What are xanthelasmas?
If you have yellow fatty patches on the inner corners of your eyelids or around your eyes, you may have a condition known as xanthelasma palpebrarum. A xanthelasma is a soft, yellowish deposit of fat that forms under the skin. It is not harmful, but in rare cases it can be a sign of possible heart disease. That is why it is a good idea to have your doctor or a dermatologist check it.
What are the risk factors for xanthelasma?
Anyone can develop xanthelasma, but you are at higher risk if you are a woman, are between 30 and 50 years old, smoke, are overweight, have high blood pressure or diabetes, or if your blood lipid levels – the fats in your blood, including cholesterol – are abnormally high.
How is this condition diagnosed?
Your doctor can diagnose xanthelasma visually by examining the skin around your eyes. They may order tests to see whether your lipid levels are causing the symptoms. To test your lipid levels, your doctor will take a blood sample and send it to a laboratory.
Treating xanthelasma.
The fat deposits themselves are harmless, so technically nothing needs to be done. However, many people find them a cosmetic problem and want to get rid of them. There are many techniques that can help remove xanthelasma.
They range from surgery that removes sections of skin to laser techniques that vaporize the affected tissue. The smaller the lesion, the lower the chance of scarring or discoloration of the affected skin.
There is also a risk of infection in the area where the xanthelasma was excised, so you must follow all the rules your doctors recommend.
How xanthelasma is removed.
Surgery: there are several surgical techniques, ranging from simply cutting out the affected tissue to radiosurgery. Radiosurgery must be used with great caution, because it creates heat in the surrounding tissue, which can increase the risk of scarring and skin discoloration.
Sometimes, for small lesions, a simple electrosurgical device can be used to coagulate them. Any xanthelasma removal procedure must be done by experienced hands to get the best results.
Managing cholesterol helps prevent xanthelasma.
Lowering your cholesterol can also help treat xanthelasma. For some people, changes to diet and lifestyle are enough to manage cholesterol. To lower your cholesterol, follow a few steps: avoid smoking and limit alcohol, keep a healthy weight, exercise for at least 30 minutes on most days of the week, and limit saturated fats, found in foods such as butter.
Your family doctor may prescribe medication to lower your cholesterol.
Xanthelasma is usually harmless but can signal an underlying problem with lipid levels. It can also be an early warning sign of heart disease. Talk to your doctor if you notice fat deposits around your eyes, so they can check you for any underlying conditions.
