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The brain has learned to ignore our nose.
It actually filters through our vision to create a perfect image.
But doctors say ignoring the nose is at our own peril, and warn that it can be a window into our health and point to underlying diseases.
Dr. Dan Baumgardt from the University of Bristol in the UK revealed five conditions that can manifest in the nose.
Doctors have revealed five conditions that could reveal themselves in the nose (stock)
An example of acne rosacea (stock)
Red skin but no pimples
If your nose is covered with red pimples, blackheads and whiteheads, then doctors say that you are likely suffering from acne.
But if the skin on the nose and cheeks becomes red but no pimples form, then this probably indicates a separate condition called acne rosacea.
It is an inflammatory condition caused by inflammation and dilation of small red blood vessels in the skin, allowing more blood to enter the area.
Scientists don’t know what causes the condition, but suggest it may be related to genetics, an overactive immune system or daily life activities.
Experts say middle-aged and older adults are at higher risk for developing acne rosacea.
The disease may not be cured, but it can be controlled with medications, antibiotics and lifestyle modifications, Dr. Baumgardt said, writing in The conversation,
He also warned that someone suffering from this condition may also suffer from high blood pressure, diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis.
It is estimated that more than 16 million Americans suffer from acne rosacea.
The condition rhinophyma is shown above.
The nose turns red and swollen.
In some cases the nose may become bulbous, red and swollen.
Dr. Baumgardt said this was a warning sign of rhinophyma, a skin disorder that causes the skin on the nose to become much thicker.
Experts say the condition is caused by rosacea, an inflammatory skin disease.
This can cause blood vessels to enlarge, which doctors say can stimulate growth.
Previously, some doctors have suggested that the condition is linked to excessive alcohol consumption, although this is disputed in some quarters.
Treatment usually involves plastic surgery to reshape the nose and reduce the newly formed bulbous tip. It is rare, but mainly affects men.
Dr. Baumgardt said, “In some cases, rosacea can cause the skin on the nose to grow and thicken. This condition is called rhinophyma.”
‘Like other visible skin conditions, it can cause profound changes in appearance and seriously affect the self-esteem of those who suffer from it.’
The above shows lupus pernio, which is a warning sign of sarcoidosis.
The nose has blue or purple spots.
In some cases, the skin on the nose may turn blue or purple in certain areas, along with the skin on the ears, cheeks, fingers, or toes.
Dr. Baumgardt said this could be a warning sign of an inflammatory disease called sarcoidosis.
In this condition, the immune system begins to attack the body’s tissues, triggering the formation of granulomas, or clumps of white blood cells.
These can disrupt circulation, causing less blood to reach the skin and causing discolored patches medically known as Lupus pernio or Wolf Nose.
The condition leaves people at risk for granulomas forming in other areas of the body, including the lungs, heart and kidneys, increasing the risk of complications in these organs.
The condition is treated with medications including steroids that can help calm the immune system.
Sarcoidosis is relatively rare in the U.S., with about 150,000 to 200,000 cases diagnosed each year.
Between one and eight percent of patients die from the disease, with deaths caused by bleeding in the lungs or heart failure, which can be caused by granulomas that disrupt blood circulation or cause blockages in organs.
Scientists aren’t sure what causes sarcoidosis, but say exposure to certain pesticides or insecticides and genetics may be involved.
Loss of sensation in the nose may be a sign of trigeminal trophic syndrome (TSS).
Loss of sensitivity
Dr. Baumgardt said if you lose feeling in your nose, you could be suffering from a nerve disease.
The trigeminal nerve controls chewing and sensation in the face, nose, and area around the nostrils.
But if this nerve is damaged, a person may begin to feel numbness or tingling in that area, a condition called trigeminal trophic syndrome.
Doctors say the nerve can be damaged due to injury, possibly during a stroke or infection, or as a result of previous surgery on the surrounding face.
The condition can be treated with medications or electrical nerve stimulation to restore feeling to the area.
It is a rare disease, with only about 200 cases reported in the medical literature to date.
Men with big noses
Some experts suggest that the size of a man’s nose can reveal the size of his penis.
The claims are based on a Japanese study that found that nose size was more closely related to stretched penis length than height or body weight.
Dr. Rena Malik, a urologist in California, revealed the article saying, ‘There is one study, it’s a Japanese study, where they only looked at Japanese men, so there are some limitations, but they essentially measured all of these body parts and penis length.
“And what they found was that nose length was correlated with penis length, not hand length or foot length.”
Others have also previously suggested that the size of a man’s hands or feet could indicate the size of his penis, although the evidence for this claim is not strong.
There are also suggestions that drinking alcohol regularly could cause a larger nose, in a condition called rhinophyma (see above).
