Rhinophyma: when Red Nose Day is no laughing matter.

Rhinophyma is commonly linked to chronic alcohol use, colloquially being misnamed ‘whisky nose’ or ‘rum blossom’. However, the true reason for this disfiguring condition has no clear causative trigger.Some studies have linked rhinophyma with sudden emotional responses that trigger flushing.1 Rhinophyma is a benign dermatological condition of the nose, derived from the Greek word ‘rhis’ for nose and ‘phyma’ for growth. It is the end-stage presentation of phymatous rosacea, and may occur in patients with few or no other features of rosacea.Although recognised by Greek and Arabian physicians as early as 2000 bce,2 it may have easily been confused with tuberous conditions of the nose such as leprosy, syphilis, and tuberculosis. First accurately described by Virchow in 1846, it can result in significant facial disfigurement, emotional suffering, and even serious ocular complications. …