Why Does The Nose Turn Red After Drinking Alcohol?

The physical effects of heavy alcohol use can include a reddening of the cheeks and nose. Why do some people get a red nose from alcohol, and what can they do about it?

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Why Do Some People Get a Red Nose From Alcohol?

Having a bulbous, red nose has long been viewed as a sign of alcohol abuse and addiction. Through the years, the condition has been referred to by several judgmental or mocking terms, such as drinker’s nose, alcoholic nose, whiskey nose, and rum blossom.

But just because these characterizations have persisted for decades, that doesn’t mean that they’re accurate. Here are a few basic facts about the so-called red nose from alcohol:

• The clinical term for this condition is rhinophyma. 
• It is an advanced stage of rosacea, which is a relatively common skin disorder with symptoms that can include discoloration, bumps, thickening, and visible blood vessels.
• Unlike acne, which usually affects adolescents and teens, rosacea is most common among adults ages 30-60. 

To be clear: Having either rosacea or rhinophyma is not proof that a person has been abusing alcohol, or even drinking at all. However, as highlighted in a July 2019 research letter in the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology (JAAD), heavy drinking may have the ability to cause a worsening of symptoms.

The team that created this research letter based their findings on a study involving 52 adults who had prevalent rhinophyma. Each of adult with rhinophyma was compared with three people of the same age and gender who didn’t have any facial dermatological problems. 

The research team’s findings included:

• The median alcohol intake among participants with rhinophyma was 14 units per week. Within the control group, the mean alcohol intake was 3 units per week.
• There the researchers found “a significant correlation” between a person’s alcohol use and the severity of their rhinophyma.
• The researchers stated that having a genetic predisposition for rosacea and rhinophyma is “probably critical,” noting that alcohol use alone is not enough to cause these conditions.

“As alcohol is a strong inducer of flushing and vasodilatation, it might play a role in the vascular background necessary for skin thickening on the nose,” the authors of the JAAD letter wrote.

Can You Fix a Red Nose from Alcohol?

The ability to reverse a red nose from alcohol can depend on the severity of your symptoms, your history of alcohol use, and your ability to stop.

• If the reddening of your face and nose has just begun and is relatively minor, you should be able to reverse the problem entirely by minimizing your alcohol use and following your doctor’s guidance.
• If you have a long history of heavy alcohol use, the damage may be difficult or virtually impossible to reverse. In addition to no longer drinking, you may also have to get advanced dermatological care.  Even then, the reddening may never go away entirely.

In either case, fixing a red nose from alcohol may require you to either significantly curtail your drinking or end your alcohol use completely. 

What Happens If I Can’t Stop Drinking?

If you’re not able to stop drinking – even when you know that it may be a necessary step for getting rid of red nose from alcohol or addressing any other health concern – that is a sign that you’ve developed an addiction.

The fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) contains 11 criteria for alcohol use disorder, which is the clinical term for alcohol addiction:

1. Frequently drinking more or for a longer period of time than you intended
2. Experiencing strong cravings for alcohol 
3. Having a persistent desire to quit drinking, which may include a history of failed attempts to stop
4. Spending significant amounts of time acquiring and using alcohol, as well as recovering from its effects
5. Not meeting your personal, professional, or academic responsibilities because of your alcohol use
6. Continuing to drink even after experiencing physical or psychological harm that was either caused or worsened by your prior alcohol use
7. Continuing to drink even after having personal or social problems that were either caused or worsened by your prior alcohol use
8. Using alcohol in circumstances pose an obvious physical hazard hazardous, such drinking while using other drugs or driving while under the influence of alcohol
9. Ending or limiting your participation in important social or work-related activities because of your alcohol use
10. Developing tolerance, which means you need to drink more than you used to in order to feel alcohol’s effects
11. Developing withdrawal symptoms when you abruptly stop using alcohol

You only need to meet two of these criteria to be diagnosed with mild alcohol use disorder. If you meet four or five, you would be classified as having moderate alcohol use disorder, while meeting six or more would qualify as severe alcohol use disorder.

If any of these criteria sound familiar to you, a good first step would be to consult with your doctor or schedule an assessment at a reputable rehab program near you. In addition to helping you understand the scope of the challenge you’re facing, the person who conducts your assessment should also be able to recommend appropriate treatment options.

Find Alcohol Addiction Treatment in Jacksonville

Design Recovery provides personalized outpatient care for adults who have become addicted to alcohol and other drugs. We also offer dual diagnosis services for clients with co-occurring mental health concerns.

Treatment options at our rehab in Jacksonville, FL, include a partial hospitalization program (PHP), an intensive outpatient program (IOP), and a virtual (online) IOP. 

To learn more about how we can help you or a loved one, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.