What Is an Alcoholic Nose?
Alcoholic Nose is a term used to describe a skin disorder characterized by an uneven, puffy, and red appearance of the cheeks and nose. However, there has been a misconception that alcohol abuse is responsible for this skin condition over the years. This has made more individuals ashamed to seek treatment as some people erroneously tagged them “alcoholics”.
It is crucial to note that alcohol abuse is not the root cause of this skin condition, and this article will address the misconception and explain the reasons behind this disorder.
Causes of rhinophyma (Alcoholic Nose)
Rhinophyma is a Greek word for nose growth but is popularly known as an alcoholic nose in layman terms. It belongs to a class of conditions called Rosacea, which is responsible for skin inflammation. However, this inflammation is triggered by sores and broken blood vessels on the nose or around the nose area, making it swell.
When the blood vessels are broken, the blood on the skin surface will be visible and this causes redness. The nose and cheeks appear purple and badly damaged in severe cases. Rosacea has four subsets, but Rhinophyma is the most dangerous of all subsets. Rhinophyma is a skin condition that arises from the lack of treatment of Rosacea symptoms.
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Moving From Rosacea To Rhinophyma
According to experts, not everyone with the Rosacea will move into the Rhinophyma stage as a little percentage of individuals with Rosacea are infected with Rhinophyma, and most of them are men. Persons with light skin tone and individuals with a family history of Rosacea are likely to develop Rhinophyma.
Because of the stigma created by the misconception about Rhinophyma because it was considered a consequence of alcohol abuse, most individuals dislike seeking treatment. However, the nose is badly disfigured by Rhinophyma, and this makes the infected individual conscious about his or her nose. This condition affects their self-worth and makes them lose their confidence.
Skin redness has been strongly linked with alcohol addiction, but it is critical to separate facts from myths. Some individuals experience redness of the face and cheeks when drinking alcohol. Experts have confirmed that facial redness happens for two major reasons, and these are Rosacea and lack of an enzyme.
With enzyme shortage, it is confirmed that most Asians lack an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase. This enzyme is responsible for the breaking down of alcohol in the body system. Lack of it in the body makes the face and cheek look red as the blood vessels’ cells expand whenever alcohol is consumed. Rosacea affects individuals with light skin tones, and can easily be activated by the consumption of some diets, such as spicy meals, alcohol, and chocolate.
Medical practitioners have identified alcoholism as one factor that worsens the signs of rosacea in the body system.
What is Rosacea? How Does It Develop and Symptoms?
Rosacea is a skin condition responsible for redness and noticeable blood vessels on the face. Experts said its symptoms may show for weeks and leave for some time. Rosacea also produces tiny bumps filled with pus.
This disorder usually affects men and women with fair skin tones in their middle age. It is an excellent idea to start the treatment procedures once the symptoms are visible.
Here are some symptoms of rosacea:
- Swollen bumps: Usually, these bumps are mistakenly likened to acne as they are filled with pus. The skin around the bumps will be reddish and make you feel uneasy, as the pain can be unpleasant.
- Enlarged Face: One of the most prevalent symptoms of rosacea is swollen face as infected persons have swollen and dry eyelids. It is also known as the type of rosacea that affects the eyes as ocular rosacea.
- Redness of the Face: When the face’s blood vessels appear under the skin surface, it triggers a reddish face, and this redness is restricted to the nose and other adjoining areas around the nose.
- Swollen and rounded nose: When left untreated, rosacea can advance to an abnormal stage where the nose skin is thickened, causing a bulging appearance.
It is also important to note that environmental factors and consumption of several foods and drinks can be responsible for rosacea. Some factors that could cause a spike in rosacea are spicy meals, stress, alcoholism, hot drinks, staying under extreme temperatures, exposure to sunlight, wind, application of some dangerous skincare products, and consumption of drugs that expand blood vessels.
Correcting Wrong Impression About Rhinophyma
Though alcoholism can trigger rosacea, it is crucial to note that not every individual infected by rosacea will develop rhinophyma in the long run. A small fraction of these people are likely to be affected by rhinophyma when they consume alcoholic beverages. Not that alcohol consumption causes that rhinophyma. However, there are several recovery plans for this skin condition, and this would be treated in this write-up.
However, the National Institute of Health has weighed in its opinion on the controversy surrounding alcoholism and rhinophyma. It opined that alcohol addiction can only worsen the symptoms and not the root cause of the disorder. This is to correct an age-long misconception and save the affected individuals from embarrassment associated with the skin condition.
Treatment Plans
There is hope for the rhinophyma patients as there are two treatment alternatives for them. They are free to choose from these recovery plans, and these are:
1. Medication
Medications do not eliminate the impact of the alcoholic nose, also known as rhinophyma, but they can play a significant role in the management of the symptoms. It is better to use medication at the early stage when symptoms are first noticed to prevent a breakdown. However, you can manage the redness of the nose, which is a spin-off of rosacea with medication.
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2. Surgery
Most advanced rhinophyma cases are treated by surgical procedures. Abnormal growth of tissues and expanded blood vessels are the culprits responsible for the peculiar shape of the nose, and if it is not removed, it could be permanent and disfigure the face of the patient. These are some of the surgical procedures that can correct this disorder:
- Application of a scalpel for the surgery.
- Use of a laser resurfacing with a carbon dioxide laser.
- Dermabrasion: This is using a small appliance for the removal of top layers of the skin.
- Cryosurgery: A procedure of using exceedingly cold temperatures for the freezing and removal of redundant tissues in the affected area of the body.
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