nose and what exactly causes people to experience it. Alcohol is a vasodilator, meaning when someone drinks it, their blood vessels spread open. More blood flows toward the skin, causing the red, ruffled face that’s routine with rhinophyma.
What Is Alcoholic Nose & How Does It Happen?
Rhinophyma is characterised by hypertrophy of nasal skin, with hyperplasia and fibrosis of the sebaceous glands and connective tissue. The nasal tip and alae are preferentially affected by the hypertrophy, and the lower portion of the nose is predominantly affected. Rhinophyma develops in certain individuals with an unknown predisposition from long-standing rosacea which has progressed to a severe form. Colloquial terms for the rhinophyma include “whiskey nose”, “gin blossom”, “toros nose”, and “potato nose”. Undergo electrosurgery or laser therapy to shrink their blood vessels. Rhinophyma is not caused by drinking alcohol and occurs both in those who do not drink as well as those who drink heavily.
What does alcoholism do to your face?
Alcohol causes your body and skin to lose fluid (dehydrate). Dry skin wrinkles more quickly and can look dull and grey. Alcohol's diuretic (water-loss) effect also causes you to lose vitamins and nutrients.