Are there any triggering or aggravating factors for rosacea or rhinophyma?
Extreme temperature, hot liquids, alcohol, spicy foods or sun exposure are aggravating factors for the rosacea component of this condition which occurs more in females. There is a stigma that all patients with a large red nose are alcoholics but this is in fact not true, although alcohol is one of the triggering factors. How does rhinophyma occur? The sebaceous glands that are typically overgrown in rhinophyma are regular skin glands that occur in all areas of our skin with the exception of the soles and palms. These glands produce an oily substance called sebum, a composition of fat and debris from dead fat-producing cells. The product is designed to lubricate skin in non-hair bearing skin and hair shaft itself in hair bearing skin. The sebum is brought to the surface of the skin through ducts. Excess sebum production can occur in response to poor hygiene, diet rich in fat, in conditions of accelerated glandular activity (like rosacea/rhinophyma) and naturally during adolescence. How
