Alcoholic Nose Is Rhinophyma Caused by Drinking Too Much?

While the cause of rosacea isn’t fully understood, it’s believed to involve a combination of an overactive immune response, genetics, and environmental factors. It is not contagious and cannot be cured, though it can be managed in different ways. While alcohol does not cause rhinophyma, it does appear to be linked with it in certain cases and may potentially worsen an existing case of rhinophyma. By submitting this form you agree to the terms of use and privacy policy of the website. While it may not be clear what causes rhinophyma, there are a number of triggers that can cause a flare-up of rhinophyma to occur.

When a person has rosacea, their skin—especially on the face— will appear red and create visible blood vessels in the face. 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. One way to help people seek the treatment they need and help them live out healthier and better futures is to provide people with the whole story and clear information.

What Is An Alcoholic Nose Or Drinker’s Nose (Rhinophyma)?

Rosacea is a separate disease and disorder from alcoholism and has no connecting cause. Someone with alcoholism does not necessarily need to have rosacea to be an alcoholic nose alcoholic. People with this condition are often in the later stages of rosacea, which causes a red face with small, pus-filled bumps often mistaken for acne.

However, it is very important to note that rosacea and rhinophyma can be agitated by things other than alcohol. Stress, sleeplessness, dehydration, depression, improper diet, dry skin, and many other factors can agitate rosacea and rhinophyma. It is incredibly important to remember that alcohol does not cause this disorder. It is like having an allergic reaction to peanuts and eating a spoonful of peanut butter. You already have an allergic reaction to the peanuts, but by adding more peanuts, you are adding a bigger reaction and agitating the reaction more, making it worse. Drinking alcohol will cause additional facial flushing, contributing to inflammation and swelling.

What Are Some Other Names for Alcoholic Nose?

After treatment, we will work with you to ensure a smooth transition to less intensive, supplementary levels of care. At Georgetown Behavioral Hospital, you can take youraddiction recovery journey one step at a time. During your time in our inpatient rehab setting, you will learn effective coping strategies to handle life’s daily stressors without using substances. However, not everybody will experience a red face when drinking, and not everybody that does is an alcoholic. However, rhinophyma can make normal breathing through the nose a challenge. Obviously, this can decrease a person’s quality of life and be a hindrance to daily life and chores. Aside from physical repercussions, those who deal with rhinophyma can also face prejudice for their physical appearance.

Alcohol addiction can lead to a number of side effects, which may include affecting rosacea. With time, alcohol abuse can worsen rosacea and contribute to the development of rhinophyma . This common name and years of misinformation from the medical community about the condition prompted a false link between alcohol abuse and alcoholic nose.

Treatments for ‘Alcoholic Nose’

Cirque Lodge is considered amongst our colleagues, as one of, if not the premium drug and alcohol rehab facility in the country. You will not find a more beautiful or comprehensive treatment resource to heal and recover from alcoholism or other substance use disorders. When someone develops a physical alcohol dependence, they may experience a series of withdrawal symptoms if they stop or break from drinking. Experiencing these symptoms – or drinking alcohol to avoid them – can be a sign of addiction.

• Alcoholic nose, known by its clinical name Rhinophyma, is a condition that causes the nose to become bumpy, swollen, and red in appearance.
• Many times, it can be stubborn and require something stronger, in this case surgery.
• Specially trained staff are available right now to discuss treatment options for you or your loved one.
• Contrary to popular belief, a “drinker’s nose” is not necessarily caused by alcohol addiction or abuse.
• Because alcohol dilates blood vessels and damages the vascular system, it can aggravate rhinophyma and other types of rosacea.

A “drinker’s nose” is actually a condition called rhinophyma, a side effect of rosacea. Usually, rhinophyma involves reddening of the nose and a noticeably bulbous nose, which means that the nose becomes enlarged, more pronounced, and rounder. You should be very cautious in assuming that anyone with an enlarged nose or redder nose has an alcohol use disorder. However, there is some very slight truth to the idea that alcohol may contribute to the development of rhinophyma or aggravate the symptoms of the skin condition.

What Does ‘Alcoholic Nose’ Mean?

The exact cause of rhinophyma isn’t known but a doctor can usually make a visual diagnosis. Rosacea is a lifelong but treatable condition that mainly affects the cheeks and other central parts of the face. In the end, we have discovered that an alcohol use disorder is not necessarily responsible for rhinophyma.