However, an examination by the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine in 2015 disproved this theory. Considerable patients in the examination were clinically diagnosed with rhinophyma but did not suffer from alcoholism or even drink regularly. While gin itself is not necessarily the cause of a gin blossom nose, alcohol can contribute to rosacea’s development. If you struggle with alcohol use and need professional help, contact us today to learn about our treatment options. To get rid of a red nose, an individual will need one or the other, if not both. The effect of an alcoholic nose isn’t just on the outside; inner nasal ways can thicken and cause breathing troubles.
Dr. Ali Nikbakht, LMFT, PsyD, Medical Reviewer
Drinking alcohol has been debunked by research as a direct link to this condition. But we do know that drinking can cause more flushing in people with rosacea. The condition is most common in men between the ages of 50 and 70. Because alcohol dilates blood vessels and damages the vascular system, it can aggravate rhinophyma and other types of rosacea. The diagnosis of rhinophyma is clinical and can be identified by the nose’s bulbous shape, skin pitting/scarring, and telangiectasia.
Can Alcoholism Cause Rhinophyma?
- 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.
- The shoulders and chest are also susceptible to looking more flushed or red after drinking alcohol.
- Scientists haven’t fully figured out exactly how rhinophyma develops.
- Unfortunately, the medical definition for it faded into doctors’ circles as the term alcoholic nose took off in modern society.
But in a worst-case scenario, rhinophyma alcohol developments can affect mood, job, and social opportunities. Plus, alcohol rhinophyma can disrupt sleep and other crucial functions. Getting a nose from drinking alcohol comes from a severe drinking habit. The content on RehabNet.com is https://ecosoberhouse.com/ intended purely for informational and educational purposes. The information available on RehabNet.com shouldn’t be utilized as a means to diagnose or treat health issues or diseases. If you think you might be facing a health challenge, please consult with a healthcare professional.
How Rhinophyma Affects Your Nose
The rest of the time, individuals are free to maintain their day-to-day lives. While it is now clear that alcoholism doesn’t cause rhinophyma, excessive drinking is believed to aggravate the condition. With the blood vessels open and allowing greater blood flow, patients can appear flushed in the face, neck, and shoulders. Addiction treatment is available for those who are struggling with alcohol abuse or addiction.
As discussed above, rosacea can be a main contributing factor to redness and flushing of the cheeks. To understand how rosacea can lead to rhinophyma, it’s important to understand what rosacea is, its symptoms, and how it develops. Your doctor will treat early rhinophyma with oral medications, alcoholic nose pictures such as antibiotics or isotretinoin. If these medications don’t work, a plastic surgeon can use different surgery techniques to change the shape of your nose and improve your breathing. A spreading redness could move across the cheeks, nose, and other areas with blood vessels close to the skin.