Rhinophyma
Encyclopedia
Rhinophyma is a descriptive term for a large, bulbous, ruddy appearance of the nose
caused by granuloma
tous infiltration, commonly due to untreated rosacea
.
Alcoholism
is mistakenly attributed as a cause of this disease; heavy alcohol
consumption does aggravate the condition and consequently it is more noticeable in alcoholic patients. The term rhinophyma is derived from the Greek
rhis ('nose') and phyma ('growth'). Rhinophyma may be diagnosed without testing, but a skin biopsy
can confirm the diagnosis. Surgical treatment may be beneficial.
Rhinophyma is a slowly progressive condition due to hypertrophy of the sebaceous glands of the tip of nose often seen in cases of long-standing acne rosacea; it is not a neoplasm. It presents as a pink, lobulated mass over the nose with superficial vascular dilation; it mostly affects men past middle age. Patients seek advice because of the unsightly appearance of the enlargement, or obstruction in breathing and vision. Rhinophyma can carry a strong psychological impact due to its effect on one's personal appearance. Treatment consists of paring down the bulk of the tissue with a sharp knife or carbon dioxide laser and allowing the area to re-epithelialise. Sometimes, the tissue is completely excised and the raw area skin-grafted.
Human nose
The visible part of the human nose is the protruding part of the face that bears the nostrils. The shape of the nose is determined by the ethmoid bone and the nasal septum, which consists mostly of cartilage and which separates the nostrils...
caused by granuloma
Granuloma
Granuloma is a medical term for a tiny collection of immune cells known as macrophages. Granulomas form when the immune system attempts to wall off substances that it perceives as foreign but is unable to eliminate. Such substances include infectious organisms such as bacteria and fungi as well as...
tous infiltration, commonly due to untreated rosacea
Rosacea
Rosacea is a chronic condition characterized by facial erythema . Pimples are sometimes included as part of the definition. Unless it affects the eyes, it is typically a harmless cosmetic condition...
.
Causes
Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a broad term for problems with alcohol, and is generally used to mean compulsive and uncontrolled consumption of alcoholic beverages, usually to the detriment of the drinker's health, personal relationships, and social standing...
is mistakenly attributed as a cause of this disease; heavy alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
consumption does aggravate the condition and consequently it is more noticeable in alcoholic patients. The term rhinophyma is derived from the Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
rhis ('nose') and phyma ('growth'). Rhinophyma may be diagnosed without testing, but a skin biopsy
Biopsy
A biopsy is a medical test involving sampling of cells or tissues for examination. It is the medical removal of tissue from a living subject to determine the presence or extent of a disease. The tissue is generally examined under a microscope by a pathologist, and can also be analyzed chemically...
can confirm the diagnosis. Surgical treatment may be beneficial.
Rhinophyma is a slowly progressive condition due to hypertrophy of the sebaceous glands of the tip of nose often seen in cases of long-standing acne rosacea; it is not a neoplasm. It presents as a pink, lobulated mass over the nose with superficial vascular dilation; it mostly affects men past middle age. Patients seek advice because of the unsightly appearance of the enlargement, or obstruction in breathing and vision. Rhinophyma can carry a strong psychological impact due to its effect on one's personal appearance. Treatment consists of paring down the bulk of the tissue with a sharp knife or carbon dioxide laser and allowing the area to re-epithelialise. Sometimes, the tissue is completely excised and the raw area skin-grafted.