What Is Alcoholic Nose or Drinkers Nose? Rhinophyma

However, many people who use alcohol heavily do not develop rosacea, and rosacea does often occur in people who do not drink alcohol or only drinkers nose use it in moderation. Rhinophyma, the condition often referred to as alcoholic nose, has a red, swollen, lumpy appearance. The nose may also have a purple-colored appearance and could be mistaken for having warts or other skin blemishes that look like protruding lumps. “Alcoholic nose” is a term given to the medical condition rhinophyma when it’s thought to be caused by alcohol use. Not everyone with rosacea who develops thickened skin will go on to develop rhinophyma.

If you or someone you know struggles with alcohol addiction, The Hope House can help. Alternatively, someone who suffers from alcohol addiction 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. Rosacea often happens in flare-ups that can last weeks or months before your skin calms down and the symptoms disappear.

What Does Alcoholism Do To Your Appearance?

However, if your nose is constantly swollen, it might be a sign you’re drinking too much. While rhinophyma can affect anyone, it is more common in men over 30 with fair skin. Those with a family history of rosacea also increases the likelihood of developing rhinophyma (alcoholic nose). We are dedicated to transforming the despair of addiction into a purposeful life of confidence, self-respect and happiness. We want to give recovering addicts the tools to return to the outside world completely substance-free and successful.

Signs of Rhinophyma

Identifying and avoiding personal triggers is crucial in managing rosacea and preventing rhinophyma. By understanding what exacerbates your condition, you can take proactive steps to avoid these triggers and manage your symptoms more effectively. Surgical interventions are usually considered when other treatments have failed.

What are the Symptoms of Rhinophyma?

Rhinophyma — also sometimes referred to as “alcoholic nose” — is a physical condition that many people assume is caused by alcohol use disorder (alcoholism). If preventative techniques don’t work and you develop this skin condition, surgery is the most common method of treatment. Some acne medications may also reduce many of the symptoms of rhinophyma.

• Alcoholics nose, or drinker’s nose, is an informal term that refers to an enlarged purple or red nose thought to be caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
• However, managing rhinophyma requires a comprehensive approach that addresses various contributing factors, including genetics and environmental triggers.
• An alcoholic nose is not a true diagnosis of alcoholism or even a sign of it in many cases.
• Rosacea is a chronic skin condition that is characterized by facial flushing—especially in the nasal area or cheeks—and irregular redness.
• Red wine, for instance, is more likely to cause flare-ups due to its high histamine content.
• This chronic but treatable condition causes broken blood vessels on or near the nose, giving the red, bumpy appearance linked with an alcoholic nose.

Programs

Contact RehabNet.com today on our free and confidential helpline to find out more about how you can get started in addiction recovery right away. Rhinophyma can be difficult on a person’s self-esteem, as it can be difficult to hide and can inspire a lot of judgment and social stigma. And while it can happen to both drinkers and non-drinkers, it is more likely to occur in people who consume alcohol regularly. Our editorial team ensures accuracy, sourcing, and objective analysis, with each article fact-checked by an editor. All medically related content is reviewed by doctors who specialize in the relevant fields. For an extensive list of recovery programs, we encourage you to explore our main website’s top-ranked rehab facilities or utilize the SAMHSA Treatment Services Directory.

Addressing alcohol abuse is also crucial in prevention, as excessive drinking can exacerbate rosacea symptoms and lead to further complications. While there is no cure for rhinophyma, several treatment options can help manage the symptoms and improve the appearance of the nose. A combination of medical treatments and lifestyle changes often yields the best results.

• In any case, using the medical term for alcoholic nose is a helpful way to stop spreading misinformation and decrease the stigma surrounding rosacea.
• If you feel that any of our content is inaccurate, out-of-date, or otherwise questionable, please contact at
• Over the years, several quirky and interesting terms for alcoholics’ noses took off and became popular to refer to people with larger or purplish-red noses.
• Surgical treatment can remove tissue overgrowth, reshape disfigured noses, and minimize the appearance of enlarged blood vessels.
• Because for so many years people have assumed a connection between alcoholism and rhinophyma, a stigma has formed around the idea of an alcoholic nose.
• Drinking alcohol can wreak havoc on the vascular system as the brain fails to regulate its functions.

If a person has rhinophyma, that is no indication as to whether they drink or abuse alcohol. Alcohol abuse can cause red flushness in the face similar to the symptoms of rhinophyma, leading to confusion between the two. Pamela was successfully treated first with Ultherapy and a debulking procedure, along with a CO2 resurfacing with laser surgery. Her long-term treatment plan then included a prescription for Accutane. Please note, however, that medications will not make rhinophyma go away once it is already present, but can reduce its appearance and prevent infections.