Bulbous Nose: Causes, Treatment & Early Stages of Rhinophyma

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Who doesn’t enjoy his/ her young, beautiful face? But what if that very beauty of your face starts extinguishing each day? Yes, some diseases snatch away one’s beauty & can make them ugly forever—startled to hear that, right? I might be wondering if it is also possible. Yes, it’s possible with the skin disorder Rhinophyma. This skin ailment usually shows a red, bulbous nose that appears large and bumpy. It may arise in the form of phymatous rosacea. 

Phymatous rosacea, a chronic inflammatory skin condition, if left untreated, becomes severe & results in facial redness, especially on your nose & cheeks. 

Bulbous Nose_ Causes, Treatment & Early Stages of RhinophymaE AND ITS BENEFITS
Bulbous Nose_ Causes, Treatment & Early Stages of RhinophymaE AND ITS BENEFITS

Though there was once a myth that Rhinophyma happens to people who are frequent drinkers (or alcoholic persons), it is not the same now. 

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Researchers have now proven that no connection exists between Rhinophyma, which causes a bulbous nose, and drinking alcohol.

Even individuals who have never consumed alcohol in their entire lives have developed Rhinophyma. Researchers have yet to identify an exact cause for the disease. So, it is hard to tell how to escape Rhinophyma.

Rhinophyma’s Risk Factors & Causes

The following people are at risk for Rhinophyma:

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  • People aged between fifty and seventy years.
  • Men are more at risk for developing Rhinophyma & a huge nose than women
  • Fair-skinned people can develop this disease more easily than those with a dark complexion.
  • Irish, Scottish, Scandinavian, Eastern European & English people 
  • Those people whose family members have had rhinophyma/rosacea 

Rhinophyma Early Stages & Its Symptoms

The early stages of Rhinophyma usually occur in cycles. They can take a bad turn if left untreated. The signs & symptoms include

  • A gradual change in appearance with a swollen face & bumpy nose
  • Several noticeable oil glands 
  • Magnified skin pores
  • The skin color turns somewhat reddish 
  • Thickened skin
  • Waxy, yellowish & rough surface 

Rhinophyma Treatment

The bulbous nose & swollen face caused by Rhinophyma can be treated mainly through surgery. The surgery will help you to:

  • Reshape your bumpy & huge nose
  • Eliminate the overgrowth of tissue 
  • Minimize your enlarged blood vessels 
  • Modifies your appearance & your ability to breathe

Besides surgery, plastic surgeons and facial dermatologists also treat rhinophyma and large noses using various non-surgical methods.

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  • Laser resurfacing (that reshapes your nose)
  • Dermabrasion (removes your skin’s top layers with the help of a small & rotating device)

Doctors treat severe rhinophyma with a bulbous nose by shaving down the tissue lump using a pointed instrument or surgical cautery. After that, the area can heal by monitoring the dressing changes. 

Though rare, sometimes skin grafting is also needed. In the case of Rhinophyma with a large nasal tip, septorhinoplasty is the absolute option. In this process, surgeons reconstruct the nose’s functioning, and after the procedure, the patient may also undergo laser resurfacing. 

What Is A Bulbous Nose?

Some people may wonder what exactly a bulbous nose is. If you see rhinophyma pictures, you will see that the people with Rhinophyma have a globular & chubby nose. 

What Is A Bulbous Nose
What Is A Bulbous Nose

Rhinophyma is a common nasal ailment in which the tip of your nose becomes rounded & enlarged. We refer to such a type of nose as a bulbous nose. A bulbous nose makes people look unattractive. 

Solution For Bulbous Nose

A great solution for this type of nose is Rhinoplasty. This treatment for the bumpy nose will refine your nose tip & create harmony within your nose, thus improving your facial appearance. 

Main Causes For A Bulbous Tip

  • Poorly established cartilage 
  • Inadequate cartilage stamina
  • Extensive soft tissue coverage
  • Dense skin of your nose
  • A few medical issues & lifestyle habits 

Rhinoplasty For Fixing Bulbous Nose

One of the great ways to fix your bulbous nose (which happens due to Rhinophyma) is Rhinoplasty. With Rhinoplasty, you can reshape your nose & make its tip more attractive.

