Xanthelasma, yellowish, slightly raised lipid deposits on the eyelids. Although they are most commonly found on the eyelids, they can also occur around the base of the nose and the area around the eyes. While it can affect both genders, it is more common in women. Sometimes, it appears as small yellowish skin patches, and at other times, it can create a geographical map-like appearance around the eye area.
Causes of Xanthelasma:
High levels of body cholesterol are often blamed, but in 50% of patients with xanthelasma, cholesterol levels have been found to be normal. Some authors have claimed that it may be inflammation-related.
Risk factors for xanthelasma include smoking, being overweight, high cholesterol, and having hypertension and diabetes.
Diagnosis of Xanthelasma:
Xanthelasma lesions are very characteristic and can be easily recognized through examination.
Treatment for Xanthelasma:
Treatment options for xanthelasma include cryotherapy, laser therapy, chemical peeling, and surgical treatment. Small and non-extensive lesions can be easily treated with laser therapy. However, if the lesion is not completely removed, it can unfortunately recur and spread more aggressively to the eyelids. Therefore, it is essential to completely remove the lesions.
In classic surgical methods, it is necessary to completely remove the lesions both in terms of depth and width. Sometimes, these lesions can be quite extensive. In such cases, when removing these lesions, skin grafts from another part of the eyelid may be needed to close the surgical area.