nose gets really red & sometimes warm...

[Unregistered]

I have had this same issue for years and years. Did a little research and came up with a possibility that my medication for acid reflux (Nexium) may be a cause. Here's link for your consideration:
http://biamontecenter.com/225.php

[NotNecessarahly]

In response to the 40-year-old RN:

Thanks for such a thorough post. I'm 28 years old and have been dealing with this for about 4-5 years now. I started out of nowhere and doesn't seem to be getting any better over the years.

However, I have to say that I live one of the healthiest lifestyles of anyone I know. After being diagnosed and treated for breast cancer at age 24, I did a complete 180 as far as my lifestyle habits. I closely look at the ingredients of literally every single thing that I eat and eliminated all artificial/processed ingredients (including artificial sweeteners and MSG). I cook everything entirely from scratch. I eat fruit, nuts, and Greek yogurt for breakfast. I very rarely drink any alcohol, maybe 1 glass of wine a month. The only thing I do that was on your list is drink 1 cup of coffee per day - that's it. No other caffeine at all, just one cup of coffee in the morning.

All this to say that I still suffer from this bizarre case of a red, swollen, hot nose at randoms times throughout the day and the list you put together, while perhaps true for some, does not seem to apply to me. It seems that for me heat makes it much worse, or sudden changes in temperature. Certain strong smells will exacerbate it. It will also happen if I have been sitting for long periods of time - no idea why that might be. When it happens, it also makes my entire sinus cavity swell a bit, including under my eyes which looks unsightly, but will vanish as mysteriously as it came.

If anyone has any other advice about this, I would LOVE to hear it. I'm thinking about going to a ENT doctor, but most doctors I've asked have come up empty and I'm not sure it would be worth the money. What do you think?

So glad I'm not alone!

Folks, I can help you. I am a 40 year old registered nurse that has been dealing with this since I was a young child. I have spent many years experimenting and researching why this happens to me. I can first remember it happening as young as 8 or 9 years old. My stepfather was sitting across the diner table looking at me saying to my mother “What’s with Rudolph over there”? I can remember my first outdoor ice skating party and a girl that I wanted to kiss so bad. As we moved inside with a fire going I could feel my nose just swelling and turning red – not good for me. I have read all of the previous posts and have a lot to offer you all.

Why does this happen? Out of the blue my/your nose just starts turning bright red, then swelling, then throbbing. Nothing seems to stop it or prevent it from happening. It does not seem to go away for hours. Some of you have been to the doctors and they cannot help you. Well folks, I have tried EVERYTHING. Finally, after many years of struggling with this problem I figured it out. I spent so many years trying to solve this mystery so I am glad that I found this board so that I can help you.

All of you on this board have one thing in common. You all have very sensitive blood vessels in your nose. But what triggers them to seemingly become sensitive. First off I am going to bet that most of you have larger noses. I do as well. I would be interested in hearing posts from you all as to the sizes of you nose. Larger noses have larger blood vessels. Therefore, when they get stimulated it is easier for you to see them. But why does this happen? It happens because you are ingesting something that is causing them to expand. You are eating a food, beverage, drug, etc. that is a natural vasodilator and it causes the blood vessels in your nose to open up more than usual and flush more blood through them. Let me be clear, this is not rosecea that you are experiencing. Many of you have stated that it occurs in the mid or late afternoon. This is most likely because you have eaten something for lunch or dinner which has triggered this to occur. It also explains why it comes and goes. It does not happen every day because you are not eating the food that triggers it. Not many people experience this. Ask yourself if you have ever seen another person in your life exhibit this symptom. This is why physicians generally cannot help. They do not see people with this problem.

So what foods cause it? In my 30 years of experience I have found the following food to be the biggest problems.

1. Artificial sweeteners
2. Caffeine
3. Alcohol
4. Hot spice foods
5. MSG

Most of you are experiencing this because you are drinking things with artificial sweeteners or adding it on your own. Do an experiment for me. Get your self a cup of tea and add a few packs of NutraSweet or sweet n Low and then see if you get a red nose in about 20 minutes. Many people have stated that they get it a lot when they go from the cold to the warm inside. This is mostly because people go inside and drink a hot cup of tea or chocolate with artificial sweeteners.

