Xanthelasma

Everything you need to know about xanthelasma

Xanthelasma is a yellowish deposit of cholesterol under the skin on or around the eyelids. Even though it does not hurt, xanthelasma could be a sign that a person is more likely to get heart disease. It is important that you start xanthelasma treatment as soon as you spot the condition.

Some of the key features and xanthelasma causes are:

- More common in women than men

- The patches won’t go away on their own

- Usually caused by high cholesterol in the blood. More specifically, a person is more likely to get xanthelasma if he/she has a high level of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol, low level of HDL (“good”) cholesterol or liver disease.

- It can also be caused by lifestyle factors such as high alcohol consumption, smoking, low-fibre diet and weight gain.

- Xanthelasma treatment can be done by medication, cryosurgery or surgery

However, the growth may return especially if a person has inherited high cholesterol.

The patches made up of cholesterol under the skin aren't harmful. If you don’t like their appearance, a dermatologist can help you get rid of them.

Ages affected- 0-29- Very rarely; between -30 & 50 and above -most often. This condition is more common among people who are of Asian or Mediterranean descent.

Diagnosis

A skin doctor may visually examine you to check if you have the condition because of its distinct appearance. He/she may also check your lipid levels through a blood test to determine whether they are causing the symptoms. Book an appointment with a nearby skin specialist for accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Symptoms

The symptom is yellow patches growing on the inside of the eyelids.

If this symptom is noticed, a nearby skin specialist should be consulted. When severe symptoms appear, medical help should be availed right away.

These patches do not affect the movement of your eyelids but can become larger and more uncomfortable over time. Book an appointment at a nearby skin clinic if you are experiencing any discomfort.

Treatment

Xanthelasma can be treated in the following ways:

• Avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and exercising
• Medication -The drug ‘statin’ that treats high cholesterol also helps in the treatment of the condition.
• Skin specialists can treat this condition by cryotherapy, laser surgery or normal surgery etc. A type of laser technique called fractional CO2 has been proven to be particularly effective.

Consult a dermatologist from mfine to get yourself treated.

For other kinds, consult a physician or an OBGYN. At mfine, we will do our best to heal you.