"Alcoholic Nose:” Is Alcohol Really the Cause?

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. In many cases, doctors are not able to definitively find the cause of rhinophyma. While it primarily affects the nasal area of Caucasian men between the ages of 50 and 70, people of all ages and skin tones can have the condition. When you call our team, you will speak to a Recovery Advocate who will answer any questions and perform a pre-assessment to determine your eligibility for treatment. If eligible, we will create a treatment plan tailored to your specific needs.

Nonsurgical treatments

“Rhinophyma” is the medical term for “drinker’s nose”, which is a side effect of the skin condition rosacea. Contrary to popular belief, a “drinker’s nose” is not necessarily caused by alcohol addiction or abuse. The medical term is rhinophyma, and there is actually no known link between alcohol and rhinophyma. Though drinking alcohol may not be the cause of rhinophyma, those who suffer from rosacea and alcohol addiction may experience reddening of the skin and other symptoms. Rhinophyma — also sometimes referred to as “alcoholic nose” — is a physical condition that many people assume is caused by alcohol use disorder (alcoholism).

Treatments for rhinophyma or “alcoholic nose”

Rhinophyma is how to taper off prozac 10mg not directly caused by alcoholism or regular alcohol consumption. Rhinophyma is actually a subtype of rosacea, a skin disorder that leaves the nose looking swollen, enlarged, red, bulbous, and distorted. People who experience Rhinophyma may also experience other types of rosacea. Like rhinophyma, rosacea can affect anyone including those individuals who have darker skin as well as children and teens. However, irregularities in the circulatory and vascular system could contribute to the issue.

Risk Factors For Rhinophyma

Topical retinoids might also be recommended for anyone who catches the condition in its early stages. Surgical and drug-based treatments can help, but limited research suggests that the condition may recur after surgery. No, rhinophyma is not reversible once it progresses to its hypertrophic and bulbous stages. At this point, surgical intervention is typically necessary to correct the deformity.

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2. In the early stages of rhinophyma, a person may experience excessive facial flushing.
3. 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.
4. 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.

What Is Rhinophyma?

With that in mind, there are some instances where drinking alcohol frequently could lead to rhinophyma symptoms. While misusing alcohol over a prolonged period of time may not be likely to cause an alcoholic nose, there are many other ways alcohol can affect your body. Alcohol can cause liver disease and kidney problems as well as increase your risk of cancer, heart attack and stroke. Using alcohol heavily, especially over a long period of time, can have a devastating effect on your health.

To learn about how we treat substance abuse at Ark Behavioral Health, please connect with our treatment specialists today. With surgical treatments, care must be taken to avoid disturbing cartilage while leaving enough skin to ensure proper healing with minimal scarring. Out of these options, carbon dioxide laser surgery is considered the preferred option because it allows for the most precise removal of excess tissue. Still, many doctors may recommend a multi-solution approach that combines options such as carbon dioxide lasers with dermabrasion to better remove damaged tissue. 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.

Alcohol acts as a vasodilator, something that opens up the blood vessels. how to safely wean off alcohol This allows blood to travel more easily through the vessels, causing a flushed look in the face. You, nor your loved one, are under any obligation to commit to a Legacy Healing Center treatment program when calling the helpline. All Addiction Resource content is medically reviewed or fact checked to ensure as much factual accuracy as possible.

But we do know that drinking can cause more flushing in people with rosacea. If you think your drinking habits are causing your alcoholic nose flare-ups, know that the best way to stop them is to quit drinking. The detoxification process only lasts short-term but may require that you are supervised by a healthcare professional. Adding to this myth is the term “whiskey nose,” which comes from the way people would drink whiskey. The medical term for this condition central nervous system (cns) depressants is actually known as rhinophyma, and there is no known link between alcohol and rhinophyma.