Does heavy drinking really cause your nose to become bigger and bumpier? What, exactly, is an alcoholic nose?
What Is an Alcoholic Nose?
Alcoholic nose is a slang term for a skin condition that causes the nose to become enlarged and bumpy and take on a red or purplish coloration. This phenomenon is also referred to by other alcohol-related monikers, such as whiskey nose and rum blossom.
The medical name of alcoholic nose is rhinophyma. It is an advanced form of rosacea, which is a chronic disease that is characterized by enlarged blood vessels, small bumps, and a persistent acne-like redness on the face.
Is Alcoholic Nose Really a Sign of Alcoholism?
The belief that rhinophyma is a direct result of alcohol abuse has been definitively debunked.
In other words, there can be several accurate answers to the question, “What is an alcoholic nose?” but “evidence of alcoholism” is not one of them.
Correct responses to the question of what is an alcoholic nose include:
- It is a medical condition called rhinophyma.
- It is a particularly severe type of rosacea.
- It is a chronic skin disease that results from the abnormal development of sebaceous glands and connective tissue in the nose.
Though there is no direct connection between rhinophyma and alcoholism, heavy drinking may indirectly contribute to a worsening of symptoms. We’ll discuss this indirect connection a bit later in today’s post.
Risk Factors for Alcoholic Nose
So, if alcoholism doesn’t cause alcoholic nose, what does?
The likelihood that a person will develop rhinophyma can be influenced by several factors, including:
- Age: This condition is most common in people ages 40 and above.
- Gender: Rosacea is more common in women, but men who have the condition are more likely to progress to rhinophyma.
- Complexion: People who have a lighter skin tone have higher rates of alcoholic nose.
- Environment: Rosacea can be caused or worsened by excessive exposure to wind and sun.
- Medication: Drugs such as vasodilators, angiotensin-converting (ACE) inhibitors, and statins can contribute to this problem.
- Lifestyle: Smoking, eating spicy foods, and enduring overwhelming stress have all been linked with rosacea.
- Genetics: Rhinophyma and rosacea are known to run in families, which means you may inherit a genetic predisposition for these conditions.
The Link Between Alcoholic Nose and Alcoholism
As noted earlier, there’s no direct cause-effect relationship between alcoholism and alcoholic nose. But excessive alcohol use may exacerbate the condition or cause similar symptoms.
Examples of the potential indirect link between alcohol abuse on rhinophyma include:
- Alcohol is a vasodilator, which means that it causes a temporary widening of the blood vessels. When this occurs in blood vessels in the face, it can have a blushing or reddening effect.
- Alcohol is also a diuretic, which means that people who drink heavily have an increased risk of dehydration. This can cause their skin to become dry, gray, and flaky. This type of skin damage can, in turn, cause the symptoms of rhinophyma to appear more severe.
- Some people have a genetic condition called alcohol flush reaction, which inhibits their body from effectively metabolizing alcohol. Symptoms can include hives and redness in the face.
- People who develop an addiction to alcohol are less likely to exercise regularly, follow a nutritious diet plan, and get an appropriate amount of sleep. The effects of these and other unhealthy lifestyle habits can include the worsening of various medical conditions, including alcoholic nose.
Harmful Effects of Alcohol Abuse
Alcohol abuse may not cause alcoholic nose, but it can increase a person’s risk of many other medical conditions. Compulsive drinking has also been linked with serious psychological harm as well as a range of personal and social problems.
Physical effects
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the physical effects of chronic heavy drinking can include:
- Heart damage including arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), ischemic heart disease (heart concerns caused by narrowed arteries) and myocardial infarction (heart attack)
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Peripheral neuropathy (numbness and burning in the extremities)
- Liver damage including steatosis (which used to be referred to as fatty liver), alcohol-associated fibrosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and alcoholic cirrhosis
- Thyroid diseases, abnormal blood cholesterol level, and the onset or worsening of diabetes
- Acute and chronic pancreatitis
- Reduced bone density (osteoporosis) and impaired ability to heal from fractures
- Cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, esophagus, breast, liver, colon, and rectum
Psychological effects
The NIAAA has also reported that people who have alcohol use disorder frequently have co-occurring mental health concerns such as:
- Major depressive disorder
- Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
- Social anxiety disorder
- Panic disorder
- Bipolar disorder
- Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Schizophrenia
- Schizoaffective disorder
- Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Experts have found bidirectional influences between alcoholism and the disorders listed above. This means that:
- For some people, compulsive alcohol use may contribute to or worsen their struggles with these types of disorders.
- For others, developing one or more of these mental health conditions can increase their risk of abusing and becoming addicted to alcohol.
Social effects
Uncontrolled alcohol abuse has also been linked with a range of social and interpersonal problems, such as:
- Conflicts with friends and family members
- Strained and ruined relationships
- Divorce, separation, and loss of child custody
- Substandard performance at work or in school
- Academic failure
- Job loss and long-term unemployment
- Financial difficulties
- Being arrested, fined, and jailed
- Social withdrawal and isolation
- Homelessness
Find Help for Alcohol Addiction in Tampa Bay
If you have become addicted to alcohol, please know that help is available and treatment works. When you get the care you need, you can stop drinking for good and begin to heal from any damage that you have already incurred.
Tampa Bay Recovery Center is a trusted source of personalized outpatient care for adults who have become dependent on alcohol and other addictive substances. Treatment options at our rehab in Tampa Bay, FL, include detox, a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and an outpatient program.
To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free consultation, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
