1. Rhinophyma: Bulbous Nose
Rhinophyma (pronounced ryno-fee-ma) is a larger than normal nose that is red and bulbous. A nose afflicted with rhinophyma may present thick, reddish skin with a waxy yellow surface.
2. Learn the Relationship With Rosacea
For a long time, people believed that drinking too much alcohol caused rhinophyma. However, doctors now know that the condition is a severe form of rosacea, a skin condition characterized by redness in the middle third of your face. This chronic skin disease comes and goes in patents. Rhinophyma occurs when the oil glands (sebaceous glands) in the nose (and sometimes the cheeks) enlarge. This causes a buildup of tissue on and around your nose, which assumes a bumpy, bulbous look. Your cheeks may also be red, puffy or bumpy, and the condition may give off an unpleasant odor.
3. Rhinophyma Is More Common in Men
Rhinophyma is more common in men than in women, but it's a fairly rare complication of rosacea. Because rhinophyma forms gradually over several years, patients may not realize they suffer from it. Most cases of rhinophyma aren't diagnosed until a man reaches his fifties. Men who have rhinophyma should take care; some case studies show that basal cell carcinoma occurs in a significantly greater proportion of patients who have rhinophyma than those who don't. Early cancer detection is much harder with patients who suffer from rhinophyma.
4. Surgery is Your Best Option
The most effective way to reduce the appearance of rhinophyma is through surgery. The surgeon will remove excess tissue from your nose with a scalpel or laser. Sometimes dermabrasion can smooth and soften the skin of the nose and cheeks. Topical treatments used for milder forms of rosacea aren't very helpful for rhinophyma.
5. Changing Your Lifestyle May Help
While there is no cure for rosacea or rhinophyma, making certain lifestyle changes may reduce the impact of this chronic skin disease. Quitting smoking minimizes blood vessel enlargement, which is a key factor in rosacea. Avoiding spicy foods and hot drinks minimizes blood vessel enlargement. Don't apply makeup or lotions that contain alcohol, since it aggravates the redness. Other factors that may exacerbate rhinophyma include stress, hormone imbalance, caffeine consumption and vitamin deficiencies.
