Alcoholic Nose and the Physical Side Effects of Alcoholism

“Alcoholic nose” is a term given to the medical condition rhinophyma when it’s thought to be caused by alcohol use. For people who develop rhinophyma, their face skin thickens, especially around the nose. 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.

Eliminating The Stigma Behind Alcoholic Nose

When someone has Rhinophyma, the blood vessels under the skin of their nose usually break and give the skin a red and swollen appearance. Alcohol addiction treatment programs combine evidence-based therapies and holistic treatments. People receive tailored care to address the unique physical, emotional, and behavioral aspects of their AUD. By looking at it from this perspective, someone with agitated rosacea or rhinophyma will have a visible agitation of their skin. Thus, somebody who is an alcoholic and rhinophyma may have a redder and more bulbous nose than their red, and bulbous nose usually is. While there are no severe side effects of alcoholic nose, the main side effect is their physical appearance.

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You set your own personal goal, and we help you achieve it with coaching, medication, and other tools and resources. While drinking may not cause “alcoholic nose,” getting help to quit drinking can make the condition much easier to manage. Rosacea is not caused by alcoholism, but alcohol abuse can affect rosacea, which may worsen the appearance of a drinker’s nose. Some physical effects of alcoholism, like mild liver damage and gastrointestinal disturbances, can be reversed with sustained abstinence and appropriate medical treatment. However, chronic conditions like cirrhosis and severe neurological damage may be irreversible.

Prevention and Management

Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in preventing such severe outcomes. 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. Alcohol is linked to a number Substance abuse of serious health conditions like cirrhosis and heart failure. Heavy alcohol use also has many effects on the appearance of skin, hair, and fingernails. Alcohol causes blood vessels to enlarge, which may make them more prone to rupture.

• Rhinophyma is the skin condition which causes a person’s nose to grow and become bulbous in appearance.
• In some cases, infections arise due to the entrapment of bacteria in the inflamed skin.
• Rhinophyma has not been shown to be connected to alcohol use, and calling rhinophyma an “alcoholic nose” is not medically correct.
• This means that individuals who do not consume alcohol can also develop this condition.
• For some individuals with alcohol addiction, it can be more effective to enroll in a treatment program outside of their local community.
• Also referred to as “drinker’s nose,” this condition may be the result of rosacea as well as alcohol abuse.

Environmental triggers, such as sun exposure, extreme temperatures, and certain medications, can exacerbate the condition. Understanding the exact relationship between alcohol and rhinophyma requires more in-depth research. Unfortunately, current studies are limited and sometimes controversial. However, the existing evidence suggests that while alcohol may influence the severity of rhinophyma, it should not be viewed as the root cause of the condition. The association between alcohol consumption and rhinophyma has been a subject of debate and misconception.

• Patients are recommended to seek medical advice early if symptoms of rhinophyma appear, as timely treatment can improve outcomes and prevent the condition from worsening.
• Contrary to popular belief, a “drinker’s nose” is not necessarily caused by alcohol addiction or abuse.
• Furthermore, alcohol’s neurotoxic effects can cause peripheral neuropathy, characterized by numbness and pain in the limbs, as alcohol’s toxicity damages peripheral nerves.

That means every source is authenticated and verified to be backed only by medical science. The most common type of skin cancer in these cases is basal cell carcinoma. However, there are contradicting beliefs that attribute other causes for the reddening of the nose and the structure of the nose noticeably changing. These symptoms can be treated with antibiotics such as tetracycline, metronidazole, and erythromycin. All of the information on this page has been reviewed and verified by a certified addiction professional. Ocean Recovery has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations for our references.

• If your rhinophyma is more advanced, laser therapy may be a worthwhile treatment option.
• This allows blood to travel more easily through the vessels, causing a flushed look in the face.
• To give yourself the best chance of recovering and achieving long-term sobriety, consider seeking professional addiction treatment.
• Without treatment, alcohol abuse can turn into a life-threatening addiction.

Our hospital offers a variety alcoholic nose of programs that can be tailored to patient needs, including an older adult program, dual diagnosis treatment and general psychiatric care. 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.

What Is Alcoholic Nose?

• 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.
• You deserve the opportunity to live a life free from addiction and the bondage it can create.
• Alcohol use disorder and skin conditions like rosacea are connected because of the potential for alcohol to worsen existing skin conditions.

You can learn more about how we source our references by reading our editorial policy. Create a support group of your friends and family so that they can help you through this challenge. Remember that it is easier to do this when you have support or professional help.

However, multiple methods might be recommended to manage the thickened skin. Currently, no single thing has been shown as the direct cause of rhinophyma. The biopsy results and the clinical assessment provide a comprehensive understanding of the condition, allowing for targeted treatment strategies.

Alcoholics Nose: What It Is, What Causes It, & How to Get Help for an Addiction to Alcohol

The main treatment option for rhinophyma is surgery; however, there are some medications that may provide a small degree of help. 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. While historically linked to chronic alcohol heavy use, modern research indicates that the condition is not directly caused by alcohol consumption.