Important

Description

Rhinophyma can be treated with medicines or surgery. You and your doctor can decide which treatment option would be best for you.

Medication

Typically, once rhinophyma develops, it doesn’t respond well to medications. Medications may be successful in treating less severe cases and other subtypes of rosacea. These include:

• topical and oral antibiotics to reduce inflammation and redness, such as metronidazole, sulfacetamide, (Erythrocin Stearate), and (Minocin)
• topical medications that help minimize inflammation, such as (Retin-A) and  (Azelex)
• oral capsules that prevent skin glands from producing oil, such as oral isotretinoin

Surgical Removal

Surgery is the most common treatment of rhinophyma. Enlarged blood vessels and tissue overgrowth can cause disfigurement. This can be permanent if the affected area isn’t removed. Surgery is the preferred treatment for most cases. It’s considered the most effective option for long-term success.

The following surgical treatments and methods are commonly used to restore the appearance of your nose:

• surgery using a scalpel
• laser resurfacing with carbon dioxide laser
• cryosurgery, which uses extremely cold temperatures to freeze and remove abnormal tissue
• dermabraision, which uses a small, rotating tool to take off the top layers of skin

Surgical treatment can:

• reshape a disfigured nose
• remove overgrowth of tissue
• minimize enlarged blood vessels
• improve cosmetic appearance