Help! Red shiny nose if I drink alcohol or get hot.

[RudolphRedNose]

Is there anything I can do about this?

If I drink alcohol my nose goes red and shiny, even if I'm not particularly warm. Also, if I get warm (which is often the case in our office) I get the same problem. Slight bit of sun, if I sit outside in it, has the same affect

I'm sure it's getting worse.

What's causing it and is there anything I can do to stop it?

(possibly peri-menopausal if that makes a difference?)

see if I get more luck with replies this morning.....

I assume you have googled it, or spoken to your GP?
This happens to me also but is more likely with dark/tannic/red alcohols, i think. VVV embarassing as it makes it appear as though you have been drinking heavily even though you may have imbibed as little as a few sips-my experience again. The bizarre thing for me is that is does not happen every time...

It does sound like you could be getting the onset of rosacea, very common in your forties/fifties. It probably does involve a change of lifestyle unfortunately as alcohol is a major trigger. Although you can't cure the condition you can manage it quite effectively by avoiding triggers, caffeine is one.

No caffeine or alcohol?! Noooooooo

I haven't googled it actually, maybe I will - usually find google results in horror stories with anything health related though so find MN better.

I too am perimenopausal and have recently been diagnosed with rosacea. However, now I know what it is, I realise its something I have had for most of my adult life. Its only now that it seems to have ramped up. Do some research (although it did frighten me at first) and have a think about any changes you could make - it may be switching to a different drink could make a difference, i.e ditch the wine and drink vodka. I am now the proud owner of a lovely straw sun hat with a large brim. I also see it as a perfectly valid reason not to exercise! Also some people find eliminating gluten or sugar or dairy helps a lot. My advice is just to try one thing at a time and mineral makeup is your friend.

Oh yes sugar is one of my main triggers. If I ate like Victoria Beckham I think id be free of it. Tiny portions of steamed fish and vegetables and a few nuts a day washed down with copious amounts of mineral water would suit this condition perfectly. Unfortunately most of us merely aspire to that sort of willpower and never attain it.