Rhinophyma exacerbated by heavy drinking can cause the cartilage cells to swell, resulting in a bulbous or “flared” appearance. So while drinking alcohol may not make your nose physically bigger, it can play a role in altering its appearance. Rhinophyma can affect anyone but is more common in Caucasian males between the ages of 50 and 70. These might also be the type of people you are seeing with purple or red noses who are drinking in a bar. If you are suffering from an alcoholic nose and are an alcoholic, you can get help.

How Is Rhinophyma Diagnosed?

– it’s time to determine whether this is really a cause for concern or not. It could also be that alcohol has a natural side effect to make people congested. Alcoholic drinks have a natural vasodilatory effect which expands blood vessels.
Porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT) or the “vampire disease”
However, it is very important to note that rosacea and rhinophyma can be agitated by things other than alcohol. Stress, sleeplessness, dehydration, depression, improper diet, dry skin, and many other factors can agitate rosacea and rhinophyma. An alcoholic nose is not a true diagnosis of alcoholism or even a sign of it in many cases. As stated earlier, the medical definition of an alcoholic nose is rhinophyma. If you or someone you care about is struggling with substance abuse, remember that help is readily available.
How doctors diagnose this condition
- If we know our triggers, it’s possible to avoid nosebleeds by limiting contributing factors.
- While there are no severe side effects of alcoholic nose, the main side effect is their physical appearance.
- As we now know, alcohol intolerance is an issue with metabolizing alcohol — not an overzealous immune system.
- If the condition is severe, a doctor may recommend a course of antibiotics or steroid medications.
These unpleasant gases, which become foul-smelling odors, can connect to the back of the nose and cause a bad smell in the nose. Blood clots are clumps of blood that form in reaction to an injured blood vessel. Blood clotting prevents excessive bleeding when a blood vessel is damaged. When you pinch your nose to stop a nosebleed, the blood will begin to clot.
Dr. Ali Nikbakht, LMFT, PsyD, Medical Reviewer
‘Alcoholic face’ or ‘puffy face’ is a result of the dehydrating effects of alcohol. Plus, we’re always introducing new features to optimize your in-app experience. We recently launched our in-app chatbot, Melody, powered by the world’s most powerful AI technology.

It is commonly believed that the alcoholic red nose stems from alcohol abuse or chronic addiction. While drinking alcohol is not the root cause of rhinophyma, it can aggravate rosacea symptoms. People with alcohol intolerance or sensitivity may experience more does drinking alcohol make your nose bigger severe reactions, leading to the progression of rosacea into rhinophyma.
Sometimes, extensive cases of overgrowth may occur with cancerous tumors. It is unclear whether the rosaceous growth itself is carcinogenic or whether a predisposition for cancer may increase the likelihood of rosacea. Successful treatment of rhinophyma often leads to significant improvements in self-confidence, social functioning, and overall quality of life. Many Alcohol Use Disorder people report feeling more comfortable in social and professional situations after effective treatment.
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- Any alcoholic drink can make red nose worse, but red wine and port are two of the most problematic.
- An alcoholic nose, often called a whiskey nose, drinker’s nose, gin nose, or gin blossom nose, is a common way to refer to a large purple-tinted nose.
- A dry mouth reduces the natural production of saliva, and without saliva keeping your mouth clean of the bacteria that cause bad breath, the issue can worsen.
- Because alcohol dilates blood vessels and damages the vascular system, it can aggravate rhinophyma and other types of rosacea.
- Healthcare providers play a crucial role in educating patients and the public about the true causes of rhinophyma and dispelling myths about its relationship to alcohol use.
Contact Zinnia Health today to learn more about our alcohol addiction treatment programs. We offer various services, including alcohol rehab, detox, individual therapy, and group counseling. We also have many resources available to help you through every step of the recovery process. Alcohol abuse can lead to serious health problems, so getting help is crucial if you think you or a loved one may have a problem. There are many treatment options available, and with the assistance of a medical professional, you can develop a plan that’s right for you.
What Are the Psychological Effects of Alcohol on Individuals?
For many people with ALD, frequent nosebleeds are the https://ecosoberhouse.com/ first sign that something is seriously wrong. Your body holds on to the nutritive parts of what you eat and drink, but, otherwise, what goes in must also come out. More commonly, symptoms related to alcoholic beverages might be an allergic reaction to something in the alcoholic beverage, such as sulfites, grains or preservatives. Just like wine, beer has a lot of ingredients that can make someone react negatively.