Rhinophyma is commonly called an Alcoholic’s nose, whiskey nose, or gin blossom nose because it was thought the condition was brought on by alcohol consumption for a long time. People who drank heavily were thought to be more likely to develop this condition, and it was thought that the underlying cause of the condition was also directly related to drinking. While rhinophyma is often dubbed “alcoholic nose,” the reality is that it’s a type of rosacea — meaning that heavy drinking isn’t actually linked to it.

However, it frequently appears in individuals who have long-term rosacea. Rhino means nose while phyma means a swelling, nodule, or skin tumor. If you think you may have rhinophyma, it’s important to see a doctor or dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment. Individuals with rhinophyma are at risk for skin cancer within the affected tissue.

Instead, there are specific treatment programs meant to help those who need to safely detox, recover, and maintain a new lifestyle after saying goodbye to alcohol. As a result, areas where blood vessels are more likely to be noticed, like the face, can start to change coloration anywhere from a light blush to bright red or even purple. Since the effects of rosacea and rhinophyma can make blood vessels more visible, it makes sense that alcohol can worsen the symptoms of these conditions. Alcoholic’s nose, or rhinophyma, is a condition that causes the nose or other facial features to become swollen, enlarged, red, or misshapen, changing the appearance of the nose. Learn more about the risks and long-term effects of alcoholic’s nose.

The nose may also be ruddy and bumpy in appearance, caused by the way alcohol affects your blood vessels and pores. This is known commonly as ‘alcoholic nose’ and is an upsetting and concerning side effect of drinking too much. If you live in Brooksville, Florida and need professional addiction treatment to help you stop drinking alcohol, Springbrook Behavioral Hospital can help. We are a mental health rehab center that specializes in supporting adults with co-occurring disorders, including alcohol use disorder. For some people, avoiding these things can come as a challenge, especially if they are struggling with an alcohol use disorder. However, this doesn’t mean that recovering from both an alcohol addiction and drinker’s nose is impossible.

While the idea that alcohol causes rhinophyma has been popularized in movies and illustrations, studies do not support this stigma. However, alcohol may still play a very small role in increasing the risk of developing this condition. Because alcohol dilates blood vessels and damages the vascular system, it can aggravate rhinophyma and other types of rosacea. Not everyone with rosacea who develops thickened skin will go on to develop rhinophyma.

What Are the Origins of Drinkers Nose?

However, it is not more or less impactful than any other risk factors, such as gender, age, skin tone, and family history. Likewise, not everyone with an alcohol addiction develops rosacea, either. In many cases, “alcoholic nose” is used to describe the most severe, end-stage form of rosacea, known as rhinophyma. Rhinophyma causes the nose to become even more disfigured due to the progressive dilation of the nasal vessels as well as the involvement of cysts and pustules.

• If you think you may have rhinophyma, it’s important to see a doctor or dermatologist for diagnosis and treatment.
• People with Rosacea tend to develop symptoms between 30 and 50, and the exact cause of the condition isn’t clear.
• While the more commonly discussed impacts of alcohol abuse involve the liver, heart, and brain, the nose can also suffer significant harm.
• Surgical treatment can remove tissue overgrowth, reshape disfigured noses, and minimize the appearance of enlarged blood vessels.
• Any alcoholic drink can make red nose worse, but red wine and port are two of the most problematic.

These might also be the type of people you are seeing with purple or red noses who are drinking in a bar. In less severe cases, medication may be effective in treating rhinophyma. Topical and oral antibiotics reduce inflammation and redness, and other topical medications minimize inflammation. Some people also take oral capsules that stop skin glands from producing oil.

Causes of rhinophyma or “alcoholic nose”

Learn about injury treatment, physical therapy, and safe return-to-play strategies. This article aims to foster greater empathy and understanding for this specific skin disorder. In many cases, rhinophyma is not linked to alcohol use, and assuming otherwise does a disservice to those affected. These procedures help reshape the nose while avoiding disruption of the cartilage tissue and causing minimal scarring. In some cases, cryosurgery—the use of extreme cold to remove damaged tissue—may be considered.

WhiteSands Treatment: Get Addiction Support and Avoid Symptoms Like Alcoholic Nose

Not being able to stop drinking despite its negative consequences is one of the main signs of developing alcohol dependence. There are several treatments available, but they cannot prevent it from coming back if you continue drinking. Most likely, this has to do with the fact that alcohol has an interesting effect on the blood vessels in the face. When alcohol enters the bloodstream, it makes the vessels expand at first and then, after a few drinks, they begin to constrict. In some cases, infections arise due to the entrapment of bacteria in the inflamed skin.

However, rosacea has other causes and alcoholic nose is more common in people with these predispositions. 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. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol addiction, reach out to our Brooklyn Rehab Center. Ascendant New York is here to help, offering drug rehab treatment to all five boroughs within New York City.

Pulse dye laser treatment is used in these cases and can take up to four treatments to improve the appearance of your nose. Start your recovery journey today with personalized treatment and expert support. At the same time, it’s worth noting that these factors don’t mean you’ll have rosacea.

Programs & Services

Alcoholic nose, known by its clinical name, rhinophyma, is a condition that causes the nose to become bumpy, swollen, and red in appearance. Also referred to as “drinker’s nose,” this condition may be the result of rosacea as well as alcohol abuse. At most, excessive drinking can increase someone’s risk of developing rosacea.

Will My Red Nose Go Away if I Stop Drinking?

At the same time, the nose will likely become redder, bumpy, and completely different in shape. At United Recovery Project, our holistic approach to addiction treatment centers around addressing and healing the underlying issues at the root of addiction. With the development of rhinophyma, the nose appears red, large, and bumpy.

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. However, these treatment methods have not been effective for reducing swelling or the appearance of bumps on the nose from rhinophyma. The association between alcohol abuse and rosacea can be traumatizing for some people with rosacea. The shoulders and chest are also susceptible to looking more flushed or red after drinking alcohol.

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In addition, we offer detox services as part of our addiction recovery program. This is a great tool for those looking to stop drinking because of alcoholic nose. A medically supervised detox allows them to fully quit drinking in a safe, encouraging environment. Alternatively, someone who suffers from alcohol addiction why do alcoholics have weird noses may feel like their rosacea is a constant, visible reminder of their struggles. Fortunately, it is possible to manage symptoms of rhinophyma to lessen their impact on daily life. Rhinophyma is more common in men than women, though people of all genders can develop the condition.

What Causes Alcoholic Nose?

Weighing the impact on your life against your desire to drink may help you to make a decision. Later stages of rhinophyma occur when the blood vessels have burst, and the nose becomes deformed and can only be treated with surgery. This also is not funded by the NHS, and reconstructive surgery can cost tens of thousands. Alcohol affects your skin in several ways that contribute to the final result of a swollen, red and misshapen nose. The main cause, however, isn’t rhinophyma but rosacea, which is triggered by alcohol use.