According to the Mayo Clinic, rosacea symptoms often come in episodes. The symptoms will flare up for a few weeks or months and then slowly die down. The symptoms might be very mild for an amount of time and then the cycle is repeated again. You might be familiar with a pervasive stereotype of alcoholics having a red face or a plump, bulbous kind of nose.
What Is Alcoholic Nose or Rhinophyma
If a person has an existing rhinophyma condition, alcohol may aggravate it. Alcohol acts as a vasodilator, something that opens up the blood vessels. This allows blood to travel more easily through the vessels, causing a flushed look in the face.
Alcoholism Treatment
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. However, recent research has suggested that while alcohol worsens the symptoms of rhinophyma, it is not the primary cause.
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- It is okay to reach out for help regardless of what is happening.
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- “[Rhinophyma–diagnosis and treatment].” Polish Journal of Otolaryngology, 2004.
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Medication is not always enough to control rhinophyma once it has developed. Many times, it can be stubborn and require something stronger, in this case surgery. However, if a case of rhinophyma is less severe, some of the treatments we discussed for rosacea may be used. However, it’s always important to keep in mind that rhinophyma ultimately manifests itself as a side effect of rosacea. People can experience rhinophyma without drinking alcohol or very occasionally drinking it.
Preventing Rhinophyma
People who experience Rhinophyma may also experience other types of rosacea. For many years, it was assumed that rhinophyma (a misshapen, red, bulbous nose skin condition) was the result of alcoholism. alcoholic nose pictures The physical impact of rhinophyma can be a point of self-consciousness for many individuals. After all, nobody really wants to stand out for something like a skin condition they can’t control.
Springbrook Psychiatric Hospital is a 66 bed inpatient mental health facility located in Hernando County. We offer 24-hour psychiatric services provided by licensed professionals in various disciplines. Our hospital offers a variety of programs that can be tailored to patient needs, including an older adult program, dual diagnosis treatment and general psychiatric care. At most, excessive drinking can increase someone’s risk of developing rosacea. However, it is not more or less impactful than any other risk factors, such as gender, age, skin tone, and family history.
What Is Rosacea and How Is it Related To 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. We specialize in dual diagnosis treatment, meaning we are the best equipped to help individuals who have both substance use disorder and another mental illness. 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. Of course, avoiding alcohol isn’t always easy—especially for long-term drinkers.
The Stigma of Rhinophyma or Alcoholic Nose
Just because they have swelling and discoloration around the nose does not mean they are an alcoholic. This stigma has caused many people to feel uncomfortable and ostracized from society. The issue is that rhinophyma has absolutely nothing to do with alcoholism.
