Xanthelasma are yellowish spots, similar to papules, that protrude over the skin and that appear mainly in the eyelid region, but they can also appear in other parts of the face and body, such as on the neck, shoulders, armpits and on the chest. Xanthelasma plaques do not cause symptoms, that is, they do not cause pain, they do not itch and they do not cause any complications, but over time they grow progressively.
These spots are yellow because they are deposits of fat on the skin and, most of the time, they appear because of high levels of cholesterol in the blood, which can be associated with liver disease, hyperglycemia or atherosclerosis, which is the accumulation of fat on the wall of the arteries of the heart. Learn more about atherosclerosis, symptoms and how to treat.
Possible causes
Xanthelasma appears more frequently in women over 40 years of age, and the causes of the appearance of this condition, in most cases, are related to very high levels of bad cholesterol, LDL, and the levels of good cholesterol, very low, however, other health problems may be associated with the appearance of xanthelasma spots on the eyelids, such as liver cirrhosis, for example.
In some cases, in addition to the increase in cholesterol, the person with xanthelasma has hyperglycemia, which is when blood sugar levels are also high and this can occur because of diabetes, hypothyroidism or the use of certain medications, such as corticosteroids and oral retinoids.
How the diagnosis is made
The diagnosis of xanthelasma is usually made by a dermatologist by examining the skin around the eyes, however, you may be asked to perform heart tests or blood tests to analyze the levels of fat in the bloodstream and thus check whether there are other diseases associated with the appearance of xanthelasma spots.
The doctor may also order tests such as skin biopsy to rule out that the plaques on the skin are other health problems, such as chalazion, sebaceous hyperplasia or some type of cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma. See more what is basal cell carcinoma, main symptoms and treatment.
Treatment options
The spots caused by xanthelasma do not disappear over time and when they affect the aesthetics of the face, a dermatologist can indicate an appropriate treatment based on the size of the plaques and the type of skin of the person, which can be done with:
- Chemical peel : it is the type of treatment in which dichloroacetic acid or trichloroacetic acid is used, in concentrations between 50% to 100% to destroy the xanthelasma plaques. These acids should be applied only by trained professionals because of the risk of burns on the skin; Surgery: consists of removing xanthelasma plaques through small cuts made by a doctor; Lasertherapy: it is an option widely used to eliminate xanthelasma stains on the eyelid through the direct action of the laser on these lesions; Cryotherapy: it is the application of liquid nitrogen directly to the xanthelasma plaques, leading to the elimination of these lesions. In this case, liquid nitrogen freezes the xanthelasma plaques on the eyelid, and because of the risk of swelling on the face, it is not always indicated; Medicines: some studies show that the drug probucol can reduce the cells that lead to the appearance of xanthelasma plaques, but still need more evidence for the application.
Other types of treatments may also be indicated, depending on the characteristics of xanthelasma, such as the injection of interleukin or cyclosporine, removal by radiofrequency or fractional CO2 laser, which help to eliminate plaque on the eyelids. Check out how fractional CO2 laser is made.
Although there are several ways to eliminate xanthelasma stains, the most important thing is to create healthy habits that help to reduce bad cholesterol levels in the blood, as this is the main cause of this type of plaque on the skin. Therefore, one should consult a general practitioner and a nutritionist to start a treatment to lower blood cholesterol levels, reducing the risk of the person presenting other health problems, such as atherosclerosis.
Here is a video with important tips on how to lower cholesterol:
