Alcoholic Nose: Causes, Symptoms, and How to Treat It

What Is an Alcoholic Nose?

Despite the name, alcoholic nose is not a medical diagnosis. Doctors use the term rhinophyma, which describes thickened, enlarged skin on the nose caused by long-standing inflammation. It’s considered a late-stage form of rosacea.

In the early stages, rosacea may show up as facial flushing, sensitivity, or patchy redness. Over time, especially without treatment, the skin on the nose can begin to thicken. Oil glands enlarge, connective tissue builds up, and the shape of the nose slowly changes. This is how some people develop the classic bulbous nose appearance.

Alcohol plays an indirect role. It dilates blood vessels and increases facial redness, which can make rosacea worse. For people with alcohol use disorder, repeated inflammation and delayed healing may speed up visible changes—but alcohol itself is not the root cause.

Other Names for Alcoholic Nose

Rhinophyma has collected a long list of nicknames over the years, including:

• Drinker’s nose
• Whisky nose
• Rum nose
• Gin blossom
• Bulbous nose
• Cauliflower nose

These labels come from older beliefs that alcohol abuse caused the condition. Modern research shows that rosacea and genetics matter far more than drinking habits alone.

What Does Alcoholic Nose Look Like?

Rhinophyma develops gradually. Most people don’t wake up one day with a dramatically changed nose. Instead, the changes build over years. Common features include:

• Ongoing facial redness centered on the nos
• Swelling that doesn’t fully go away
• Thick, uneven, or bumpy skin textur
• Enlarged pores and oily skin
• Visible blood vessels
• A rounded or distorted nose shape
• In advanced cases, dark red or purplish coloring

Men over 50 are diagnosed most often, but women can develop rhinophyma too. Even mild cases can be emotionally distressing, especially when people assume alcohol abuse is the cause.

Causes of Alcoholic Nose

The real driver behind rhinophyma is rosacea and rhinophyma progression, not drinking. Alcohol can worsen symptoms, but it doesn’t start the condition.

Factors linked to rhinophyma include:

• Rosacea: Chronic inflammation that affects facial blood vessels and skin structure
• Genetics: A family history raises risk
• Skin tone: Fair skin is more prone to rosacea-related redness
• Age and sex: Most common in men between 50 and 70
• Triggers: Alcohol, spicy food, sun exposure, stress, heat, and cold

Someone who drinks excessively may notice frequent facial flushing, but that doesn’t mean they will develop rhinophyma. Likewise, many people with rhinophyma don’t drink at all.

Alcoholic Nose Symptoms

Symptoms usually start mild and worsen over time if untreated. The most common alcoholic nose symptoms include:

• Persistent redness that doesn’t fade
• Swelling that creates a bulbous nose appearance
• Thickened, uneven ski
• Enlarged oil glands
• Broken or visible blood vessels
• Changes in skin color, from bright red to purple

Early symptoms often get brushed off as sensitivity or irritation. That delay is one reason rhinophyma can progress before people seek care.

How to Treat Alcoholic Nose?

Medical Treatments

Treatment depends on severity. Early-stage rhinophyma focuses on calming inflammation, while advanced cases may require procedures to correct skin changes.

Common evidence-based options include:

• Topical treatments: Prescription creams such as azelaic acid help reduce facial redness and irritation
• Oral antibiotics: Medications like doxycycline are often used to control inflammation and secondary skin issues
• Laser therapy: Helps reduce visible blood vessels and redness
• Surgical treatments: Laser resurfacing, dermabrasion, or excision can remove excess tissue and reshape the nose

These approaches are often combined for better long-term results.

Lifestyle Changes to Reduce Symptoms

Daily habits can make a noticeable difference:

• Cut back on alcohol if it triggers redness
• Avoid spicy food and extreme temperatures
• Use gentle, non-irritating skincare
• Wear sunscreen dail
• Manage stress, which is a common rosacea trigger

While lifestyle changes won’t reverse rhinophyma, they can slow progression and improve overall skin health.

Who Is at Risk for Alcoholic Nose?

Rhinophyma tends to affect people who have:

• Fair skin
• Long-term rosace
• A family history of rosacea or rhinophym
• Northern European ancestry
• Middle to older age
• Untreated facial redness for many years

Heavy drinking may increase visible redness, but it is not a requirement for developing the condition.

Alcohol Addiction and Skin Health

Alcohol doesn’t cause rhinophyma, but alcohol abuse can still harm the skin. Long-term excessive alcohol use may:

• Dehydrate the skin
• Increase inflammation
• Slow healing
• Worsen facial redness
• Make infections more likely

For people dealing with alcohol use disorder, reducing or stopping alcohol often leads to noticeable improvements in skin tone and facial redness, even if rhinophyma itself requires medical treatment.

Managing and Treating Alcoholic Nose

Alcoholic nose is a misleading label for a condition rooted in rosacea, not drinking alone. Rhinophyma develops slowly and often goes unnoticed until skin thickening becomes obvious. Alcohol can worsen flare-ups, but genetics, skin tone, and untreated rosacea play much larger roles.

The good news is that treatment options exist. From topical treatments and oral antibiotics to laser and surgical treatments, many people see meaningful improvement with proper care. Early intervention makes a significant difference.

For those managing both rosacea symptoms and alcohol-related concerns, addressing overall health is key. Programs like Scottsdale Detox support individuals working through alcohol abuse while helping reduce long-term side effects that excessive alcohol can have on the body—including the skin.