Caffeine is a natural vasodilator. Meaning it naturally open or widens your blood vessels. Combining the two is a lethal combo. If you add artificial sweeteners to your iced tea you will be Rudolph in an hour or so.

Alcohol is also a natural vasodilator. It opens those big sensitive blood vessels in your nose.

Hot spicy foods – anything causing a warm sensation causes vasodilatation. Once ingested and in your systemic system it causes your nose to turn red.

MSG – I do not know much about MSG but I feel that it may cause this problem.

This explains why most of you feel this sensation in the 2:00pm or 6:00pm hour because it is after lunch. It also explains why it takes so long to go away. It is because you must digest and clear the foods from your body.

What helps? – avoiding those foods that do this. Keep a mental or written record of everything that goes into your mouth. When you feel the nose getting red, check your food intake record to see what it may have been. Keep in mind that artificial sweeteners have many names – sucralose, aspartame, NutraSweet, sweet n low – do some research and check the food labels of everything you eat.

If you have accidentally ingested one of these foods then try to keep ice cubes in your mouth. This can cause the vessels in your nose to constrict back down and reduce the swelling- it has worked for me.

There are some other things that can cause this. Things like BP medications, erectile dysfunction medications, sinus infections. Try blander diets, avoid caffeine and artificial sweetener, and alcohol and I bet you will see an improvement. Keep this forum active and we can all work together to try and make our lives better.

[_alexandra]

I have had this problem for a while. So glad I'm not alone! My triggers are hot drinks especially coffee, stress / anxiety, heavy meals and sitting or lying down for long periods of time. If I walk around for a few minutes my nose feels better. Also, I have found Sudocrem very helpful. If I put it on my nose it doesn't flush or swell. Sudocrem contains zinc which is an anti inflammatory.

[_alexandra]

I have had this problem for a while. So glad I'm not alone! My triggers are hot drinks especially coffee, stress / anxiety, heavy meals and sitting or lying down for long periods of time. If I walk around for a few minutes my nose feels better. Also, I have found Sudocrem very helpful. If I put it on my nose it doesn't flush or swell. Sudocrem contains zinc which is an anti inflammatory.

[JeanKell]

Oh My Gosh!! This happens to me too! Alcohol is an absolute factor. But so is any kind of temperature change. In the winter if a room is warm or a bit too hot it goes red. It is very annoying and I am constantly checking my nose in the mirror. Luckily at parties or bars or restaurants the lighting is usually dim and it can cover it a bit. But out and about any temperature change or I feel nervous or anxious it can happen. I never wear heavy sweaters anymore as I don't wish to over heat myself. I can feel when it is happening and always joke about it to feel more comfortable. Just call me Rudolph! Glad I found this forum and will check back for updates.

[kc4947]

OHH what a releif to realize, I'm not alone !! I am a 53 year old female who has dealt with this for Years. I rarely drink, I do take aspirin frequently w/ caffeine in it, and am battling allergies year round.. pollen, and especially ascospore molds. I have Many food intolerances, and also have IBS ... so I try keep to a healthy and restrictive diet, and drink water more than anything else. But I Do believe for so many of us sensitive folk ... our issues are really activated by the things we ingest !! ~~~ So thankful for the input of the RN about possible triggers .. especially seeing MSG on the list !!! I want to share with you all how insidious the culprits can be in the foods we eat !! ~~~ What I have learned the hard way through the years .. and found this in print only once .. is that MSG is only 1 name for additves and presevatives in our foods that can trigger nasty reactions in our bodies !! Here is a list of compounds for you to look out for on product labels... as any one of these compounds listed, indicate the presence of Free Glutamate ... the Active Portion of MSG ! ( these Are Common in soups, sauces, dry mix flavorings, and even candy or flavored drinks .. kool aid etc. ) ~~~~~~~ { Autolyzed Yeast, Monosodium Glutamate, Maltodextrin, Hydrolyzed or Textured Protein, Yeast Food, Glutamic Acid, Yeast Extract, or Yeast Nutrient } ~~~~~~~ Believe me.. when you can find these and eliminate them from your diet.. You will feel better. Yes.. I still have the nose issue.. but far Less often ! Good Luck to You My Compadres !!

[DruryTed]

As with all various other vitamin after we take higher doasage amounts of it there are great prospects to encounter certain side effects. Vitamin B3 can be one of those and besides each of the health benefits it provides, you'll find some unwanted side effects we could go through.