The steps of Rhinoplasty involve:

1. Removal of cartilage & shaping of the nose:

The surgeon will remove the cartilage from your nasal tip & reshape it. The new shape reduces the roundness of your bulbous tip and changes its size.

2. Resorting to suturing technology for creating a pointed nasal tip

The suturing technology will make your nasal tip more pointed & sharp carefully so that you get a natural-looking outcome. 

Thus, the above Rhinoplasty steps will shape your huge nose into an attractive one.

Two types of Rhinoplasty for curing bumpy nose:

Open Rhinoplasty

This type of Rhinoplasty gives your plastic surgeon better access & visibility. In this process, the surgeon makes one incision across the columella tissue strip that divides the nostrils.

“The surgeon makes the other incisions within your nostrils.” The small incision made on your nose’s skin will fade dramatically once you heal & people will not easily notice the scar.   

Closed Rhinoplasty:

In this type of Rhinoplasty, the surgeon makes all the incisions inside your nostrils, leaving no visible scar with a closed Rhinoplasty.

Wrapping Up

Rhinophyma is a skin ailment that causes a bulbous nose, but it’s not serious. Thank God! You can easily cure this skin condition & make your nose sharp and pointed again with some surgeries & other measures like Rhinoplasty. So, if you are suffering from Rhinophyma or have a bulbous nose, go ahead with its treatment & you will enjoy life again like before.  

FAQs

Q1. What causes a bulbous nose?

Answer: Bulbous nose is caused due to a skin condition called Rhinophyma. If you see rhinophyma pictures, you will see that the people with Rhinophyma have a globular & chubby nose.
Rhinophyma is a common nasal ailment in which the tip of your nose becomes rounded & enlarged. Such a type of nose is called the bulbous nose. A bumpy nose makes people look unattractive.

Q2. What is considered a bulbous nose?

Answer: A bulbous nose is a stout nose. Rhinophyma is a common nasal ailment in which the tip of your nose becomes rounded & enlarged. Such a type of nose is called the bulbous nose. A bulbous nose makes people look unattractive.

Q3. How do you treat a bulbous nose?

Answer: A great solution for a bulbous nose is Rhinoplasty. This treatment for this type of nose will refine your nose tip & create harmony within your nose, thus improving your facial appearance. 

The steps of Rhinoplasty involve:

Removal of cartilage & shaping of the nose:

The surgeon will remove the cartilage from your nasal tip & reshape it. Hence, the new shape reduces the roundness of your bulbous tip & its size is changed. 

Resorting to suturing technology for creating a pointed nasal tip:

The suturing technology will make your nasal tip more pointed & sharp carefully so that you get a natural-looking outcome. 

In open Rhinoplasty, one of the incisions is done across the columella tissue strip, which divides the nostrils. And the other incisions are done within your nostrils.

The small incision on your nose’s skin will fade once you heal. On the other hand, in closed Rhinoplasty, all the incisions are done inside your nostrils. No visible scar is left with closed Rhinoplasty.

MD, FAAD, Board-Certified DermatologistDr. Angela Olivares
Dr. Angela Olivares is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical dermatology, cosmetic procedures, and skin cancer prevention. She completed her Doctor of Medicine (MD) at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and her dermatology residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. With over 12 years of clinical experience, Dr. Olivares focuses on evidence-based skincare protocols, anti-aging treatments, and patient education. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology (FAAD) and regularly contributes medical expertise to health publications. Dr. Olivares maintains an active practice where she treats a wide range of dermatologic conditions including acne, eczema, psoriasis, and performs cosmetic procedures such as chemical peels and laser treatments.

Expertises: Dermatology
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Dr. Angela Olivares
Dr. Angela Olivares
Dr. Angela Olivares is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical dermatology, cosmetic procedures, and skin cancer prevention. She completed her Doctor of Medicine (MD) at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons and her dermatology residency at New York-Presbyterian Hospital. With over 12 years of clinical experience, Dr. Olivares focuses on evidence-based skincare protocols, anti-aging treatments, and patient education. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology (FAAD) and regularly contributes medical expertise to health publications. Dr. Olivares maintains an active practice where she treats a wide range of dermatologic conditions including acne, eczema, psoriasis, and performs cosmetic procedures such as chemical peels and laser treatments.

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