Xanthelasma

What is it?

• Xanthelasma (or xanthelasma palpebrarum) is a sharply demarcated yellowish collection of cholesterol underneath the skin, usually on or around the eyelids. Although not harmful or painful, these minor growths may be disfiguring and can be removed. They are common in people of Asian origin and those from the Mediterranean region.

  Because of the hereditary component, they may or may not indicate high blood levels of cholesterol. Where there is no family history of xanthelasmata, they usually indicate high cholesterol and may correlate with a risk of atheromatous disease.

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Who gets them?

• Although most patients have a normal lipid level, more than 30% do show an lipid abnormality. Serum cholesterol may b elevated.
• Xanthelasmas usually occur in middle-aged and elderly patients. They appear more often in females.

Where do they Occur?

• The lesions occur near the inner upper eyelids. They are slightly elevated, yellowish, and have sharp borders.

Are they dangerous?

• They usually do not cause patients
• discomfort, but can cause a significant cosmetic blemish.
• They are not malignant

Treatment

• Treatment consists of skin excision of the lesion. An alternative treatment could be the application of 75% trichloroacetic acid topically. Recurrence can occur with either method of treatment