The best way to treat rhinophyma is to prevent it from developing in the first place through proper diagnosis and treatment of early-onset rosacea. This often involves lifestyle changes and medication to manage this condition. Rosacea is a skin condition that affects plenty of people each year. When a person has rosacea, their skin—especially on the face— will appear red and create visible blood vessels in the face. Case severity will depend on the individual and certain variables that exist in one’s life that have the potential to aggravate rhinophyma.
- Before discussing potential treatment options for alcoholic nose, it is important to understand whether or not alcohol itself is truly to blame.
- Yet chronic alcohol abuse can worsen the condition (rosacea), which leads to drinker’s nose when left untreated.
- You can take them with you to your next appointment to talk with your healthcare provider.
- You can also join a local support group offered by the National Association of Mental Illness (NAMI), which addresses substance abuse when NPD and other mental health disorders.
- Alcohol can aggravate rosacea flare-ups, thus potentially making rhinophyma more severe.
Regardless, it’s always a good idea to look for mental health help if you’re experiencing something that causes you distress. Further research into the causes of AUD might help experts develop more treatment options. People can misuse alcohol without having AUD or being addicted to alcohol.
How Is Alcoholic Nose Treated?
Each person needs a different treatment method depending on their unique situation, and as such, not everyone will have the same treatment program. To get started, contact a doctor or other healthcare professional, or reach out to a therapist. People with AUD or NPD might resist getting treatment or looking for help. It’s possible for people with AUD to successfully stop using alcohol when they have the right support and treatment. People who are genetically predisposed to experience unpleasant side effects of drinking are less likely to drink often, making AUD unlikely.
Additionally, alcohol-related nasal inflammation and congestion can contribute to the development of this condition. “Alcoholic nose,” or drinker’s nose, is a skin condition commonly identified by a red, bumpy, or swollen appearance of the nose and cheeks. It’s hard to say when exactly this condition became linked with heavy alcohol use, but stereotypes in popular media have kept this connection alive. At most, excessive drinking can increase someone’s risk of developing rosacea.
Does Excessive Alcohol Use Cause Rhinophyma?
We also discuss treatment options for alcohol abuse and addiction for those who are struggling with an alcohol use disorder. While several of these terms are related to drinking alcohol, the reality is that alcohol abuse is not considered a cause of rhinophyma. Rather, drinker’s nose is actually a condition stemming from rosacea, a chronic skin disorder that causes visibly red or swollen skin and sometimes bumps or acne-like conditions. Therefore, when severe rosacea spreads to the nose, it is termed rhinophyma (literally meaning “nose swelling”). Notably, it should not be assumed that someone with this condition suffers from alcohol use disorder.
Overall, doctors strongly encourage individuals with rosacea or rhinophyma to avoid alcohol altogether, and if they are not able to avoid alcohol, only drink very sparingly. Alcoholic vasodilation can alcoholic nose also lead to increased blood flow to the nose, which can exacerbate inflammation and swelling in the nasal passages. This can lead to symptoms such as nasal congestion, runny nose, and postnasal drip.