Skincare Treated

Rhinophyma Is a Type of Rosacea

Rhinophyma is a skin condition where the rose is red and bulbous. It is actually part of a skin disease known as rosacea, which is characterised by the sudden flushing of the face.

Both men and women suffer from rosacea but rhinophyma is more commonly present in men. It is a condition where the sebaceous glands or the glands in the skin that produce oil are overgrown.

Overgrown Oil Glands

This results in excess oil secretion as well as ugly large bumps on the nose that may grow so large that they may even partially obstruct the patient’s vision.

The parent disease is characterized by bouts of sudden flushing caused by vasodilation. This means that the fine blood vessels on the skin’s surface known as capillaries suddenly dilate and allow the blood to rush in. This ultimately causes the face to flush or blush.

Little is known about the causes of rosacea but its triggers are known. Avoid spicy food, avoid drinking red wine, and definitely avoid too much exposure to the sun.

Rosacea Patients

Rosacea and rhinophyma is more widely prevalent in people with very white skin like the Europeans. It is even nicknames “The Curse of the Celts”. Patients of rhinophyma are typically aged 35 and above though rosacea develops earlier.

There are some famous people who have suffered from rhinophyma like former US President Bill Clinton. Though not severe, it does explain what the skin condition looks like.

Rhinophyma can be classified as granular, fibrous and fibroangiomatous.

Granular rhinophyma is marked by sebaceous hyperplasia while in fibrous rhinophyma; the overgrown nasal tissue is characterized by an increase in the density of the nasal connective tissue.

Rhinophyma Myth

It is a mistaken notion that people with red bulbous noses are heavy drinkers and alcoholics. Though excess alcohol intake does tend to result in vasodilation and a reddish complexion, the commonalities have led people to mistakenly conclude that patients of rhinophyma are boozards.

Rhinophyma is treated clinically with topical applications and pharmaceutical drugs. But many patients, especially severe cases, opt for surgical reshaping of the nose.

Surgery for Rhinophyma

Here, the mass of overgrown oil glands and excess skin is literally scraped off with a scalpel and the underlying skin allowed healing.

The latter process is called re-epithelialization.

Instead of a scalpel, lasers may be used and they are very effective to treat the unsightly skin condition called rhinophyma. The procedure may also involve some re-grafting of the skin.