
It should not be used to replace the suggestions of your personal physician or other health care professionals. Alcohol might contribute to rosacea and rhinophyma, but the substance doesn’t seem to cause the conditions in the first place. People who have noses that are inflamed, alcoholic nose bulbous, and red often have rhinophyma, which might be a form of a condition known as rosacea. Avoiding these triggers may help keep the scarring caused by rhinophyma at bay, and doctors may choose to treat rosacea and rhinophyma with anti-inflammatories and topical antibiotics.
Rhinophyma as a Side Effect of Rosacea

Another successful story of a rhinophyma patient is that of Pamela, whose rhinophyma seemed to be triggered by severe acne along with multiple pregnancies and emotional distress. One of the biggest lifestyle change options that people have for improvement or prevention is to stop consuming alcohol. The exact cause of rhinophyma is unknown beyond the fact that it is related to rosacea, and for some people who develop it, it can be a mystery as to why.
Is A Big Nose A Sign Of Alcoholism?

However, these lifestyle changes are ineffective in reducing swelling or the appearance of red bumps on a person’s nose due to rhinophyma. Even though research is debunking the connection between alcoholism and rhinophyma, there is still a stigma attached to this disorder. It can be difficult for people with rhinophyma to go out in public due to the judgment they receive from others based on the appearance of their nose. While alcohol is not the cause of rhinophyma or rosacea, alcohol can have an impact on both. When a person has a pre-existing issue with rosacea or rhinophyma, it can irritate the disorder and worsen symptoms.
- Rarely, severe pain after drinking alcohol is a sign of a more serious disorder, such as Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
- While the previous belief was that rhinophyma was the result of alcohol consumption, there is no factual link between alcohol and rhinophyma.
- Rhinophyma is a skin disorder characterized by a large, red, bumpy or bulbous nose.
What Causes Rhinophyma?
It is the end-stage presentation of phymatous rosacea, and may occur in patients with few or no other features of rosacea. When rhinophyma is severe enough, an individual can have trouble breathing. This occurs when the skin of the nose has become bulbous enough to constrict the natural airways of the nose.

Within 5 minutes, you’ll receive an email with these details – free of charge. For some individuals with alcohol addiction, it can be more effective to enroll in a treatment program outside of their local community. This way, they are not bombarded with social pressures and stigma close to home. 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. Below are some of the most common physical indications that you or a loved one may have alcoholic nose.
Alcohol detox may not take as long or produce severe withdrawal symptoms, but it is still an essential beginning to your recovery. These changes happen over time and make the nose look very different from a normal, healthy nose. If you are suffering from an alcoholic nose and are an alcoholic, you can get help. It is okay to reach out for help regardless of what is happening. For help with rhinophyma, you can get in touch with your dermatologist or your general practitioner.
- According to older research, cited in a 2023 article, rhinophyma begins as “pre-rosacea,” and the only symptom at this stage is facial flushing.
- This line is managed by Legacy Healing Center, an esteemed addiction recovery institution with facilities in Florida, New Jersey, Ohio, and California.
- Common treatment options include medication, behavioral therapies, and 12-step support groups.
- Someone with alcoholism does not necessarily need to have rosacea to be an alcoholic.
- 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.
- There are several million individuals who attempt to manage their addiction every day, and less than eight percent actually seek treatment.
While it may contribute to rhinophyma or “drinker’s nose,” it probably doesn’t cause it. In people who already have rosacea and rhinophyma, this can mean an increase in inflammation, flushing, and the further progression of these conditions. This means that in someone who already has rosacea, heavy drinking may cause the rosacea to become more severe and they may then develop symptoms like rhinophyma. Whether a person is dealing with rhinophyma or alcoholism, it should not be acceptable to alienate a person or group of people due to a disease. There are several million individuals who attempt to manage their addiction every day, and less than eight percent actually seek treatment. Enlarged blood vessels and tissue overgrowth can cause disfigurement.
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