Rhinophyma Treatment: An Overview
To better understand
rhinophyma, it is important to first become familiar with
rosacea. Rosacea is a chronic disease that affects the skin. Rosacea is characterized by redness, pimples, and, in advanced stages, thickened skin. When rosacea reaches this advanced stage, rhinophyma may develop. Rhinophyma is characterized by an enlarged, bulbous, and red nose resulting from the enlargement of the sebaceous (oil-producing) glands beneath the surface of the skin on the nose. Rhinophyma occurs more often in men than women. Treatment options for this advanced stage of rosacea include medications and surgery.
Medications Used for Rhinophyma Treatment
Depending on the severity of the rhinophyma, doctors may begin treatment with topical or oral rosacea medications.
Surgery as Rhinophyma Treatment
Rhinophyma that does not respond to medications may be treated with:
- Electrosurgery
- Laser treatment
- Dermabrasion
- Resculpturing.
Lasers or electrical devices are used to remove the excess tissue that accumulates on the nose in patients with rhinophyma. The tissue can also be removed with a scalpel or a rapidly rotating wire brush, which is often used by dermatologists in a procedure known as dermabrasion. Although the nose will look red for a year or so following tissue removal, the nose will assume a normal skin color after about a year. It is important to remember that the best approach for rhinophyma is to treat rosacea before it progresses to rhinophyma.
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