Rhinophyma
Rhinophyma is a condition that affects some people who have been struggling with rosacea for years. A nose affected by rhinophyma becomes red and swollen, and lumps appear on the skin, causing the nose to change shape. In rare cases, rhinophyma can appear on the ears and chin. Rhinophyma mainly affects men with light complexions between the ages of 50 and 70.
Rhinophyma is not dangerous to the Patient’s health, but it can be a serious aesthetic problem, negatively affecting the psyche of the person suffering from this condition.
Causes of rhinophyma
The causes of rhinophyma are not fully understood. Rhinophyma usually develops as a result of long-standing and untreated rosacea. However, sometimes the condition occurs in people without symptoms of rosacea. Rhinophyma is not hereditary.
Rhinophyma: first symptoms
Rhinophyma is a disease of the nose that changes its shape. In the early stages of the disease, redness and a few small bumps appear on the nose. Over time, the nose becomes increasingly swollen and bulbous. The affected skin becomes stretched, with visible pores and scarring.
How is rhinophyma diagnosed?
The physician makes a diagnosis of rhinophyma based on the appearance of the skin on the nose and history of rosacea. The dermatologist may also perform a skin biopsy to rule out other skin lesions.
Can it be cured?
Currently, there is no cure for rhinophyma. However, there are effective therapies that significantly reduce the symptoms of this disease, improve the nose appearance, and prevent deterioration of the nasal skin.
Therapies used to treat rhinophyma
Treatment of advanced rhinophyma often requires multiple forms of therapy to be used simultaneously. Sometimes surgery is the only option to remove excess tissue and restore the natural shape of the nose.
Depending on the severity of rhinophyma, the following treatment methods are used:
- Orally administered isotretinoin is effective in reducing redness and proliferation of the nasal sebaceous glands.
- CO2 laser is the preferred and most commonly used treatment for thickened nasal skin. The laser beam effectively reduces nodules and thickening.
- Surgical removal of thickened nasal skin using a scalpel.
- Dermabrasion, or mechanical removal of the upper layers of skin. This therapy is associated with the risk of excessive bleeding at the dermabrasion site and scarring.
- Electrosurgery and electrocoagulation, which are therapies that use high-frequency electrical current to remove excess tissue on the nose.
Treatment of rhinophyma in the Zakrzewscy Clinic of Aesthetic Medicine and Dermatology
At our clinic, we offer Patients suffering from rhinophyma an effective treatment method using Alma Pixel CO2 ablative laser. CO2 ablative laser reduces unsightly lesions, smoothens the skin, and stimulates collagen production and regeneration of deeper skin layers.
Alma Pixel CO2 laser is characterized by high precision, thus it is possible to safely and quickly remove skin lesions from delicate body parts such as the nose, cheeks or ears. The high precision of the laser also guarantees that the healing time of the skin after the treatment lasts only a few days.
Advantages of using laser in rhinophyma treatment in Zakrzewscy Clinic:
- positive results are visible almost immediately
- treatment is precise and gentle, and any pain experienced during the irradiation is minimal
- treatment is very safe, and any redness or swelling immediately after the procedure are temporary and slight
- healthy skin surrounding the lesion remains intact
Recovery after treatment
After treatment with the CO2 ablative laser, you may experience short-term side effects such as:
- Swelling and redness at the treated site
- Small scabs that disappear after 5-7 days
- In case of very severe lesions, another treatment may be necessary.
Course of treatment
Before the procedure, the physician applies a special anesthetic gel to the treatment area to minimize any painful skin reactions. Then directs the laser beam to the treated area, and the affected tissues vaporize in a bloodless manner. The laser head does not touch the skin, making the procedure completely sterile. After the treatment a healing cream or dressing is applied to the treated area to speed up healing. Duration of treatment varies depending on the extent of lesion and ranges from 15 to 30 minutes.
Contraindications to the treatment
Laser therapy should not be performed in the following cases:
- pregnancy
- lactation
- skin infections at the site of treatment
- herpes
- active cancer
- epilepsy
- xanthelasma
- psoriasis, vitiligo
- tendency to scarring
- susceptibility to discoloration
- taking medications such as retinoids, psychotropic drugs, antibiotics.
In order for laser rhinophyma treatment to be successful, it is important to follow your physician’s recommendations on how to care for the skin of your nose at home.
If you are suffering from a rhinophyma, we invite you to come to our clinic for a professional consultation to find out more about the available therapies and to start an effective treatment.
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