Rosacea Symptoms: Rhinophyma

Rhinophyma is a condition commonly associated with rosacea in which a slow growing benign tumor begins to form on the tip of the nose. This is due to hypertrophy of the sebaceous glands of the tip of nose. Rhinophyma appears as a pink, lobulated mass over the nose with superficial vascular dilation; mostly affects men past middle age. Rosacea patient seeks advice and treatment because of the unsightly appearance of the tumor, or obstruction in breathing and vision due to the large size of the tumor. Treatment consists of paring down the bulk of the tumor with sharp knife or carbon dioxide laser and the area allowed to re-epithelialise. Sometimes, tumor is completely excised and the raw area skin-grafted.