Likely the most common side effects f vitamin b3 is the so named vitamin b3 flushing. It is typically a consequence of consuming higher doses of niacin products that causes dilatation of the arteries. Vitamin B3 flushing doesn’t last long, it always disappears completely after Around 30 minutes. Even so, the medication dosage needed to cause this side-effect varies among men and women. Although certain men and women react once they use no more than 50 mg of nicotinic acid, others respond only over 100mg of vitamin b3.

Visit this link for more details about side effects of niacin

Serious scratching and breakouts typically accompany the niacin having flushes. These are typical reaction to high doses and so they usually disappear with out medical therapy so you'll find nothing to be concerned about.

So What Can I do Regarding the Flush?

To stop these upsetting adverse reactions, vitamin b3 dietary supplements which do not bring about flushing are intended. Even so, these non-flushing nutritional supplements may cause other negative effects so they must be utilized with proper care too.

[Noelle]

Finally! I thought I was the only person in the world suffering with a red, hot nose! I've been to 3 dermatologists, my internist, and an ent doc, and they were all stumped. I read all the posts on this thread, and on the last page someone recommened Sudocrem, which is a diaper rash cream sold in the UK and very popular there - it's similar to Desitin, zinc is the main active ingredient. You can purchase it on amazon. However, I didn't want to wait and I went to Target in search of something similar. Well, I found a GREAT product, it's in the baby butts section! Name of cream is Boudreux's (jeez, they censored the name!) **** B u t t Paste. It comes in 3 zinc strengths, 10 mg, 16, and 40. Or sth like that. i bought the mid strength, it's in the green box. It costs ca $5.40.

Vow, I couldn't believe it, it was instant relief! It was like it calmed the skin. Put it on again before bed, no red nose! which I always get 5 min. after lying down! I'm still going to order the Sudocreme on amazon, but in the meantimevthe BButtpaste is working great! I hope this will help some of you!

[Soulset11]

My nose is permanently red. I've been to multiple doctors and they all say is that it is not rosacia but want to treat it with steroid cream which ultimately thins the skin on my nose and makes it worse. It throbs and is tender when I touch it. At that time of the month when I have pimples around my nose they seem huge and are very painful so it seems hormone related. Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing my same symptoms. From most of the comments I've read here it seems like the redness is a cyclical issue that comes on in the afternoon. This is not my issue. And yes, the comments from people asking if I have a sunburn do get old. I'm almost 50 and don't want to live with this for the rest of my life. Any comments/suggestions would be welcome. Thanks!

[simonf]

I've had the same problem as most of you for the past 5 years, my nose turns ruby red in the evenings usually after I've eaten, It feels like its throbbing and as I've pale skin looks ridiculous!! I've spent countless hours searching the internet for a solution as my GP has no idea what seems to causes it. Like many of you I have tried to eliminate possible causes whether it be something I'm eating, changes in temperature etc.
My girlfriend thought it may be Rosacea, so I looked at a few website's but still wasn't quite what I had, then I came across Asian flush, a reaction a high percentage of Asian people and some Caucasians have towards alcohol, but still didn't seem to be quite the same as my problem.
After some more research I discovered something called a niacin flush, caused by to much vitamin B3 (niacin) so I made a list of all the foods I ate on a daily basis and checked out their vitamin content, for breakfast I was eating four weetabix which per biscuit contained 85% of my RDA of niacin!! I also took Berocca a effervescent multivitamin which to my surprise contains 283% of my RDA of niacin per tablet, some days I took 2 of these. I like to think that the rest of the food I consume throughout the day is quite healthy and no different to what most people eat. As soon as I found out how much niacin was in the cereal and multivitamin I stopped eating them straight away and noticed that evening that my nose didn't turn red, had I found the culprit? I haven't eaten any cereal with added vitamins or taken any multivitamins since and I haven't had a flare. I've also tried putting my self in situations where before I'd had flare ups, central heating on high, hot food, coming out of the cold into a warm house, alcohol, my nose still turns a little red but doesn't turn ruby red and pulsate as before.
I hope this helps other people with the same issues as I had as I understand how it can take over and control your life, I'm now doing things that I've been making excuses not to do.