Have you seen a skin condition where there is a red, bumpy or swollen appearance on the person’s nose and cheeks? This is commonly referred to as the alcohol nose or drinkers nose. It was previously believed that this condition was caused by alcoholism or alcohol use disorder. However, recent research revealed otherwise.

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Alcoholic Nose: What is this Condition?

The condition may be popularly known as the alcoholic nose but it is actually a skin disorder referred to as rhinophyma. It is a subtype of the skin condition known as rosacea, which results in the chronic inflammation of the skin. This chronic inflammation triggers broken blood vessels and pustules found on or around the nose. This is what gives that red, bumpy, and swollen appearance that is usually referred to as the drinker’s nose or alcoholic nose.

Rosacea has four subtypes and rhinophyma is perceived as one of the worst. It slowly forms over the years and is usually caused by a person’s failure to treat a less severe type of rosacea during its early stages.

There are a lot of women who suffer from this condition, but it is more commonly seen in men. Individuals who have a family history of rosacea or those with fair skin have a higher risk of suffering from the alcoholic nose.

Is There a Link Between Alcoholism and Rhinophyma?

As mentioned, it was previously thought that consuming excessive amounts of alcohol can cause the condition which gave rise to its nickname alcoholic nose. Abusing alcoholic drinks prompts the enlargement of vessels in the face and neck that leads to a flushed skin or some redness. This is why the perception that alcoholism can lead to rhinophyma was believed for so many years.

But a study conducted by the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine disproved this school of thought. Participants to the study, who have been clinically diagnosed with the condition, did not drink regularly and have not been suffering from alcoholism.

The said study may have disproved the connection between rhinophyma and alcoholism, yet it has not revealed the cause of the condition among the participants. But evidence suggests that the genes and ethnicity may have something to do in developing the condition as this is commonly observed in families of Scottish, Eastern European, English, and Scandinavian descent. Even with these facts, the exact cause of rhinophyma is still clouded with mystery and remains unknown.

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The Effects of Alcohol on Rosacea

While alcohol is not the cause of rhinophyma or rosacea, it can worsen the condition. At least two out of three people diagnosed with rosacea suffer from flare-ups after consuming alcohol.

Consuming alcohol worsens the symptoms of the skin condition because it enlarges the blood vessels. If the blood vessels are more open, more blood flows to the skin’s surface. This creates a flushed look, which is usually called the alcohol flush. This redness can be visible in any part of the body, but it is more noticeable on the face, chest, and shoulders. For individuals who are suffering from redness because of rosacea, ingesting alcohol can make things progressively worse.

A survey among people clinically diagnosed with rosacea revealed that red wine is the number one trigger of flare-ups. It can worsen the condition compared with any other drinks. Out of the 700 participants, 76{b340406b661c1e5732b86e4172a84f651d0df9d8967334cfa4a3aae0d4c8bfbd} claimed that drinking red wine triggered the flare-ups. In addition, 56{b340406b661c1e5732b86e4172a84f651d0df9d8967334cfa4a3aae0d4c8bfbd} reported that white wine exacerbated their rosacea while 33{b340406b661c1e5732b86e4172a84f651d0df9d8967334cfa4a3aae0d4c8bfbd} said champagne caused their flare-ups. Only 41{b340406b661c1e5732b86e4172a84f651d0df9d8967334cfa4a3aae0d4c8bfbd} of the respondents attributed the cause to beer, while 15{b340406b661c1e5732b86e4172a84f651d0df9d8967334cfa4a3aae0d4c8bfbd} claimed they experienced the effect after drinking malt-based beverages.

It is theorized that red wine could be the number one culprit because of the additional chemical in the drink that enlarges the blood vessels. This causes more blood than the normal flow to reach the surface of the skin. Thus, it is suggested that patients suffering from the condition follow some mechanisms in order to manage its symptoms. These include:

• Avoiding red wine
• Not cooking dishes with alcohol
• Practice moderation when drinking alcohol
• Drinking a tall glass of water after each alcoholic drink
• Using seltzer water to dilute alcoholic drinks
• Stop drinking alcohol

Not all people have the same tolerance for alcohol. Each one has their own levels of sensitivity to the drink. Persons suffering from rosacea will have to test and build their own limits to avoid extreme alcoholic nose flare-ups. Patients who limited their alcohol consumption were found to have significantly reduced their sudden outbreaks.

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Dealing with Stigma

While it has been found that alcoholic nose is not caused by drinking alcohol, the general perception is otherwise. Many people still widely associate the skin condition with alcohol use and abuse. Considering this notion, people suffering from rhinophyma feel conscious not just about how they look, but also about how others might think they have alcohol problems. This wrong perception gives rise to the concern surrounding the addiction community – the stigma of those going through this agonizing condition.

There are persons with rhinophyma who fear that they might be branded as alcoholics, so they avoid going to social events or even going out on a regular basis. With this, the stigma of addiction continuously prospers. This shaming can cause avoidance, discrimination, prejudice, and rejection against individuals who suffer from addiction since there people who are reluctant to show compassion. Sadly, the humiliation because of addiction usually hinders people fom seeking help.

A 2015 survey revealed that there are about 15.1 million adults aged 18 years old and older who have alcohol use disorder. This includes 9.8 million male and 5.3 million females. Out of this figure, only 6.7{b340406b661c1e5732b86e4172a84f651d0df9d8967334cfa4a3aae0d4c8bfbd} has received treatment in the past year.

This is quite alarming considering that approximately 88,000 individuals die each year in the United States because of alcohol-related causes. This makes alcohol the third leading preventable reason of death. It comes next to tobacco and poor diet and physical inactivity. The economic burden of alcoholism is also something to be wary about. Alcohol misuse has cost the U.S. about $249 billion. Three-quarters of this amount are connected with binge drinking.

Thus, to help people suffering from alcoholism get the help they badly need, the stigma clouding addiction must be stopped. This can be done by taking small steps such as:

• Learning about the condition
• Eradicating misconceptions about addiction
• Conversing with others about the condition
• Advocating for the right of those being mistreated due to their addiction
• Acknowledging fact-based signs of alcohol abuse
• Giving compassion to those suffering from the condition
• Avoiding labels that might hurt others feeling like “drunkard” and “addict”

Stereotyping people with rhinophyma as people with alcohol abuse issues can breed negative feelings and anxiety. It can also hinder people who actually have alcohol problems from getting their much-needed help.

Want more information about how Chapters Capistrano can help? Feel free to call 949-276-2886 and one of our addiction specialists will help get the information and help you need.