Do I have early rhinophyma? (photos)

It does not appear that you have rhynophyma. enlarged pores are very difficult to treat and the best thing you can do is to keep them emptied so they appear smaller. use a masque such as the Ahava Dead Sea Masque

I will sit on the fence for this one- it COULD be early phyma. The most accurate way to diagnose this (without taking a biopsy) is to compare photos from years ago. If pores and nose has a definite increase in size- this is an objective measurement of the problem. IF this is mild or early phyma, conservative massage with or without oral low dose Isotretinoin can reverse early oedema. This is a conversation you might want to bring up with your MEDICAL dermatologist. Photos are everything when it comes to objective measurement. Rosacea is very complex and a tailored treatment program give the best results. This is because there are many types of rosacea (telengtctatic or capillaries, flushing and redness, acne like rosacea, ocular rosacea and even rhinophyma rosacea.)

To add to the complexity, everyone has different flare factors- Sunlight, stress, foods, chemical irritants, creams, changes in temperature, alcohol. The list goes on. A good website that educates you about rosacea is rosacea dot org 

To help treat your rosacea a detailed history, together an examination is needed. Once this is established a treatment tailored according to YOUR type of rosacea will give the best results. As a guide, I use a combination of -

1. Lasers (to treat redness, broken capillaries, rhinophyma, flushing)- best laser is the V BEAM. IPL- BBL  can be used, but usually not as effective. Laser toning using the long pulse Nd Yag at 1064 can help with background redness. 

2. Creams - anti inflammatory- Rozex, Azalelic acid, Solantra. Creams are effective in 30% of cases. 

3. Tablets -anti - inflammatory and sometimes low dose Vitamin A. Vitamin A cream can be used in very low concentration and gradually titrated. See a medical dermatologist for this. 

4. For females- Mineral make up is recommend- paraben and preservative – talc free. 

For the best results, be holistic in your approach, start off with the foundations of rosacea management, - avoiding flare factors, use of anti- inflammatory agents, and then progress to 

consult a dermatologist for both medical and laser treatment options,

Kind regards.

Dr Davin S. Lim.

Laser Dermatologist.

Brisbane, Australia. Real Self Advisory Board.