What Is Alcoholic Nose Red Appearance? Signs & How To Treat

Alcoholic nose, or drinker’s nose, is an informal term that refers to an enlarged purple nose that is thought to be caused by chronic alcohol abuse. Learn more about drinker’s nose and if drinking alcohol can affect the features of the face. 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.

Our evidence-based treatment for alcoholism is guided by a trauma-informed philosophy recognizing the needs and dignity of our clients. We offer a safe place where the roots of addiction can be explored safely and effectively. Rhinophyma, or an alcoholic nose, cannot be reversed with just medication, but some medicines help manage the problem.

Red Nose Alcohol Street Names

There are a few medicines that can help control the side effects of an alcoholic nose. These medications are typically prescribed by doctors, dermatologists, and professional skin specialists. It is not alcoholic nose uncommon for someone who is drinking alcohol to feel flushed or for their skin to become red. However, becoming red and having flushed skin differs from Rhinophyma or any other branch of Rosacea.

With progression, the aesthetic subunits of the nose merge and become obliterated. While the underlying frameworks are usually unaffected, patients often suffer from secondary nasal airway obstruction at the external nasal valves. Capsules such as Oral isotretinoin are typically administered to stop skin glands from secreting oils and to make the situation worse. The most common type of skin cancer in these cases is basal cell carcinoma. Individuals with rhinophyma are at risk for skin cancer within the affected tissue.

A quick note on terminology

When the capillaries on the surface of the nose break they can then appear purple. While alcohol may not be a cause of drinker’s nose, drinking alcohol can still affect your appearance. Primarily, alcohol is a diuretic that dehydrates the entire body, including the face. Therefore, by stripping the face’s skin of moisture, alcohol contributes to the appearance of wrinkles and saggy, dry skin.