Rhinophyma (2024)

FAQs

Can you stop rhinophyma from progressing? ›

Patients should receive counsel on the proper management of early-stage rosacea as well as phymatous rosacea. While progression to rhinophyma is not preventable, adequate management can lessen symptoms to reduce the psychological burden.

Your doctor will treat early rhinophyma with oral medications, such as antibiotics or isotretinoin. If these medications don't work, a plastic surgeon can use different surgery techniques to change the shape of your nose and improve your breathing.

Rhinophyma usually develops in more severe cases of rosacea. Its signs and symptoms can occur in cycles and become worse if left untreated.

Topical metronidazole 0.75% is a common first-line option. Azelaic acid 15% gel is an alternative, especially in those with more inflammatory rosacea. It may be more effective but can cause sensitivity reactions in some patients.

Rhinophyma isn't curable. Treatment can help manage your symptoms. The treatment that's best suited for you will depend on how severe your symptoms are. Surgical intervention is usually necessary to achieve significant improvement when advanced rhinophyma is present.

A small study in Korea reported that it took an average of 8.2 years for rhinophyma to progress from its onset to its severest form. Not only can rhinophyma cause the nose to become deformed, but it can obstruct the nasal passage, leading to difficulty in breathing.

In the early stages of rhinophyma, a person may experience excessive facial flushing. As the condition progresses, swollen blood vessels appear, then acne-like pimples. Later, the nasal skin grows and the tip of the nose becomes larger. At this stage, doctors diagnose rhinophyma.

Medication or surgery is generally used to treat rhinophyma. If rhinophyma is in the earliest stages, medication is often the first course of treatment. Surgery is also an option for those who have facial disfiguration, either reshaping the nose or removing additional tissue or reducing blood vessels.

Nasal tip schwannoma is a rare differential diagnosis when considering rhinophyma. Biopsy and imaging prior to surgery may help where there is diagnostic uncertainty, therefore allowing better surgical planning.

The consumption of alcohol or caffeine is thought to worsen rhinophyma and rosacea symptoms as these substances are known vasodilators. Rhinophyma risk factors include things like family history, age, and even gender.

Does doxycycline help rhinophyma? ›

Enteral and Topical Therapy

Inflamed rhinophyma may be treated with oral doxycycline and isotretinoin (13-cis-retinoic acid); topical therapies are not recommended.

Rhinophyma occurs equally in people who do not use alcohol and in those who drink heavily. The problem is much more common in men than in women. The cause of rhinophyma is unknown. It may be a severe form of a skin disease called rosacea.

Radiofrequency ablation and erbium laser to reduce the symptoms of rhinophyma.

There have been several case reports published which describe using different surgical methods to treat rhinophyma including lasers, electrocautery dermabrasion, surgical blade, cryosurgery, and radio excision.

early and minor stages of rhinophyma can be controlled by rosacea medication and trigger avoidance. moderate and advanced stages require surgical treatment.

While treating rhinophyma with medications does not always yield results, early-stage rhinophyma or rosacea can be treated with medication. Medications may include: Oral or topical antibiotics. These antibiotics work to minimize flushing or redness and reduce inflammation that may cause discomfort.

Rhinophyma can be corrected with surgery. The condition may return.